Trump International Golf Links Ireland

Doonbeg is a stellar course with a striking par-5 opening hole, and some picturesque, breathtaking holes hard by the sea. Greens were lightning fast and getting up and down from their surrounds were frustrating. Pot bunkers were penal. Yet, I found it to be a solid test worthy of a reputation among Ireland’s best dozen links.

Today I just fulfilled my dream of playing in a true links style course in Ireland. Doonbeg was absolutely gorgeous. In true Trump style this course is truly world class. As pretty as the course looks it is also extremely challenging. From its undulations to the tall fescue to the wall faced pot bunkers, this course will test all your abilities. The facilities are superb, from the pro shop, to the practice facility, to the bar and of course the amazing Trump resort

I will return one day and hopefully with a better handicap in hand so I can get a decent score and loose less balls.

Beautiful links course,Great changes made over the last few years, new greens are excellence.The club house is 1st class,could sit there all day having a pint looking out at the Atlantic ocean .

Doonbeg has had a bit of an up-and-down history with an ownership change and a devastating storm that forced some recent renovations.

For the most part, the course is worthwhile and certainly has some spectacular views and dunes. As firm as it plays, it has some greens that are nearly impossible to hit in regulation because they are very elevated and fiercely defended. If you can survive these holes, though, you'll find plenty of fun out there.

The vibe at Doonbeg is a bit upscale-American, not entirely unlike Whistling Straits. Not that that's a bad thing, necessarily, but if you're looking for that authentic Irish golf experience, you won't quite get it here.

They layout is outstanding and you will not find better service ANYWHERE. If you need or want it, they will do it if they can. The turf is excellent, the greens are new and growing, so they are a bit slow. My only knock is the course has the "love grass" too dominant and too close to play. Also, the "love grass" shouldn't surround the bunkers that must be challenged from the tee.. Unless you are an excellent driver of the ball, this course will frustrate you. Personally, I'd make the course a little more playable for the amateurs that dominate their clientele.

It was up to Donald to follow up after Ballybunion with Trump International Doonbeg our penultimate course. From a set up point of view it's all you can ask for with a beautiful clubhouse, first class service and a location to die for.

However, if you are taking the big dollars for golf then you have to deliver for the people paying. Don't get me wrong, Doonbeg is a very strong golf club but they let themselves down in several ways.

Firstly, apparently they have recently relaid up to eight greens which is all very well but if you have to leave the grass on them to the extent that you almost cannot hit the ball hard enough to get it to the hole, tell your upcoming patrons in advance. The green speed was simply unacceptable

No course guides available for purchase and no hole guides on the tee is also not good enough. Particularly with some of the hidden trouble and blind shots. It smacks of forcing groups to pay over the top caddy fees and gratuities rather than providing basic services one expects.

The course itself is strong as I said before and opens with a very good par 5 with the green set back in a huge dune. As with a lot of these courses the par 3's are a feature with a couple of tough long ones and a couple of excellent shorter ones.

Don't get conned into thinking this is a true links test. The fairways are not of the fast running variety, rather they are lush and maintained within an inch of their life. Great to walk on and play off but not what you expect with a links layout.

It is a tough test of golf with anything wide off the tee punished severely. The grass in the rough grabs any club hit half heartedly without the conviction needed and is punished accordingly.

Donald, you can do better.

I can't give Trump Ireland five stars just yet. I need to see the final tweaks made by architect Martin Hawtree before I bestow such lofty praise. Doonbeg - I'll always call the original Greg Norman course that - sits in a five-star setting with five-star accommodations. Unfortunately, two of my favorite things about the old layout are gone. The old signature par-3 14th hole was washed away by a severe winter storm. The replacement par 3 still has the same great view of the beach and the lodge - actually it is probably better - but the hole is a little less of a talking point. Hawtree also removed the bunker in the middle of the 12th green, which was the only thing of interest on an otherwise straightforward par 4. He built a new green on the par-5 fourth hole and had to reconfigure several other coastal holes damaged by the storm (nos. 5-6-9-18 in particular). He's scheduled to update several other original holes in the next year or so to put his final stamp on the place. Doonbeg's already really good. Can he take it to the next step?

It is an absolute beautiful setting. The greens were in great condition but very very slow. There was a temporary green in use and one hole closed. The hole that was used (17b) was in terrible condition. Not very good value for the money. We were told that the course is under reconstruction, only after we arrived on the first tee with the starter. There are many more options in the area to enjoy. I spoke to the pro afterwards and received a discount. This course is not worth the cost even with the discount we received. Certainly expected more from a Trump course.

Have played many courses in Ireland lahinch ballybunion trailee course even when finished wont touch them got serious attitude from a guy working on course for walking up a closed fairway to look at one of the few views that were out there. This course is not that close to the ocean like other great Irish ones don't waste your time just because it's a trump property.

Golfnow the way forward. Found a great deal and wanted to play a top class west coast links course!! I found it in doonbeg..awesome course, fairways like carpet altho greens caught me by surprise for a links as seemed slow but in very good condition. Views best I have come across and I've played north Cornwall and north Devon links courses!!!! It was a massive highlight for me to be able to play this course and realistically made possible by a superb deal on golf now..happy days! For info never played to my 13 handicap as wind was blowing in classic links style lol

I haven't played the old Doonbeg since a Writer's Cup tournament in 2010. Much has changed since then. Donald Trump now owns the resort and a course battered by winter storms has seen tweaks on four coastal holes, Nos. 5-6 and 9 and 14. Martin Hawtree has helped the links become playable again by creating several new greens and a completely new par 3 at no. 14 to replace the old signature hole. More changes are coming. I've played the course probably 5-6 times over the years, and once I got the blind shots out of the way after the first round, I've always loved it. It's more scenic than Lahinch and the hospitality in the lodge and clubhouse are over-the-top fantastic. I can't wait to see if Hawtree can make the routing even more dynamic with new dunes in play. It could shoot up the top 100 charts. That's how special the setting is.

Doonbeg is undeniably one of the best stay-and-play options in GB & I. The lodge is spacious and exquisitely appointed with large rooms and particularly caters to groups. The links is a modern complement to the historic links nearby like Lahinch. Some holes that play within the dunes are some of the most spectacular links holes in existence.

Played in 30MPH winds and monsoon like rain, so hard to give objective review on the course itself. Mt caddy was great as was the staff. I had always wondered what playing a high dollar course was like, and one thing I learned was that they treat you like your are special as soon as you walk in the door. The guys in the club house, caddy room, on the range were all great.

Staff was awesome. Views from the course are spectacular. I would recommend staying at the lodge. Also the food is wonderful at both restaurants.

I would recommend getting a caddie for the first time visitor. Knowing the course and some help tracking and finding any ball that strays off the fairway will certainly be welcome.

A great experience and I'll definitely be back.