Murray's summary:

Superb concentrations and variety of golf courses in a quiet corner of Ireland, yet close to Dublin.

Birdies:

•  Every type of golf course within a short drive

•  Real Irish welcome

Bogeys:

•  Few multi-course resorts

•  Sunshine not guaranteed

About Wicklow

Wicklow is a small town on the coast about an hour south of Dublin.  It sits at the mouth of the tidal inlet Broad Lough.  Here there is a small working port and quayside that is more business than tourist oriented.  The town is the ideal place to stay for playing golf in Wicklow, ,re  almost dead centre to all the best golf courses.  If you would like to investigate the beautiful, green Wicklow Mountains and National Park it all begins just behind the town.  Wicklow is pretty much one main street of shops bars and restaurants, but there is enough to keep you entertained for a week’s stay.

When to go

To be honest, the weather in Ireland is always a little unpredictable, so expect to encounter some rain whenever you go.  More predictable are the temperatures which will be best for golf from April through to September: you may be lucky with some glorious days in March and October, but you could also hit a bad patch.  Mid-July to late August is best avoided as school holidays mean that prices are high and roads are jammed, so avoid if you can as the Wicklow mountains and beaches are very popular holiday destinations.

Accommodation

There are plenty of options for accommodation throughout the county of Wicklow.  The whole county is full of small B&B's - just one or two rooms in somebody's house (a good way of meeting the locals).  There is a shortage of decent three star hotels, surprising for a tourist county, but one or two are to be found.  Four star accommodation is more readily available, though not abundant and some of these may downgrade to three star over the coming years due to the country's economic woes.

Sightseeing

Around the coast there are some long sandy beaches although it takes a hardy swimmer to brave the Atlantic waters even with the warmth of the Gulf Stream!

Druids Glen

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Around the 400-year old Woodstock House and estate, Druids Glen has an almost formal-garden like atmosphere and stands up well to its soubriquet “The Augusta of Europe”.  The course starts in a modern US style with some open rolling Fairways flanked by yawning bunkers.  It soon narrows down amongst the trees with some very pretty holes criss-crossing water hazards and flanked by banks of Rhododendrons (try and visit in May for the full technicolour effect).  Every hole has been expertly crafted to provide a visual treat as well as a golfing test.  There are a couple of unusual features too, such as the suspension bridge over the ravine on the 8th.  Druids Glen has hosted the Irish Open on four occasions and is every bit as good to play as it is to admire.  Clubhouse is in the old country house and has a variety of refreshment options, including fine-dining in case you are planning an end of tournament dinner?

Druids Heath

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A newer addition to the set-up at Druids Glen, opening in 2005, although you would be hard pressed to tell as the course winds through unrelenting age-old gorse - bright yellow warning signs that say "not here".  Once over the small rise to the 1st Tee, the ground falls away in a long gentle slope at the bottom of which you will find the course's few water hazards.  The main golfing problems are however presented by the gorse, which is everywhere.  None more so than the short 6th into the abandoned quarry, a good looking hole of grey granite and yellow gorse.  The original course was deemed too tough by many so a rethink of a few holes has led to a softening here and there.  Druid's Heath is now a more enjoyable golf course but you will still have to play well to score well. Clubhouse comprises a fairly small bar and Pro-shop in the hotel's leisure centre.

Wicklow

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One of Ireland’s true “hidden gems”.  Seemingly clinging on to the cliffs just south of Wicklow, each of the 18 holes is a unique combination of blue sea, green grass and yellow gorse.  It invites you to play from the moment you pull-up in the car park.  The front-9 opens up with two very tough holes down to the ruins of the Black Fort and back along the very edge of the cliffs.  There are a couple of shorter holes, before the “signature” hole Pebble Beach with a long carry over open water (ask the Secretary if you can play off the Blue Tees).  The back nine stretches out with some longer holes and a couple of blind drives, never ceasing to entertain.

The European

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The brainchild of Pat Ruddy, one of Ireland’s foremost golf writers, The European is an homage to links golf.  The outstanding visual feature of the course are the deep bunkers faced with railway sleepers that seem to be everywhere – especially on the front-9 and the savage rough, not far from the Fairway at all.  The back-9 has the most memorable holes between the huge dunes and the waves.  Greens are large with sensible amounts of borrow: the 12th is enormous, fully 127 yards long!  The thirteenth Green forms a horseshoe around a bunker – take care to stay on the flag side!  A very tough test of anybody’s golf – especially with the usual amounts of wind.  Clubhouse is a very simple affair.

