| Springtime is giving us a preview of the weather to | | | | rental car. |
| come here in the Pacific Northwest, and my thoughts | | | | If your budget permits, you may want to look at the |
| naturally turn to golf. And when my thoughts turn to | | | | several opportunities to stay at a castle hotel and |
| golf, they invariably wander off to dream of golfing in | | | | golf resort. There are also many manor |
| Ireland. | | | | accommodations at or near golf resorts and the |
| Ireland offers some of the most magnificent and | | | | more traditional hotel golf resorts. Naturally, your |
| challenging golf experiences to be had. Indeed, with | | | | choice will depend somewhat on your budget. |
| the hundreds of courses to be found throughout the | | | | One thing to be aware of before you make your |
| country, there is an interesting and unique golf | | | | plans is that many of the courses do not allow golf |
| experience for just about any level of play. One can | | | | carts, but do allow for pull-trollies. Caddies are |
| find courses providing expansive and breathtaking | | | | generally self-employed rather than employees of the |
| views of the sea or travel inland to play courses that | | | | course; booking their services can be a bit dicey in |
| seem to have been created from magic, such are | | | | the high season. You'll want to be sure your tour |
| the stunning colors and vistas of the Inland. | | | | director has made the necessary reservations if |
| For the true afficionado, a golfing tour of Ireland can | | | | those services are needed. |
| only be described as heaven. With the numbers of | | | | As with any golf outing, be sure to check what kind |
| golf course and accommodations available, there are | | | | of apparel is allowed or required at the courses you'll |
| literally thousands of combinations that can be made | | | | be visiting. One site I visited noted that polo shirts, |
| to make your tour unique. A quick search online | | | | light trousers, and even tailored shorts may be |
| brings more than 1 million opportunities to find the | | | | required at some courses. And, since this is Ireland, |
| plan that works best for you, your skill, and your | | | | you do want to be sure to have comfortable rain |
| budget. There are a number of firms who will shape | | | | gear with you. |
| a tour specific to your desired itinerary. Of course, if | | | | For the 2007 season, you can expect to pay a bit |
| you have the time and inclination, designing your own | | | | over euro 3,000 (approximately $4,050 U.S.) per |
| tour and making the arrangements is another option. | | | | person for a deluxe 7 day, 5 course visit, or just |
| The organized tours generally consist of a 6 or 7 day | | | | over euro 2,200 ($2,975 U.S.) for the standard tour. |
| stay and opportunity to play 4 or 5 different courses. | | | | These are general figures, drawn from looking at a |
| You are transported by coach or car, and all tee | | | | number of tours available, but give you some idea of |
| times and accommodations are taken care of | | | | the cost. |
| (including a full Irish breakfast each day). Double | | | | I hope from this short article you get a bit of the |
| occupancy rates are adjusted if your traveling | | | | flavor of golf travel to Ireland. I'm going back to my |
| companion would rather be visiting castles while you | | | | daydreams now, and I'll leave you to yours. See you |
| play. There are also options for you to drive the tour | | | | at the tee box. |
| on your own, making your own arrangements for a | | | | |