There are years when golf in Ireland is simply magnificent.
Then there are years when it becomes unforgettable.
2026 is set to be an amazing year for Irish golf, a moment when the world’s best players, rising amateur stars, avid fans, and passionate travellers converge on the island’s legendary links. With three major international tournaments, record demand from visiting golfers, and courses in the finest condition they’ve ever been, Ireland is poised to claim the global spotlight.
For travellers who have dreamed of playing Ireland’s storied coastline or walking the fairways where history is made, 2026 is the year to make the journey.
The Irish Open returns with a dramatic new chapter as Doonbeg, one of Ireland’s most visually striking links courses, hosts the championship for the first time. Rugged Atlantic dunes, sweeping ocean views, and a layout that rewards creativity make Doonbeg a stage built for theatre.
With the world’s elite competing on the Clare coastline, expect global coverage, and an atmosphere electric with Irish support.
Just up the coast, Lahinch Golf Club welcomes the Walker Cup, the historic showdown between Great Britain & Ireland and the United States. For lovers of the amateur game, there is nothing quite like the Walker Cup’s intensity, matchplay passion on one of the most beloved links courses on earth.
Set within one week of the Irish Open, County Clare becomes the epicentre of world golf.
In late August, the eyes of the women’s game turn to The K Club, an icon of Irish luxury and championship pedigree. The Palmer South Course will challenge one of the strongest fields in the Ladies European Tour calendar.
For travellers, this creates a rare opportunity: women’s world-class golf combined with one of Ireland’s finest resort experiences.
Part of what makes this year so compelling is the reminder of what Ireland does best. The game here is shaped by nature, weather, and centuries of tradition. It is golf played with humility and humour. Golf that feels alive.
In 2026, that feeling will reach a crescendo, from the roar on a championship tee at Lahinch to the quiet beauty of an early-morning round on the Atlantic coast.
It will be a year defined by moments:
a gust of wind, a bouncing fairway, the sound of a crowd reacting in unison, and the unmistakable warmth that comes from playing golf in a place where it truly belongs.
For many, 2026 will be the year they experience Ireland again, or for the first time, through the lens of golf. Others will simply follow the drama from afar, watching the island showcase its landscapes and character to the world.
Either way, Irish golf is set to have a defining year, and its impact will be felt long after the final putt drops.
