Every athlete has his or her own perfect fantasy. Racing fans dream of tearing up the Laguna Seca. Up-and-coming baseball heroes practice day and night in hopes of batting one over the vines at Wrigley Field. And no golfer's life is complete without a golf vacation on the Emerald Isle. If ever there existed a heavenly place for golfers, it would surely be Ireland.
Ireland is the home of some of the finest world-renowned golf courses. This beautiful country offers fabulous golf courses that are sure to suit every athlete's dream. Few places on earth can compare to the lush greenery and vibrant, natural beauty of the rolling fields of Ireland. This country offers both gorgeous parkland golf courses, and challenging link courses, providing a complete and totally unique golf experience. If you like to golf, you'll absolutely love an Ireland golf vacation.
Many of Ireland's link golf courses are natural creations, carved from the sand dunes of Ireland's coastline. The Ireland coast is dotted with sea inlets that provide challenging and satisfying games for even the most advanced golfers. Parkland golf courses, on the other hand, are inland areas set among oak trees, many of which are more than a hundred years old. Combined with Ireland's natural hilly terrain, these create the perfect golf course.
This natural, pristine beauty and challenging golf courses made Ireland a certain choice to host the 2006 Ryder Cup, only adding to the incredible experience of those enjoying an Ireland golf vacation. Located in County Kildare, this prestigious event was open to all guests of the K Club.
Those who really know and appreciate the timeless sport of golf will not think twice before packing up for an Ireland golf vacation. If you choose to embark on this unforgettable adventure, be sure to make the most of it. Don't limit your explorations to only the golf courses. Be willing to venture out and experience everything that the Irish people and the country have to offer.
Ireland's majestic sightseeing spots are every bit as fabulous as the golf courses. It's just not possible to fit every adventure into a single vacation, so plan ahead and make the most of your time spent in Ireland.
Most of your time will likely be spent on those exquisite golf courses, but try to fit some additional excursions around your tee times. It will take a bit of planning and schedule juggling, but the results are well worth the effort.
Use your time between games for sightseeing excursions throughout the countryside. This way, you won't feel as though you've missed something when the end of your Ireland golf vacation rolls around. It's a great way to experience the best of both worlds in one fantastic getaway.
You have many accommodation options to consider when planning your golf vacation in Ireland. There are quaint, family-run restaurants and inns and large, internationally-owed hotels. Historic castles are available to satisfy those who have a true taste for adventure and a little extra money to spend. There is also a chain of guesthouses in Ireland that are linked to small hotels. Guests at these charming hotels often enjoy a true taste of Ireland with wonderful localized home-cooked meals.
Remember to take the time to sample a number of different restaurants. Like all vacation destinations, the dining choices in Ireland range from intimate to expansive and affordable to expensive. Many Irish restaurants prepare top quality cuisine using their own recipes and, like the links and courses of Ireland, every one is a little bit different.
If you're a golfer ready to live the dream, start planning your golf vacation on the Emerald Isle. The sights, sounds and the sport are unlike anything you've experienced before.
Ireland's West coast has long been known to local surfers as offering some of the biggest and best waves in Europe, but it's only recently that the secret has begun to spread, and surfers from other parts of the world are now coming to visit the Emerald Isle to experience its big waves for themselves.
Ireland has occasionally featured on the travelling surfer's itinerary as a quirky place to visit, but the country is now getting more and more recognition as a serious big wave surf location - and recent pictures in the Belfast Telegraph that show a surfer riding a record breaking 60 foot wave in Mullaghmore Head, County Sligo, prove that Ireland has the surf to complete with the likes of Hawaii, Australia and Indonesia.
Though there are surf breaks all around the Irish coast, it's the west which has the best waves. As the Atlantic crashes against the Irish shores, it throws up hundreds of superb surfing spots. It's the great quality of surf, the regular offshore conditions and the uncrowded waves that are the big pull for surfers; some spots regularly hold waves of 20ft or more. Donegal Bay and County Mayo offer the best choice of surf spots, between them there are in the region of 20 breaks.
Beginners should visit somewhere like Strand Hill, a beach break that is ideal for getting an introduction to surfing. Intermediates looking for something more challenging could try Bundoran, a left and right beach break which offers a ride of up to 100m. Hard core surfers can test their skills at Easky Right, though with a hard rock bottom, you'll pay the price if you mess up! Getting to this part of the country from London is easy, with now available, which is just a short drive from the coastline.
A word of warning though: if you're a fair weather surfer, you may want to pack a thick wetsuit. Ireland's seas are generally quite cold, though the Gulf Stream means that the water is warmer than Ireland's northerly location would suggest. A good winter wetsuit should enable you to enjoy the waves all day. And there's always a cosy pub nearby, in which you can enjoy a pint of Guiness as you warm up by the crackling log fire. Indeed, it's not just Ireland's waves that are attracting surfers; the legendary hospitality and the "craic" are also big draws for visitors.
As word of Ireland's giant waves spreads further, it's likely that more and more of the world's surfers will be drawn to the Emerald Isle to try out the craic for themselves.
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Conroy Keight has sinced written about articles on various topics from Recreation and Sports. Freelancer Conroy Keight is a writer for numerous Internet sites, on and