The hire car has been the default choice for American golfers visiting Ireland for decades. You land at Shannon, pick up a car at the hire desk, and spend the next five days driving on the left down roads that seem designed to prevent two cars passing simultaneously. It is manageable. But more and more US golfers are doing the maths on private transfers - and choosing differently. Here is why.
The Hire Car Calculation
A hire car for five days in Ireland costs, roughly, EUR 60-100 per day for the car, plus fuel, plus the excess insurance most American visitors buy because their home cover does not apply to Irish roads, plus the small matter of navigating back to your hotel after a long round on unfamiliar roads in fading light. Total cost, realistically: EUR 450-700 for a five-day trip before you have driven a single kilometre.
The Private Transfer Calculation
Shannon Transfers operates private golf transfers at a full-day rate from EUR 550 per vehicle - which means one price covers the journey to the course, the driver waiting through your entire round, and the return journey. Groups of up to six travel in a Mercedes V-Class; groups of seven in a Ford Custom Tourneo. Both carry full golf bag storage. A group of four golfers splits that to EUR 138 per person per day - without the driving, the insurance, or the roads.
The Left-Hand Driving Question
Irish roads are narrow. Left-hand driving is unfamiliar. The hedgerows grow close to the tarmac in Kerry and Clare. The combination of jet lag, a challenging round of golf, and an unfamiliar car on a mountain road at dusk is, for many American visitors, more stress than the trip is worth.
Shannon Transfers drivers know every road on the west-coast golf circuit. They know which Kerry roads have passing places and which do not. They know the best time to drive to Waterville to avoid Ring of Kerry coach traffic. That local knowledge is included in the price.
Clubs in the Car
Golf bags are large. Most American golfers travel with full sets. The Mercedes V-Class handles two full tour bags alongside four sets of luggage without the Tetris session that a hire car boot requires. When you arrive at Doonbeg or Ballybunion, your driver unloads the bags at the clubhouse drop-off. At the end of the round, they are waiting at the bag drop when you finish the 18th.
Booking Golf Transfers from All Irish Airports
Shannon Transfers operates from Shannon Airport, but also from Dublin, Cork, Kerry, and Belfast. If your group is coming in on different flights, or if your return flight is from a different airport than your arrival, we can arrange transfers for the full itinerary.
Considering a private golf transfer for your Ireland trip? Get in touch and we will compare the cost against a hire car for your specific itinerary. Get a Golf Transfer Quote Call: +353 61 951 195
