It won’t be long before the 2027 Ryder Cup, set to be played at Adare Manor in County Limerick, will dominate the golf news coming out of Ireland. But right now there are plenty of new developments on and off the course to be aware of if you are traveling to the country this year.
At Carne Golf Links in County Mayo, numerous course renovations have been completed throughout the 27-hole property. On many holes, tees have been expanded, while both the strategic positioning and look of numerous bunkers have been altered according to Ally McIntosh, consulting architect. “Another thing you’ll notice about the bunkers when you come back is that there are more rough edges,” he said. “It’s not revetted walls. It’s eyebrow, hairy kind of marram grass around them.” McIntosh added that the project’s goal was to bring artistry to some of the detailing around the course and elevate the overall presentation. “It’s doing that without getting rid of any of the rustic and raw elements that we all love,” he added.
The third phase of ongoing renovations at Donegal Golf Club in County Donegal is now underway. Several new back tees are being added, the par-3 13th hole is being redeveloped, and 10 bunkers are being refurbished. The work is led by Paul McGinley, who noted in a master plan that, “There’s so much to learn from how Eddie Hackett and Pat Ruddy originally shaped these courses, both strategically and stylistically, and from the contributions made sense of the routing. We will honor that. Everything we do is about respecting the past, improving it where we can, and making sure that the course is considered among the very best of links courses that our country has to offer.”
The country’s newest course project – Curracloe Golf Links in County Wexford – is almost fully grown in, with tall fescue roughs expected to be the last part of that effort. “We can currently putt on the greens and strike from the tees,” said Edward Doyle, director of golf. “The bunker sand lines have yet to be decided and the absolute length of the sixth hole is yet to be determined.” Course architects Dana Fry and Jason Straka will be visiting the property later this spring to carry out final details, with an expected opening in 2027.
After being acquired by a new ownership group, major changes are planned for the former European Club, located 90 minutes south of Dublin in County Wicklow. Rechristened as the Brittas Bay Club, the existing course is being transformed by American course architect Kyle Phillips. “The European Club was known as a great piece of linksland with a great story behind it,” he said. “We are going to make significant changes. The goal would be that when I come to Ireland, this is on my must-play list.” Ground was broken on the project last month, with plans for work to be completed prior to next year’s Ryder Cup.
Since opening in July 2023, The Ebrington Hotel in the historic city of Derry, Northern Ireland, has quickly developed into a must-stay for golfers looking for elegant accommodations within easy driving distance of Ballyliffin, Royal Portrush, Portsalon, Portstewart and other courses in the region. Last year, The Ebrington’s owners acquired Da Vinci’s Hotel, just across the River Foyle and right in the city’s center. “It will be repurposed from 64 to 70 rooms, and we are currently renovating the entire property, which will be complete by March,” said Cecil Doherty, managing director. “The bar in it is phenomenal, probably the best bar in Derry.” While still an underrated base for traveling golfers, Doherty believes Derry can potentially become the Killarney of the North. “All of the elements are growing exponentially,” he said. “There’s a pride in Derry and a confidence that a new chapter is beginning in the city. We’re now finding that after a 30-year fight to attract golfers, the North and Northwest are in the story, which is fabulous.”
The brand new Hawthorn by Galway Bay is expected to open its doors in April. Located 30 minutes southeast of Galway’s city center, and just under an hour’s drive north of Shannon Airport, the facility will offer 126 rooms adjacent to an 18-hole golf course designed in 1993 by Irish golf legend Christy O’Connor Jr.