Powerscourt - East

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The more varied of the two Powerscourt courses with a start that leads you off through vintage oaks (literally on the 2nd!) and up and down across a pair of back-to-back par-3s.  The course then opens out amongst saplings and cleverly bunkered mounded Fairways.  The back 9 has more hills and more established pines with some lovely views back down towards the Sugar Loaf mountain and Powerscourt house.   The course condition at Powerscourt are exemplary, lush grass neatly trimmed into Tees, Fairways and Greens, very impressive.

Powerscourt - West

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More open than the East and hillier too with just about every hole either going up or down.  The contours of the land have been well employed in shaping the holes though and there are some inviting looking approaches and Tee shots waiting for you.  Throughout the course water comes into play on a fairly regular basis either in the form of lakes or cleverly placed streams to negotiate.  A very enjoyable test of golf, impeccably maintained, but a buggy worth considering.

Arklow

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A classic Irish links that you may well never have heard of?  Arklow sits on a patch of land perfectly suited to golf: sandy soil, mild dunes, Marram grasses and a small stream. Accentuated by large Greens with plenty of hummocks and hollows to negotiate if you are considering running the ball in.  Hazards are clear to see from the Tee as the playing surface is generally flat, except where a couple of elevated Tees have been added.  Arklow has a large and active Membership, so book your Tee-times well in advance to avoid Club competitions and the like.  Large one-room Clubhouse, where you will be made most welcome.

Tulfarris

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The course is situated right on Blessington Lake, or more accurately on three promontories that run out into the lake.  This means that you are never far from a water hazard on your way around Tulfarris: either the lake itself or small ponds and streams that have been shaped from the lake water.  The course is in a very quiet, almost remote, location and runs mainly through established forest around the lake.  The land in general has quite a wild, natural beauty about it with very little planting added and the deep rough quite unkempt if you wander far from the Fairway.  The course is predominantly flat with just a few rises and sloping Fairways on the early, more inland holes.  Small Clubhouse amongst the hotel buildings, you will be better off using the main hotel bar for refreshments after your round.

Greystones

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Greystones is a wealthy suburb of Dublin (take a look at the houses) and this is in the look, feel and presentation of their Golf Club.  The front nine is quite special rising up behind the Georgian Clubhouse to the gorse clad high point at the 7th offering magnificent views over Greystones and the coast.  This half of the course is quite challenging (for your golf and your physique), but offers the most entertaining holes.  The second half of the course is more conventional parkland, lying below the Clubhouse through the pines with just a gentle slope. A centenary course, so old style small Greens to contend with.

Charlesland

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Good, clean golfing fun.  Charlesland is an unpretentious course just south of Greystones that has been designed to be enjoyed by all.  In general the course is fairly open, with holes running closely together in some places, so you can normally find your ball and keep going.  However to score well you will need to play a little cagily as there are hazards to be found for the over ambitious.  The front-9 runs along beside the sea and has a links feel to it albeit without the sandy soil and tight lies.  There is gorse here too but in general it is kept under tight control.  The back-9 has a more parkland feel running inland through trees and over the course's one hill – the 12th Green and 13th Tee.
Probably the best value golfing close to Dublin, so normally quite busy: reserve your Tee-times well in advance.

Tinakilly House****

Murray's Word

About two miles north of Wicklow town, tucked away in the woods leading down to the sea Tinakilly (house of the wood) is a lovely old country mansion that has been turned into a stately small hideaway hotel.  Tinakilly has just 33 rooms and is a quiet retreat, yet within a short drive of Wicklow town.  Tinakilly has a selection of bedrooms from Standard up to Four-Poster and Captain’s Suite.  The standard bedrooms are absolutely fine, so it’s up to you how much extra space and luxury you need or how special the occasion is?  The restaurant at Tinakilly is exceptional and you will be treated to the best that Ireland has to offer.  The house also has a small drawing room style bar and several other sitting rooms on the ground floor with open fires and furnished with some carefully chosen antiques.  Outside there is plenty of space for strolling around the private woods and gardens.

Druids Glen****

Murray's Word

The Druids Glen Hotel nicely complements the two golf courses and makes this a very complete golf resort to the south of Dublin.  Despite being quite a large hotel, it blends into the landscape being built of local stone and only two storeys high.  It is hardly visible when playing Druids Heath and only evident on a few holes at Druids Glen.  Built in 1999, the Druids Glen hotel has a modern style and feel about it, yet maintaining a certain Irishness.  The lobby is bright and airy being open-plan up to the roof, bedrooms are a good size and are well equipped with modern features.  For dining there are two options: the restaurant which serves very fine food in a conservatory style setting and lighter dishes that are available in the bar and lounge of the "13th" (the bar looks over the 13th of Druids Glen).  The hotel has a sports club with indoor pool, gym and Elemis spa; this area also forms the Druids Heath Clubhouse, with a small Pro–shop and bar.  A good modern hotel that sits on its own away from nearby towns, (Newton Mountkennedy is the closest with a few bars and a couple of places to eat), well placed for many of the courses in Wicklow.
N.B. The entrance to the hotel is actually at Druids Heath, the hotel is sandwiched between the two courses.

