County Clare is not the first county that comes to mind when US golfers plan an Ireland trip. Kerry gets the headlines - Ballybunion, Waterville, the Ring of Kerry courses. But Clare has two world-class links courses within 1 hour of Shannon Airport, and for golfers arriving on transatlantic flights, that proximity is hard to argue with. This is the case for making County Clare the centrepiece of your Ireland golf trip.
Lahinch Golf Club: The Classic Clare Links
Lahinch Golf Club was founded in 1892 and has been a pilgrimage site for links enthusiasts ever since. The Old Course is a traditional out-and-back links on the Clare coast - natural dunes, blind shots, and fairways that respond to Atlantic wind in ways that no inland course can replicate. It hosted the Irish Open in 2019 and drew some of the world's best players to a course that has been testing lesser mortals for over 130 years.
The club's most famous residents are its goats. A small herd has lived on the course for generations and, according to local legend, their behaviour predicts the weather. If the goats shelter near the clubhouse, rain is coming. Whether that is meteorology or folklore, the story tends to please visiting Americans enormously.
From Shannon Airport, Lahinch is approximately 1 hour by road - making it the closest top-100 links course to the terminal. The Cliffs of Moher are 10 minutes beyond Lahinch, which means a day that combines a round at Lahinch with an afternoon at the cliffs is entirely feasible. Non-golfers in the group can take our private Cliffs of Moher tour while the round is played.
Trump International Golf Links, Doonbeg
Doonbeg Golf Links was designed by Greg Norman and opened in 2002, wrapping around Doughmore Bay on the south Clare coast with the Atlantic as both backdrop and playing hazard. Donald Trump purchased the resort in 2014 and invested significantly in both the links and the five-star lodge. The course is exceptional - a demanding, wind-exposed links with spectacular dune terrain and ocean views on almost every hole.
Doonbeg is 1 hour from Shannon Airport - even closer than Lahinch - making it the ideal first or last round of an Ireland golf trip. The lodge at Doonbeg is one of the best-positioned golf resort stays in the country. Many US golfers base themselves at Doonbeg for the first night after arrival, play the course the next morning, and then move on to Kerry.
Why Shannon Airport is the Best Arrival Point for Clare Golf
Dublin Airport is where most international flights land in Ireland - but for golfers heading to Clare, it adds two hours of driving at the start of a long-haul trip. Shannon Airport receives direct transatlantic flights from Boston, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, and other US cities.If you are planning a Clare and Kerry golf trip, flying into Shannon rather than Dublin saves you around two hours each way and puts you within an hour of the first tee.
Shannon Transfers provides private golf transfers from Shannon Airport to both Lahinch and Doonbeg - and to every other course on your itinerary. Your clubs go in the back of the Mercedes V-Class, your group goes in the seats, and you arrive at the clubhouse ready to play.
Building a Clare Golf Day
A suggested County Clare golf day from Shannon Airport:
- 08:30 - Shannon Transfers collects from Shannon Airport arrivals or your hotel
- 09:30 - Arrive Lahinch Golf Club, morning tee time
- 13:30 - Finish round, lunch at the clubhouse
- 14:30 - Optional: 10-minute drive to Cliffs of Moher visitor centre
- 16:00 - Return transfer to Shannon or onward to Doonbeg Lodge for overnight
The schedule is flexible - your driver works around your tee time, not the other way around. Book through Shannon Transfers and we will coordinate the whole day.
Planning a County Clare golf trip? Shannon Transfers provides private golf transfers to Lahinch, Doonbeg, and every course in the west and southwest. Fixed price, Mercedes V-Class, clubs and passengers together. Enquire About Golf Transfers Call: +353 61 951 195
