GREAT IRISH LINKS CHALLENGE (22nd-25th May 2011)
Three of the world's finest golf courses - Doonbeg, Ballybunion, and Lahinch - are proud to present the Great Irish Links Challenge, an unprecedented occasion to play these legendary links courses of the Emerald Isle.
 
The event "The Great Irish Links Challenge" will take place from Sunday 22 May, 2011 to Wednesday, 25 May, 2011 with golfers alternating between the three courses on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The event opens on the Sunday at Doonbeg with a welcome reception and closes at the same venue with an awards dinner on the Wednesday.

The inaugural Great Irish Links Challenge is a unique event which takes place from May 22nd - 25th 2011 and includes the following programme;
 

Sunday, 22 May
transfer to The Lodge at Doonbeg based on flight schedules
10am - 12.30pm - Team Registration - Doonbeg Pavilion at The Lodge at Doonbeg
10am - 12.30pm - Event welcome pack & itinerary collection - Doonbeg Pavilion at The Lodge at Doonbeg

Monday, 23 May
6am - Breakfast
7am - Tournament begins

Tuesday, 24th May
6am - Breakfast
7am - Tournament begins

Wednesday, 25 May
6am - Breakfast
7am - First group tee off
6 - 9pm - Dinner served as you return to The Lodge at Doonbeg
9.30pm - Award ceremony followed by entertainment

Thursday, 26th May
Transfer from accommodation to Shannon Airport for departure

Cost of entry €545 per person (excluding accommodation & transport)

Quote subject to availability at time of booking
Please see www.londongolftours.com for full terms

 
 
HOTELS
 
Doonbeg Resort (5 star)
 
The Lodge at Doonbeg Golf Club brings a new dimension to luxury accommodation in County Clare and completes the jigsaw at Doonbeg, which already boasted a top links golf course. Located adjacent to the famous links course on the stunning southwest coast, The Lodge offers luxurious accommodation to the discerning golfer. Accommodations at The Lodge, referred to as "suites" are multi-room residences configured with 1-4 bedrooms, living room with fireplace and fully-equipped kitchen offering the ideal home away from home experience. The suites have been individually designed and decorated so that no two are alike. Each consist of a living room with fireplace, fully equipped kitchen, and differing number of bedrooms. Perfect for families, couples traveling together, or groups of golfers, guests have room to relax and entertain.
     
Vaughan Lodge (4 star)
 
Vaughan Lodge Hotel Lahinch is an intimate 4 star modern country house hotel. Owned and operated by local 4th generation hoteliers Michael and Maria Vaughan. The hotel was built in 2005 and is a low key high quality retreat complete with superb Seafood Restaurant and a lovely cocktail lounge. The atmosphere is informal but the service is professional and to the highest standard. One of the finest hotels in County Clare, overlooking Lahinch Links and close to Doonbeg, The rooms at Vaughan Lodge are spacious and have great beds and great showers – not the ” Irish Mist” that so often masquerades as a shower elsewhere!  Many rooms enjoy a sea view. All rooms have broadband and wireless is available through most of the hotel. They are located within a short walking distance of the main street (a good drive and a long iron at most!).
     
Lahench Guesthouse (3 star)
 
The Lahinch Guesthouse is situated in the heart of Clare 250 yards from the Championship Golf Links in Lahinch and the village centre, so couldn't be in a more convenient position for the golf. It's also recommended in the European 'Guide  Routard' as a 'chic' place to stay and is a beautiful family run 3 star guesthouse. Providing an excellent base from which to visit the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, Aran Islands and Galway or play the nearby famous Lahinch championship golf course and just a 20 minute drive away from Doonbeg. All 14 charming en suite bedrooms are elegantly furnished with  antique style pine furnishings, high pressure showers, orthopaedic beds, DD Phone, Multichannel TV, Tea/coffee making facilities.
     
COURSES
 
Doonbeg
   
Spanning 380 acres, the Doonbeg estate is home to what may be the last true links course built in either Ireland or Great Britain. Doonbeg Golf Club officially opened in 2002, and was immediately designated as Golf Digest's "Best New International Course."  Two-time British Open champion Greg Norman is the course architect, selected for his incomparable design skill and his "least disturbance" philosophy of routing courses to fit existing terrains. Norman's layout follows a course designed by nature - 14 of Doonbeg's greens and 12 of its fairways required no changes but a simple mowing of the grass. The fairways and greens consist of native grasses, including fine fescues, bentgrass, and ryegrass. Play Doonbeg Golf Course once and you'll want to make this an annual event.
     
Ballybunion
   
 
Located on the north west coast of County Kerry, on a beautiful stretch of sand dunes overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, you'll find the wonderfully challenging and unique Ballybunion Golf Course. The course exudes a majestic feel that simply cannot be compared to any other course on earth. With beautifully contoured fairways that tumble down through a blanket of grassy dunes, it's no wonder these challenging holes have been consistently rated among the top courses in the world.  Whatever your choice, every hole, every hazard and every shot is defined by nature's infinite presence.
     
Lahinch
   
 
Lahinch Golf Club was founded in 1892 and the Old Course has benefited both from the natural characteristics of the terrain and from the genius of distinguished course architects. The original course was adjusted by the renowned architect Old Tom Morris of St. Andrews in 1894; while in 1927 Dr. Alister Mackenzie - the designer of Cypress Point on the Monterey Peninsula and later co-creater of the legendary Augusta - was invited to make some changes to the links. Many of these changes were lost in 1935 due to changes being made at the members behest due to the difficulty of the three tier greens. Play the wonderful Lahinch Golf Course and you'll want to return year after year.
     
 
     
 
 
         
 
DOONBEG GOLF PACKAGE . LAHINCH GOLF PACKAGE . BALLYBUNION GOLF PACKAGE . IRELAND LINKS GOLF PACKAGE