Grand Hotel Wicklow***

Murray's Word

At one end of the high street, the Grand Hotel is the best hotel in town and offers a real Irish welcome, with straightforward accommodation that is clean and tidy – perfect for golfers that are going to be out and about all day.  However they do have one Superior - Room 101, if you are looking for something a little more comfortable.  The hotel has an Italian restaurant Al Mondo that is open everyday: Irish fare is also available in the hotel’s large “Wynne’s” bar (there is also a residents lounge).  The Grand Hotel also has its own nightclub “The Venue” that is open on weekends and frequently hosts events and live bands too.  Wynne’s also offers occasional evening entertainment of a more relaxed nature.  Large car-park behind the hotel, free for residents.

Chester Beatty Inn

Murray's Word

Originally a wayside tavern, in the small town of Ashford about five miles from Wicklow on the road up into the hills and the well known lake and ruins at Glendalough..  Ashford is a very small town, its main claim to fame is the Mount Usher gardens, but the Chester Beatty will shelter, feed and water you very well.  With new owners in 2010, the bedrooms have been very tastefully redecorated in pale tones and refurnished with solid wooden pieces; bathrooms too have been upgraded.  Downstairs the bar and Yew Tree restaurant are very traditional Irish: upstairs the bedrooms are modern Irish: the best of both worlds!

Dining out in Wicklow

There are quite a few options for dining out in Wicklow and a huge number of bars to choose from.  For drinking Healeys, Ernies and The Mariner are all good options that are modern Irish (i.e. Guinness and flat screen TV’s!), for a pint pulled from the old world try Tá Sé which hasn't’t changed much since St. Patrick’s last visit.

Probably the most refined restaurant in town is the Black and Blue Grill (0404 66800) a cosy little restaurant that exploits the best of the local produce.  As it is quite small, you must book well in advance for Friday and Saturday nights.

On the square at the southern end of the Main Street you will find the Steakhouse, which serves fine steaks, but also good fish and other meats too.  Casapepe (0404 62050) is also off the Market Square but hidden away downstairs, mainly Italian food with a few other European dishes on the menu too.  Along the high street there are a few takeaways and oriental options.  Of the latter, one of the best is Penang Garden (0404 64916) down on the South Quay where the food takes a reassuring amount of time to prepare; Jausan, the Indian restaurant is good too.

Nightlife

Wicklow has a couple of late evening options: The Venue, which is part of the Grand Hotel and the younger option.  The other is The Old Forge - directly opposite the Grand Hotel across the street.

Flights

Wicklow is very easy to get to by air with so many flights into Dublin airport and quite a few into Cork too.  Dublin is the closest and it will not take long to skirt Dublin on the motorway and head south into the rolling hills of Wicklow.

Hover on a logo to see the available routes, clicking the logo below will take you directly to the airline's website to book your flights.

A very useful site that searches all the major airlines and some of the "lo-cost" carries for you is Sky Scanner.  You can alter depature and arrival points, dates and times at will and the website will come back with several options failry quickly.
Click below to give it a go.

Ferries

By sea there are routes from the UK into Dublin Port or Dun Laoghaire on the south side of Dublin is even easier.

Alternative sea-crossings are available into Rosslare, which is not far to drive at all or into Cork (from Swansea or Roscoff), which is a little further to go.

Hover on a logo to see the available routes, clicking the logo below will take you directly to the ferry company's website to book.

Discounted ferry prices for Murray's Members - just click on the logo to lower the gangway to our exclusive Member rates.

Hire cars

Probably the most flexible way to get around during your visit.  Both airports offer the full range of hire-car companies: Avis, Hertz, Budget, Europcar, Sixt et cetera, whose contact details are shown opposite (if you have not already been offered a hire-car by your airline when you booked your flights!).

Holiday Autos offer a 10% discount to Murray's Members off their already low rates.  Simply click on their logo opposite to be taken to their specially discounted website.

Chauffeur driven cars, minibuses and coaches

Local Agencies

If you would prefer to leave the driving to somebody else then there are a number of local travel agents who will take care of all you transfer arrangements.

You could also use a local travel agency to arrange your trip below are some of the companies we are aware of but have not used.  If you do use one of them, please leave your comments about their services for others.