Looking to play the best golf courses in Republic of Ireland? GolfReviewsGuide.com picks out the top courses to play in Republic of Ireland.

Golf courses in the Republic of Ireland can be open year-round, but the peak season is the spring/summer/autumn period between April and October inclusive.

In the summertime, don’t be surprised to find some late tee times as the days do carry on in this part of Europe.

From Irish Open venues to Ryder Cup hosts, the choice of golfing destinations in Ireland is huge with some real bucket list courses to play.

Portmarnock Golf Club

The championship course at the Portmarnock Golf Club is located in Portmarnock in the county of Dublin.

The course was built in 1894, it plays as a par-72 contest today and it is a lengthy course at 7,466 yards from the back tees.

William Pickeman was the designer of this private course, which is located a short drive north of the city of Dublin.

The coastline setting offers impressive viewpoints, and the Dublin airport is due west of the course.

The links-styled course is well renowned as one of the best in the Emerald Isle and had the honour of staging the first ever Irish Open in 1927.

Waterville Golf Links

Tom Fazio and Eddie Hackett are the architects most closely associated with the Waterville Golf Links, which opened in 1973 and today is one of the top golf courses in the country.

This is a great tourist destination for any golfer in the Waterville area of Kerry County.

Set in an area with natural dunes, Waterville is a par-72 affair at a total length of 7,350 yards.

The Atlantic Ocean borders the west side of the course with the Inny River on the north.

With all the wetlands around, this is an area well known for a wide range of bird species. It truly is a beautiful spot of natural Irish beauty.

Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort

Next on our list, we’ve included a resort course in Newtown Mount Kennedy, in County Wicklow.

The Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort offers two golf courses and our pick is the Druids Heath Golf Course.

Pat Ruddy designed this course, it is a par-71 contest and very lengthy at 7,434 yards. It opened in 2003, making it the most modern course in our recommendations for Ireland.

The resort is set in the Irish countryside, half an hour from Dublin near the Wicklow Mountains and the Irish Sea. Conditions are known to be breezy in this region.

The wind factor, combined with the length of course challenges golfers of all abilities. Staying in the fairway is key but difficult to achieve when you take the breezy conditions into account.

Ballybunion Golf Club

The Old Course at Ballybunion Golf Club dates back to 1893, the year it was established, and it remains one of Ireland’s finest.

It has seen a fair share of work over the decades, including some updates by Tom Watson but remains one of the best tests around.

The course isn’t the lengthiest one on our list with the 18-holes only stretching out to 6,793 yards, but the Old Course is still a very challenging par-71 venue.

With beautiful views of the North Atlantic, the links course has received strong praise over the years and continues to be one of the best golf courses in Republic of Ireland.

The K Club

The K Club Golf Club, located in County Kildare, is an iconic golfing destination renowned with a rich history despite being relatively new.

Established in 1991 by Dr Michael Smurfit, the resort venue was built on the site of a historic Georgian mansion, offering a blend of traditional charm and modern luxury.

The centerpiece of the K Club is the Palmer Ryder Cup Course, designed by the legendary Arnold Palmer and the host of the 2006 Ryder Cup.

This par-72 layout spans 7,350 yards and features lush fairways, strategic bunkering, and the picturesque River Liffey meandering through several holes.

The course’s standout holes include the par-3 7th hole, known as “The Island,” and the signature 16th hole, where water hazards demand precision.