Blarney, Ireland is located a short 5 miles from Cork City, an ideal tourist spot rich in old-world history and charm. According to Cork-Guide.ie, the town has a small, friendly population of 2,000 people and is dressed with quaint Tudor-style buildings and a fabulous town square. If you're opting to kiss the Blarney Stone before your day out at golf, you'll have plenty to gab about with the number of terrific championship and parkland golf courses located in the nearby area.
Blarney Golf Resort
British Open champion John Daly designed the Blarney Championship Golf Course, which is an 18-hole, par-71 course located on 171 rugged acres in the Shournagh Valley, and is open to the public. It is equipped with a two-story clubhouse with locker rooms, saunas and an extensive pro shop. It is accompanied by a hotel, restaurant and full-service health spa, in addition to 32 furnished golf lodges available for rent. Banqueting facilities are also available for groups, with the Lion's Den bar overlooking the 18th hole, a refreshing end to a fabulous day of golf. A number of reasonably priced golf packages are available if you would like to stay a day or two, with options for a fabulous spa experience awaiting you at the end of the day.
Blarney Golf Resort Ltd.
Kerry Rd, Tower, Blarney, Co. Cork, Ireland.
(+353) 021 438 4477
blarneygolfresort.com/
Lee Valley Golf & Country Club
Ryder Cup winner Christy O'Connor Jr. designed Lee Valley Golf Course, a public golf course voted one of the top 100 Irish golf courses by Golf Digest in 2006. It offers four-star accommodations in addition to its 18-hole premiere course. You will enjoy the practice putting green and clubhouse facilities, with a pro shop, changing rooms, bar and restaurant. Complimentary bus service is available for guests with advanced booking, which means you can enjoy a stop in the clubhouse after your day without the worry of navigating traffic once you are on your merry way. If you would prefer to stay a spell, luxurious holiday cottages are available, amply furnished and with a fully stocked kitchen if you decide to eat in. This golf course is located 8 miles south of Blarney and offers golf packages and baby-sitting services for guests.
Lee Valley Golf & Country Club
Clashnure, Ovens, Co. Cork, Ireland
(+353) 021 733 1721
leevalleygcc.ie/index.php
Muskerry Golf Course
Touted as one of the top 18-hole public parkland courses in Munster, this course is nestled 5 miles south of Blarney and was designed by famed golf legend and architect Alister MacKenzie. Bursting with natural terrain and disasters, this course offers a challenging round for seasoned golfers, with no two holes alike. You will enjoy the rural setting which begins relatively flat and winds its way up to spectacular views overlooking the river, before weaving back into the lush surrounding woodland. The course has members-only restrictions daily from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., in addition to Wednesday afternoons and Thursday mornings. You can book your tee time over the Internet to ensure your spot is waiting for you when you arrive.
Muskerry Golf Club
Carrigrohane, Co. Cork, Ireland
(353) 021 438 5297
muskerrygolfclub.ie
About The Author
Abaigeal Quinn works as an international consultant for a famous speakers bureau in Arizona. She is a former news editor and insurance agent and works as a part-time freelance writer for online publishers including eHow, Trails, Answerbag, Bestcovery, NetQuote and GolfLink. Quinn first began writing for a daily newspaper in 1985 after slinking her way into a news desk through the ad department.
