DELIGHTFUL DONEGAL - MAY 2023

I am delighted to be able to offer a trip to one of the most exciting areas for golf in Europe - Donegal in Ireland. For many years, those ‘in the know’ have been singing its praises but, with the opening of Tom Doak’s St Patrick’s course and Gil Hanse’s work at Narin & Portnoo, Donegal is now at the top of many people’s golfing wish lists for 2023.

Working with local experts, I have put together the ultimate Donegal golf trip. This is an escorted trip which I will be hosting and includes 6 nights accommodation and 6 rounds of golf (with the option for 2 more). Meals with drinks are included as detailed below.

This trip would suit you if you wanted to come with friends, but also if you are a single golfer keen to visit these great courses and meet other people with a real passion for the game.

The price is £1,950 per person for twin accommodation, £2,350 for single occupancy.

This trip starts in Belfast on Monday 1st May 2023 and concludes on Sunday 7th May.

DETAILED ITINERARY

MID APRIL
We’ll have a Zoom call to talk through the itinerary and get to know each other. As part of that we’ll also have a Q&A with some of the team behind the design and build of St Patrick’s at Rosapenna to help whet out appetites!

MONDAY 1ST MAY
Group meets at Belfast International Airport.

Transfer by luxury executive coach to the City Hotel in Derry where we will be based for the first two nights.

Perched on the banks of the River Foyle, within a five-minute walk from the historic Derry Walls, the 4-star City Hotel Derry is in an idyllic location. As well as being close to the action, the hotel is also a gym and swimming pool on site for those looking for some relaxation.

We will have a group meal in the hotel this evening. Thompson's Restaurant has quickly established itself as one of the best restaurant dining experiences in Derry. Overlooking the magnificent River Foyle, the restaurant takes its name from Thompson’s mill which formerly occupied the site on which the hotel is now built. This will be an opportunity to meet up with the other members of the party and receive a full briefing for the week ahead.

Soft drinks, wine, Guinness or beer will be served with all meals included in the trip.

TUESDAY 2ND MAY
Following breakfast at the hotel, we will leave for our first round - the Glashedy Course at Ballyliffin. This Pat Ruddy designed course has established itself as one of the very best modern courses in Ireland. Set in towering dunes, the course has already hosted the Irish Open and will be host the prestigious Amateur Championship in 2024.

After the round we will have a bite to eat and a drink at the club. The transport will return to Derry for an evening at your leisure. Should you wish to play the Old Links at Ballyliffin as a second round this can be arranged for a supplement.

WEDNESDAY 3RD MAY
Following breakfast we will depart for Portsalon Golf Club. The course is set alongside the magnificent Ballymastoker Bay. The beach and the mountains behind make this a really thrilling place to play golf. The course is full of features and fun and I have no doubt this will be one of those relatively unknown gems that you’ll be talking about for years!

After the round we’ll return for our final evening in Derry. Guests can either make their own plans for the evening or join up with other members of the group to explore some of the pubs or restaurants in the town.

THURSDAY 4TH MAY
After breakfast we will say goodbye to Derry and drive to our base for the rest of the trip - Rosapenna Hotel and Golf Resort. Rosapenna may have been the first golf resort built anywhere in the world, but it has most definitely moved with the times. The hotel has a great restaurant, pool and spa but, best of all, it has three wonderful golf courses!

Our first round will be on the Sandy Hills course. This Pat Ruddy designed course is set in magnificent dunes and is a great test.

After the round, we’ll check in to the hotel for the next few nights and enjoy a bite to eat and a drink and compare the day’s stories! We will be joined by John Casey and his brother, Frank Jr who will tell us the story of Rosapenna, including how the new St Patrick’s Links course came to be.

FRIDAY 5TH MAY
It’s a rather special 27 holes today. We leave, after an early breakfast, to drive about an hour an a half south to Narin & Portnoo. The course is set spectacularly, right by the water, and has benefitted in recent years from some excellent work from Gil Hanse. The course is full of quirk and fun and, when you finish, it is the kind of course you just want to go straight back out to play again!

After your morning round at Narin & Portnoo you’ll have time for a quick something to eat before we get back on the bus and drive just over an hour to one of Ireland’s ultimate gems - Cruit Island.

Cruit Island is a nine hole course which seems to be perched on the very edge of the world. The holes will have you scratching your head, catching your breath and reaching for your camera - sometimes all at the same time! Not too many golfers make it to Cruit, but those who do never forget it!

After the round we will have a meal at Cruit Island to take in those spectacular views one last time before returning to Rosapenna.

SATURDAY 6TH MAY
The climax of this trip comes at one of the most exciting golf courses opened in recent years - St Patrick’s Links. Tom Doak’s creation debuted as one of the top 100 golf courses in the world. It has an expansive routing, on a really spectacular site, and will be a fitting finale to the tour.

For those left wanting even more golf, an afternoon round at The Old Tom Morris Links can be arranged. This is a delightful blend of old and new and complements the other courses at Rosapenna really well.

This evening we will dine in the restaurant at Rosapenna where awards for the week will be presented!

SUNDAY
After breakfast we will travel to Belfast International Airport where the tour will end. Should you wish to extend your stay, we can arrange further accommodation or help you with any other golfing needs.

TO BOOK YOUR PLACE

Places are limited on this trip, please send me an email to david@ukgolfguy.com to secure your place.

FAQs

Who is this trip aimed at?
If you have a passion for great golf courses, and something a little out of the ordinary, then we think you will enjoy Donegal. Some of our guests choose to come with a group of friends. Others may be a bit more adventurous than their friends and consider a UK Golf Guy trip a good way to meet other like-minded people!

Can I come with my non-playing partner?
This trip is really aimed at golfers and we aren’t running an itinerary for non-golfers alongside it. There are other trips which better lend themselves to partners coming along, but this one is pretty much all about the golf!

Can I take caddies or buggies on the courses?
We can arrange caddies, trolleys and buggies (where available) at courses. Just let us know your requirements at time of booking.

How much is the trip?
Pricing is £1,950 per person for twin accommodation, £2,350 for single occupancy.

What does that include?
- 3 nights accommodation at the City Hotel Derry and 3 nights at Rosapenna.
- All transport from arrival at Belfast International Airport until return.
- 18 holes rounds at Portsalon, Ballyliffin Glashedy, Sandy Hills, Narin & Portnoo and St Patrick’s Links and 9 holes at Cruit Island. (Additional rounds at Ballylifin Old Course and Rosapenna Old Tom Morris Links can be arranged as a supplement.)
- Meals are included as follows: Welcome dinner at City Hotel Derry, 1 meal at Ballyfliffin Golf Club, Rosapenna Clubhouse, Cruit Island and Rosapenna hotel. Beer, wine, soft drinks and Guinness (reasonable consumption!) will be available at meals. Other meals and drinks are at individuals’ own cost.

Can you arrange a transfer from another location?
If you would like to begin your trip from somewhere other than Belfast International airport, please let us know and we will happily provide a quote.

What are the payment terms?
All payment is to our local partner, The Consummate Pro. 40% is required at time of booking with the balance paid 100 days before the trip starts. Payment can be made by bank transfer or by Visa, MasterCard or American Express. Credit card payments are subject to a 2.75% or 3% transaction fee depending on the card provider.

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