Ireland, According to Eddie Hackett
This June, the Broken Tee Society settles into the northwest of Ireland, where the dunes run bigger than anywhere else in the country and most of the golf was laid out by one man. For six nights we’ll live at Mount Falcon Estate, an 1876 manor on 95 acres in the Moy Valley with two miles of private salmon water running past the front lawn. Each morning the coach leaves for a different links: Scurmore and The Dunes at Enniscrone, Strandhill beneath Queen Maeve’s cairn, Harry Colt’s County Sligo at Rosses Point, Donegal out on the Murvagh peninsula, and 27 holes at Carne in Belmullet.
Eddie Hackett had a hand in five of the six links, working with almost no budget and moving almost no earth. Hackett understood that the best courses are not built, but found amongst wind-carved dunes that frame shots around some of the best linksland in the world. In between rounds there’s a castle to come home to, and the pubs of Ballina are just a few minutes down the road. Coach transport and every tee time are handled, so all that’s left is to get yourself and your clubs to Dublin.
The Full Irish
June 1
Arrival in Dublin; round at Scurmore Links (Enniscrone); transfer to Mount Falcon Estate
June 2
Round at Strandhill
June 3
Round at County Sligo (Rosses Point)
June 4
Round at Donegal (Murvagh)
June 5
Round at Enniscrone (The Dunes)
June 6
27 holes at Carne
Registration
Members can register between 9/16-9/23
Field Size: 24
Pricing
$6,850 Single Occupancy / $5,850 Double Occupancy
If selected, a 50% deposit is due immediately to secure your spot. The remaining balance is due April 1.
Included in this experience
- Luxury accommodations in a six-night stay at the Mount Falcon Estate
- Six rounds of golf across six course in Silgo/Mayo/Donegal region
- Opening night dinner
- Closing night dinner
- Private transportation to/from airport and golf courses
- Gifts from TGJ & partners
Trip Itinerary
Tuesday, June 1
Arrival & Scurmore
Land in Dublin in the morning and take the coach west across the country. First stop is Enniscrone, where we’ll play Scurmore, a nine-holer assembled from six Eddie Hackett holes that Donald Steel displaced from the big course, plus three of Steel’s own. It’s a gentle way to get warmed up after the flight. From there it’s a short run to Mount Falcon, home for the next six nights.
Wednesday, June 2
Strandhill
Strandhill got its current shape in stages. The club opened in 1931, John McAlister reworked it in 1939, Eddie Hackett added nine holes through the biggest dunes on the property in 1973, and Ally McIntosh has been rebuilding the bunkering in recent years. It runs as a figure eight, with the front nine forming the outside edge of both loops, which means the wind arrives from a new direction every few holes.
Thursday, June 3
County Silgo (Rosses Point)
Harry Colt arrived at Rosses Point in 1927, reversed the direction of the golf course and built what stands today, with C.H. Alison handling the bunkers. From the third tee you’re looking out at Drumcliffe Bay, the Atlantic, and Benbulben, the flat-topped mountain made famous by the poetry of W.B. Yeats. The West of Ireland Championship has been played here every year since 1923.
Friday, June 4
Donegal (Murvagh)
An hour north brings us to the Murvagh peninsula, a finger of duneland with water on three sides. Eddie Hackett laid this out in 1973 and Pat Ruddy sharpened it in the nineties, and at nearly 7,500 yards it stands as one of the longest courses in Europe. The run from the fifth to the eighth is the reason people make the drive, starting with the par 3 they call the Valley of Tears and finishing with a cascading fairway into a punchbowl green and one truly evil bunker.
Saturday, June 5
The Dunes at Enniscrone
Back to Enniscrone for the big course. Hackett extended it to 18 holes in 1974, and in 2001 Donald Steel went into the tallest dunes on the property, the ones Hackett had left alone, and cut six new holes through them. Twelve of Hackett’s originals are still in play. The closing four holes run hard along the sea with Killala Bay and the mouth of the Moy off to one side, the same water we’ve been living beside all week.
Sunday, June 6
27 Holes at Carne
Eddie Hackett was in his eighties when he routed 18 holes through the dunes at Belmullet, and it turned out to be the last course he ever built. Tom Doak has said these are the biggest dunes he has ever seen anywhere. A second nine opened in 2013, and we’ll play all 27 to round out a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Ireland.
Monday, June 7
Departure
Breakfast in the manor, then the coach back across the countryside to Dublin for flights home.
How to Register
- You must be an active TGJ member to register for and attend The West of Ireland event. Not yet a Premium member? Join here.
- Members can place reservation requests from September 16 at 9 a.m. ET to September 23 at 9 a.m. ET.
- You may request up to four spots.
- Singles are encouraged to place reservation requests.
- Entries must be paid within 24 hours of receiving the notification email to avoid forfeiting your position in the event.
- To secure your spot if selected, a 50% deposit is required at the time of registration. The remaining balance (50%) will be due by April 1. You’ll receive a reminder email with a secure link to complete your final payment ahead of the due date.
Fly into Ireland
Book your own flights to/from Dublin Airport and we’ll pick you up
Unpack and Relax
Stay all six nights in the luxurious Mount Falcon Estate
An additional thank you to our event partners:
FAQs
How do I register?
- Registration opens September 16 at 9:00 AM ET and closes September 23 at 9:00 AM ET. The field is selected by random drawing.
- You must be a TGJ member and logged into golfersjournal.com to submit a reservation request. You can request up to four spots per entry.
- If selected, you’ll have 24 hours to complete payment. If you’re not selected, you’re automatically added to the waitlist. There is no set order, and spots are filled at random.
- Want a reminder when registration opens? Sign up for text alerts HERE.
Who can attend?
- This event is open to TGJ members only.
- All guests in your group must also be active TGJ members.
- Singles are welcome, and roughly half of our attendees come solo. All skill levels are encouraged to register.
- A GHIN handicap is required to compete in the NET division.
What should I know before I arrive?
- The trip will begin by flying in to the Dublin airport
- These course will be walking only.
- Caddies will be available upon request, pricing for caddies is between €70-€100 at each course.
- The dress code for all rounds is private club attire. No denim, no sandals, and shirts must be tucked in. Hats are not permitted inside the clubhouse. Jackets are not required at dinners.
How is the event played?
- The format will be an individual stableford across all the days.
What does my entry fee cover?
- Included:
- 6 rounds of golf across 6 courses in the Sligo/Mayo/Donegal region
- Luxury coach transportation throughout (Kerry Coaches)
- Lodging at Mount Falcon Estate
- Opening and closing night dinners
- Not included:
- Gratuity for bus driver and caddies
- Caddie fee & gratuity
- International airfare (guests arrange their own)
- Meals beyond daily breakfast and the opening & closing night dinners
What if I need to cancel?
- Pricing is per person. Cancellations made more than 30 days before the event are subject to a 7% processing fee.
- Cancellations made within 30 days are subject to a 15% fee and will only be refunded once the spot is filled.
- If the spot cannot be filled, no refund will be issued.
- Please email events@golfersjournal.com to request a cancellation.
