From top of the range championship golf courses costing €300 and upwards per round, to more economical 18 and nine hole courses costing about €30 per round, Counties Cork and Kerry have it all.
In Cork, two of the best places to play are the Old Head of Kinsale Golf Course and Fota Island Golf Course. The Old Head of Kinsale is one of the most exclusive clubs in the country. Situated on a headland jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean, this course is as challenging as it is beautiful.
The course on Fota Island is more of a park lands course with plenty of water to punish erring shots. This course hosted the Irish Open golf tournament for many years. The public golf course on Little Island, Water Rock, Fermoy Golf Course and Macroom Golf Course are more economical options in and around the Cork City area.
Moving west to Kerry, again there is no shortage of courses for all abilities and all budgets. If you are looking for a challenge by the sea, head for Waterville Golf Links, one of the finest links courses in the world. Tiger Woods himself stopped here for a round on a recent visit to Ireland.
If parkland golf is more your style then the Ring of Kerry Golf & Country Club may be the one for you. Again, the scenery is breathtaking and despite its early years, this course is fast becoming one of the most highly-rated in the country.
Most likely, you will need to rent a car to get you and your clubs to your golf courses of choice. Whether you are landing at Cork, Shannon or Dublin Airports, Thrifty Car Rentals has a wide choice of vehicles to suit you at competitive rates. It also has offices in Cork and Dublin city centers.