Golfing In Ireland

First off avoid package golfing holidays to Ireland at all cost. Unless of course, cost is not an issue. Generally, while giving you access to certain courses they are very restrictive in terms of doing what you want to do. Secondly they cost a fortune. I probably should have mentioned this earlier, but if you've made it this far into the page you deserve a break.

The best solution is to book a flight, rent a car, and find your own accommodation. The key to making this work is to book early. 

Flights range from around (Summer 2003 prices) $299, on a charter flight or if you are lucky enough to get a deal at AerLingus.com, up to $1200 USD if you book last minute on a "premium" airline like British Airways. However certain routes, BWI (Baltimore-Washington) for example, do not usually sellout and therefore sell off their remaining seats for a good price of $499 USD (usually 3 days prior to departure).
Travelling between courses is a fabulous way to see Ireland. Put simply the views here are breath taking, especially along the coastline. 

That said, traveling on Irish roads is its own unique adventure. First of all we drive on the left. Secondly the standard of roads would not quite be up to that of North America, yet!  Avoid at all costs driving near the larger cities (Dublin, Galway, Cork, Limerick) during rush hour. This can be a most frustrating experience.

The secret is to leave plenty of time to arrive at your destination. While travelling 100 km in North America may take an hour it can easily take up to twice that time here.  Luckily though Ireland is a small country and getting from place to place is more enjoyable than anything else. Often times in rural areas you will find farmers, and their livestock travelling the roads, which just adds to the charm of your journey.  Unless, of course, you are late for a tee time!

To avoid any undue duress, simply calculate your distance, figure out how long it would take in the US, and add (at least) 50%.  Then sit back and enjoy the countryside at a leisurely pace.