Golf Trips to Ireland 2027
Golf Trip Planning 2027
2026 is almost here and only the well prepared will secure their dream Ireland golf trip in 2027. Time is fast running out to secure tee times at Royal Portrush. Advance requests are already flowing to the southwest courses.
Ryder Cup 2027 is a major distraction and September — traditionally the busiest month anyway — will be booked out, with access to accommodation and tee times curtailed around match week (September 13th–19th 2027).
Northern Ireland 2027
Royal Portrush advance requests are already being accepted and available dates are now scarce. Pre-screening of dates is possible.
Tee-times at Royal County Down have become golden tickets. The scramble to get through by telephone will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday 26th February.
There is nothing that anyone can do to guarantee tee-times at both courses on the same itinerary. Tee-times at Royal County Down are harder to secure than the Old Course at St. Andrews.
Demand for tee-times for September 2027 (Ryder Cup month) is likely to be higher. However this does not alter the need for securing Portrush times as soon as possible.
Call or email us to start planning! Securing Royal Portrush is the priority and the only practical step to be taken at this stage. Preliminary sketching of the rest of the itinerary is also possible.
Royal County Down can be included in Plan A, perhaps together with Ardglass and County Louth.
Plan B, should tee-times at Royal County Down not be secured, could include both courses at Ballyliffin, Either of these world class courses are an equally satisfactory alternative.
Southwest Ireland 2027
Advance requests are being taken at all of the major southwest courses. These include Ballybunion, Tralee, Waterville, Old Head and Lahinch. Times can already be secured for 2027 at Doonbeg.
Timesheets will begin to open in March, probably at Old Head first. Lahinch are stating timesheets will open ‘mid to late 2026’.
September 2027 (Ryder Cup) is likely to already be full (advance requests already in the queue). Many have requested times on the basis they’ll be in Ireland for the Ryder Cup. However that hinges on securing tickets so there may be some stock returned.
For those planning golf trips outside of September 2027 the earlier the better. Our experience of these past few years tells us that it becomes very difficult after the spring of the prior year.
Ryder Cup 2027
The Ryder Cup runs Monday 13th to Sunday 19th September 2027 (competition days 17th–19th).
The planning situation for golf trips around these dates is less than satisfactory.
As always we are happy to advise on where and how to secure golf in southwest Ireland before, during and after the Ryder Cup but there are no guarantees and the advance request files for September 2027 are reportedly already quite full.
We are happy to help organise as best we can but at this stage, especially with the volume of requests already submitted to the southwest courses, there are no guarantees of successful outcomes.
For other parts of Ireland there will also be tee-time pressure and the notes regarding Northern Ireland (Royal Portrush and Royal County Down) apply to all months May-September 2027 irrespective of the Ryder Cup.
Our best advice, especially for those that would like to be in Ireland in September 2027, is to consider a trip to Northwest Ireland.
If tickets are secured we can then work towards moving the appropriate nights accommodation as close as possible to Adare .
2027 Prices
Royal County Down is the first 2027 green fee to be: £495 for the Championship Links and £150 for the Annesley Links (rising tides floating all boats).
We expect Royal Portrush to be £475. Portstewart have provisionally announced a rate of £335 for the Strand Course in 2027 – no increase on the 2026 rate for which they deserve some kudos.
In the southwest as Ballybunion, Tralee and Lahinch have now set 2026 green fees at the € 450 mark we expect 2027 rates to be € 500. The latter two courses increased rates for 2026 by 20%, presumably to ‘catch up’ to Ballybunion.
A further 20% rise to € 545, rounded up to € 550 would not be a surprise.
2027 Plan? Act Now
If 2027 is your target, the helpful starting point is a short list of preferred week(s), your “must-play” courses, and a Plan B you would be equally happy to travel for — we can then advise what can be secured now, and what hinges on the spring 2026 release windows.
