Ballybunion Golf Trip Planning Guide
The wildest links golf on earth. Towering Atlantic dunes at Ballybunion (Tom Watson's favorite), MacKenzie's quirky Lahinch, clifftop Tralee, and Payne Stewart's beloved Waterville. Base in Killarney for the pubs and trad music between rounds.
Quick Facts
Spring, Summer, Fall
SNN (105 min drive)
$270–$567
$300/night
6 of 6
~$773/person
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Here's a realistic 3-day itinerary for a group golf trip to Ballybunion. Every venue below is real and pulled from our curated database — no filler.
Day 1
Ballybunion Golf Club (Old Course) — links, $432–$486
Tom Watson's favorite course in the world — towering dunes hard against the Atlantic
The Peregrine (Killarney Park) — upscale, $$$$
Killarney's top fine-dining room, MICHELIN Guide listed — the trip's celebration dinner
The Danny Mann — honky tonk · Open late
Award-winning Killarney trad-music pub with live sessions nightly
Day 2
Lahinch Golf Club (Old Course) — links, $430–$486
The "St Andrews of Ireland" — Alister MacKenzie's blind Klondyke and Dell holes, with goats forecasting the weather
Cliffs of Moher — half day, $10–$20/pp
Ireland's most famous sea cliffs — an easy add-on when you're playing Lahinch in Clare
Cronin's Restaurant — seafood, $$$ · 4.6★
Refined traditional Irish and seafood, a Killarney institution since 1957
Murphy's Bar Killarney — dive · Open late
Killarney institution since 1955 — the place for a proper trad session
Day 3
Tralee Golf Club — links, $270–$486
Ireland's first Arnold Palmer design — a dramatic clifftop front nine over the Atlantic
Kerry Sea Angling Charter — half day, $65–$110/pp
Boat out of the Kerry coast for pollock, mackerel and the chance at a shark — great rest-day adventure
Bricín — casual, $$ · 4.5★
Cozy, authentic Irish cooking — boxty pancakes and Kerry scallops
O'Flaherty's (Dingle) — honky tonk · Open late
A mecca for live traditional music if the crew day-trips the Dingle Peninsula
Course-by-Course Guide
Ballybunion has 6 courses worth playing, including 5 bucket-list tier layouts. 6 are walkable if you want to save on cart fees.
Where to Stay
Ballybunion has 2 group-friendly lodging options in our database, starting at $300/night for the whole house.
$350–$650 /night
The Killarney Park Hotel — five-star base in the center of Killarney for the Kerry courses
$300–$600 /night
Trump International Doonbeg — best base in Clare, on the links and close to Lahinch
Group Dining Guide
3 restaurants vetted for group golf trips.
The Peregrine (Killarney Park)
$$$$Killarney's top fine-dining room, MICHELIN Guide listed — the trip's celebration dinner
Cronin's Restaurant
$$$Refined traditional Irish and seafood, a Killarney institution since 1957
Bricín
$$Cozy, authentic Irish cooking — boxty pancakes and Kerry scallops
Nightlife
3 bars curated for groups. 3 stay open past midnight.
The Danny Mann
Late nightAward-winning Killarney trad-music pub with live sessions nightly
Murphy's Bar Killarney
Late nightKillarney institution since 1955 — the place for a proper trad session
O'Flaherty's (Dingle)
Late nightA mecca for live traditional music if the crew day-trips the Dingle Peninsula
Activities Beyond Golf
2 off-course activities for rest days or afternoons.
Cliffs of Moher
Ireland's most famous sea cliffs — an easy add-on when you're playing Lahinch in Clare
Kerry Sea Angling Charter
Boat out of the Kerry coast for pollock, mackerel and the chance at a shark — great rest-day adventure
Getting There
Fly into Shannon Airport (SNN) — it's a 105-minute drive to Ballybunion. For groups of 8+, consider booking a shuttle or party bus from the airport (local providers include Setanta Chauffeur Tours and Flynn's Coaches). Renting two SUVs usually works for groups of 4-8.