GROUND-ONLY TAILOR-MADE GOLF, SINCE 1981
Eddie Hackett's wildest links, out under the Twelve Bens.
Galway Coast golf holidays
Connemara Championship Links runs more than 7,200 yards along the Ballyconneely shore, with the Twelve Bens behind you and the Atlantic spray off the left. Round it out with Galway Bay and a short drive into the city, and you have a corner of the west coast most golfers never get around to playing.
4.9 from real golfers
· 6 courses · from
Galway sits on Ireland's west coast, where the golf is shaped by the Atlantic and the towns keep their own pace. For a UK golfer it is an easy short break that feels a long way from home without a long flight, with rounds on the doorstep of pubs, harbours and good food.
We have been planning golf trips to Ireland since 1981. We book the hotel, the tee times and the transfers, and we sort out every round so you turn up and play. Galway is one of those regions where local knowledge on timings and travel earns its keep.
Why play golf in Galway Coast
The character here is links and resort golf set against the coast, with weather that can change inside a single round. Glenlo Abbey is the standout base on the data we work from, an estate hotel close to Galway city that suits golfers who want comfort at the end of the day rather than a long drive back.
The Lodge at Doonbeg is the other name worth singling out. It sits down the coast in County Clare and is a proper golf address, the sort of place you build a trip around if you want the dunes and the ocean as the backdrop to your week.
The courses you’ll play
The golf on this trip runs through the resorts themselves rather than a list of separate clubs. Two of the hotels we use here are golf bases in their own right, so the rounds are built around where you stay.
- Glenlo Abbey Hotel, an estate hotel near Galway city that works well as a comfortable base for golf in the area.
- The Lodge at Doonbeg Hotel, a coastal golf address down in County Clare for golfers who want the links setting.
Exact courses and tee times depend on the dates you choose and what is open, so we confirm the playing arrangements with you when we put the itinerary together.
Where you’ll stay
For a city-based break close to the bars and restaurants, The Ardilaun Hotel & Leisure Club is the easiest on the wallet, with a leisure club to come back to, from
If the golf is the point of the trip, two addresses stand out:
- The Lodge at Doonbeg Hotel, a coastal golf base in County Clare, from
£715 (≈ €815) (≈ $945) (≈ CA$1,335) (≈ AU$1,345) (≈ NZ$1,645) (≈ CHF 755) - Glenlo Abbey Hotel, an estate hotel near Galway city for golfers who want comfort and space, from
£810 (≈ €925) (≈ $1,065) (≈ CA$1,515) (≈ AU$1,525) (≈ NZ$1,865) (≈ CHF 855)
Prices are per person and ground-only. They are a guide rather than a fixed quote, since they move with dates, room type and group size.
Best time to play golf in Galway Coast
Late spring through early autumn, roughly May to September, gives you the best mix of daylight and playable conditions on the west coast. June and July bring the longest evenings, which is useful when you want a second nine after a late lunch.
Be honest with yourself about the Atlantic. Wind and rain can arrive in any month, and links golf here rewards waterproofs and a flexible mindset rather than a fixed tee time you refuse to move. Shoulder months like April and October can play very well but carry more weather risk.
Getting there
Most UK golfers fly into Shannon, which is the closest airport for this stretch of coast, with Dublin a longer but well-connected alternative. From there it is a drive west to Galway and County Clare, and we arrange your transfers so you are not sorting cars and directions after a flight.
Flights are not part of the holiday price. We can add them as an ATOL-protected option and book them alongside the rest of the trip, or you can arrange your own and we handle everything once you land.
Good to know
A few practical notes. The hotels here are spread between Galway city and County Clare, so the right base depends on whether you want nightlife on the doorstep or the coast and the golf as your focus, and we will talk that through before booking. The one honest caveat is the weather, this is the Atlantic seaboard and conditions can turn quickly, so allow some give in the schedule and pack for wind and rain even in summer. Course access and tee times vary by date, and we confirm the playing details with you rather than promising specifics that depend on the calendar.
The courses you’ll play in Galway Coast
Hotels — play the area’s courses
Ready to play Galway Coast?
Tell us your dates and group — we’ll build a tailored itinerary and hand-priced quote, usually within 15 minutes.
Plan my Galway Coast trip →Talk to a specialist · 01277 284284ATOL & PTS protected · Tailor-made since 1981
Frequently asked questions
Golf holidays in Galway Coast — answers to the questions our golfers ask most.
How much does a golf holiday in Ireland cost?
Golf holidays in Ireland start from
When is the best time to play golf in Ireland?
May to September, with the longest daylight and the firmest links. May, June and early September tend to be kindest for weather and tee times.
How many golf courses are there in Ireland?
We feature 27 courses and 16 resorts across Ireland including The K Club Hotel and Ballyliffin Lodge Spa Hotel. Your specialist matches the courses to your group's standard and budget.
Are flights included, and is a Ireland golf holiday ATOL protected?
Our Ireland holidays are tailor-made and ground-only, so flights are arranged separately, and we are happy to book them for you. When we book your flights the trip is ATOL protected and your money is held safe until you travel.
Are flights included?
Our golf holidays are arranged ground-only — hotel, golf and transfers. You can add flights through us, and those flights are ATOL protected as part of your booking.
How do golf holidays with Golf Planet Holidays work?
Every trip is tailor-made. Tell us your group, dates and the destinations you fancy, and we build a personal itinerary — hotel, golf and transfers — around them. There are no fixed packages to squeeze into; we shape the whole break to suit how your group likes to play.
Still have a question? Ask our golf travel team — a free, no-obligation quote, no call centre.