Custom Escorted Golf Tour, Ireland & Scotland 2009

The Birthplace(s) of Golf - Scotland and Ireland

16 days - Contact us for dates and pricing

Booking Info or Contact Us

Golfers will appreciate the opportunity to try links and inland golf courses in both Ireland and Scotland, the two countries who claim to have invented the game. This tour starts in Ireland where we will have the opportunity to play courses in both the Republic and Northern Ireland. Golf courses may include Doonbeg, Lahinch Oughterard, Bundoran, Murvagh, and Powerscourt in the Republic; and Bushmills, Royal Portrush and Portstewart in Northern Ireland. In Scotland, we base in East Neuk and play courses in and around St. Andrews; more intrepid duffers may wish to play the new Mull of Kintyre course.

Optional three-day excursions to Dublin and/or Edinburgh and environs (or to any other Irish or Scottish city or region) can be added to any of our scheduled tours. Please contact us for details.

Detailed Itinerary - Ireland

Day 1 - Arrive in Shannon
On the first day of our Golf adventure, host and guide Sam Couch meets the group at the Shannon Airport. We will take time to get some eye-opening coffee and to get acquainted following the long flight from the U.S. After we collect our luggage and are properly fortified, we will head down the road for our first stop at the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare. These spectacular sea cliffs provide nesting grounds for many Atlantic sea birds.

From the cliffs, our journey will take us across the Burren, a remarkable karstic (limestone) landscape that is known the world over for its microflora. Stops along the way include the high crosses at Kilfenora and the Poulnabrone Dolmen. One highlight of this part of the journey is the drive along the southern coast of Galway Bay before heading northward toward our first destination, the village of Oughterard, Co. Galway.

Day 2- Oughterard Golf Club
Golfers will enjoy a day on the parklands course at the Oughterard Golf Club. Non-golfers will visit Aughnanure Castle and Cong, the village where much of “The Quiet Man” was filmed.

Day 3 - Connemara and Sligo
A short day tour of Connemara will be the order of the day, followed by a trip to Sligo.

Day 4 - Sligo Golf Club
The Sligo Golf Club provides a spectacular links course overlooking Sligo Bay. Non-golfers will enjoy visiting Yeats Country, Sligo Abbey, and Sligo Town.

Day 5 - Northern Ireland Coast
We head further north across Cos. Leitrim and Donegal for a stop on the northern coast of Ireland at Rosapenna.

Day 6 - Old Tom Morris Links
Our intrepid golfers will enjoy a good day on the Old Tom Morris links overlooking the North Atlantic. Non-golfers will visit Glenveigh National Park and Glenveigh Castle.

Detailed Itinerary - Scotland

Day 7 - Travel to Scotland, and Turnberry
When arriving by ferry from Ireland, why not spend the first day on the Firth of Clyde, playing Turnberry? It's on the direct route from Stranraer / Cairnryan to Glasgow and everywhere else. Non-golfers might enjoy Culzean Castle and/or Burns' Cottage, and the Tam o-Shanter Heritage Center in Ayr. Turnberry, about an hour north of the ferry port, is the birthplace of Robert the Bruce.

in the mist

Day 8 - 11 St. Andrews and Fife
Golfers will enjoy our stay at Lundin Links in the East Neuk of Fife. Daily golf excursions will include playing the many courses in and around St. Andrews.

Day 12 - Edinburgh
We wrap up our Golfing adventure with a day tour of Edinburgh, followed by a special farewell dinner in one of the city's historic buildings.

Day 13 - Return to the U.S.

Notes:
The above itinerary is the intended program. The order of day trips/activities may be amended and alternative routes and venues may be selected at the guide's discretion, in case of adverse weather conditions or other factors.

"Thank you for the great time Sally and I had in Ireland and Scotland. The trip was very interesting and the countries and people were wonderful. We loved the quaintness and the cute little villages that make it so different than our great country. You were a marvelous guide! Sally still talks about your thoughtfulness and kindness, your knowledge of Ireland taught us so much. We really loved Ashford Castle and the other castle where the monastery [Kylemore Abbey] was breathtaking. Ireland will be forever a great memory because of your planning and guiding our trip. Randy and I loved the golf we thought Doonbeg was spectacular. We also loved our tour of Scotland… We loved Saint Andrews and had a great time. We loved going to church and meeting the wonderful people for Sally and I the best part of the trip was making a new friend. Dr. Sam Couch. You’re the best! Thank you for our great trip and wonderful memories. Please don't hesitate to use us as a reference. God bless you and keep you safe as you travel!"

- Dan and Sally Wilder, 2007

Our goal is to offer our guests an experience of Ireland and Scotland that is relaxed and pleasant. If this looks like the tour for you, contact us today.

Rising Road Tours
828-648-8893 (Tel) ~ 888-648-8893 (Toll-free) ~ 888-371-8895 (fax)
sam@risingroadtours.com

P.O.Box 9322, Moscow, ID 83843 USA