Carne Golf Links lies in magnificent unspoiled sand dunes overlooking Blacksod Bay and the wild Atlantic Ocean near Belmullet Co. Mayo in the west of Ireland. Carne was the last links course to be designed by the late Eddie Hackett and it is now believed to be his greatest challenge by many who have played it.

The building of Carne has caused little disturbance to this wild and ancient landscape. Tees and greens occurred naturally and very little earth moving was involved in the course construction. Every hole in this really great course is sensational, particularly the back nine which runs along the crashing Atlantic, but none are more memorable than the par three 16th. The tee is perched on top of an enormous sand hill and from here it is a sheer drop to a pinprick green over 200 ft below. Carne is a course to be enjoyed, and one to ensure a right battle right through to completion of your game.

There are some breathtaking views over the Atlantic and the legendary islands of Inis Gloire and Inis Geidhe. Its remote location is a possible reason why this course is relatively unknown, but for any discerning links golfer it is simply unmissable.

At the Edge of Europe on the wild Atlantic coast lies a links course that is a challenge to all who play her. Nestled between the mountains and the sea in the West of Ireland, the Connemara Championship Golf Links is an exhilarating golfing experience. This awesomely picturesque course with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean was designed by Eddie Hackett and measures over 7,000 yards. Wind and rainbows are the specialty of the house at this 27 hole course which was started in 1973.

The 18-hole championship course is of the highest quality offering a challenge as good as any golfer is likely to find anywhere. Its massive last 6 holes make par a challenge to achieve on this most challenging Atlantic links course.

County Sligo Golf Club is situated at Rosses Point, a seaside village eight kilometres north west of Sligo town, and is one of the oldest and best known links courses in Ireland. Founded in 1894 on land leased from Henry Middleton, an uncle of W.B Yeats the famous Irish poet it has hosted the Irish Amateur Championships every year since 1923.

Rosses Point is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the west with Benbulben dominating the view on the northern skyline bearing a striking resemblance to Cape Town's Table Mountain. To the east Glencar Valley and the Dartary Mountains with Lugnagall and Truskmore, while Knocknarea completes the southern vista on top of which a large Cairn of stones is reputed to be the grave of the 'Warrior Queen Meave of Connaught'.

But beautiful scenery is not all that this course has to offer. Holes such as 'Greenland' (1st hole), 'Ewing's Profile' (7th), “'Cast a Cold Eye' (9th), 'Mahon's Burn' (14th) and 'Christy's Farm' (18th) require serious concentration and effort making Rosses Point one of the most satisfactory links courses to play.

Situated on the Murvagh Peninsula, Donegal Golf Club, or Murvagh as it is more commonly known, is backed by the magnificent Bluestack Mountains and washed by the North-West Atlantic. The course, although still quite young by golfing standards being opened in 1976, is highly rated among the top clubs in the British Isles and is always in Irelands top twenty.

Little wonder as this outstanding links course offers a genuine challenge to the accomplished golfer and is an all round true test of golf. Designed by the great Eddie Hackett his comment on the course was "The greens are on natural sites, only the levels of some were adjusted by hand. All I had to do was to develop the course on what nature provided."

Murvagh provides some incredible golfing challenges with the stretch from the fifth to the eighth generally regarded as being the most exciting.

Enniscrone gives the golfer a picture of life as it must have been for primeval person - rugged dunes, unchanged since time began, a bracing wind, clear sky, one of the most beautiful beachs in Ireland, the Moy Estuary and the Atlantic Ocean, all encompassed by the backdrop of the Nephin and Ox Mountains as they loom heavily against the sky. Enniscrone is a haven for those looking to escape the pressures of modern day life for a few hours. Once you step on to the first tee prepare yourself for the ultimate golf experience. Dramatic dunes, inspired design, superb greens and breathtaking views combine to make golf at Enniscrone an absolute delight.

As you walk on the fast draining fairway turf, where you never get less than a perfect lie, you experience a feeling of lightness that makes two rounds seem more like one. There is an unmistakable air of elegance and quality about the way the holes vary their direction and challenge.

Rosapenna’s original course was laid out by four times British Open Champion the great Old Tom Morris of St. Andrews, in the 1890’s. Following him two other great golfing champions Harry Vardon and James Braid, who won 11 British Open titles between them, added length and more detailed bunkering but were wise enough to leave those wonderful natural greens. So good was their design that the links today still provides a demanding challenge for golfers of all standards.

As with most good links courses, the Old Tom Morris course takes advantage of natural terrain to provide a classic links golf challenge. The first 10 holes are pure links running between the ocean and the dunes in what is known locally as "The Valley". The last eight holes actually play inland and uphill into high meadow that offer superb vistas over the North Atlantic Ocean.

Rosapenna opened its second course in June 2003, sharing the same wild coastline as the Old Tom Morris Course. This time the designer was Pat Ruddy the golf writer turned architect. The new Sandy Hills Links has already received rave reviews from those fortunate enough to have sampled it. A fantastic addition to Ireland’s already world-renowned trail of links courses it has been described as “simply breathtaking”.

Situated on the shores of Clew Bay and set in 260 acres of parkland, in the shadow of Croagh Patrick, Ireland's Holy Mountain amidst some of the most breathtaking scenery imaginable Westport offers golfers a memorable experience.

The internationally renowned golf architect Fred Hawtree, who also designed the New Course at St. Andrews, designed this course. Its an accommodating course for the average player, but provides a feisty challenge for the more accomplished golfer. In this course of two distinct halves, the opening nine is relatively straightforward but the long back nine calls for character. The 580 yard, par 5, 15th is a truly outstanding hole which demands a drive clear over an inlet of Clew Bay. Not for the faint hearted.