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Join us for an unforgettable journey to the country with the best links golf courses on the planet. This tour features six of the top 100 courses in the world (outside the USA) plus three other links gems. Rough and rugged, seaside and scenic, wild and windswept - these are just a few of the adjectives that describe golfing a true links course in Ireland. While golf is the primary focus, we've scheduled plenty of time to enjoy Ireland's other notable assets - her fascinating history, beautiful scenery, infectious music and of course the charming people with their great sense of humour. We might even investigate Irish pubs, whiskey and beer. Pack your wet-weather gear, practice your knock-down shot and get ready to watch your golf ball run forever on a trip filled with memorable days, rounds, holes, and shots…
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| Prices per Person (CAD) : |
| Ottawa |
$6,845.00
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| Toronto |
$6,845.00
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| Edmonton Int. |
$6,995.00
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| Calgary |
$6,995.00
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| Single Supplement: |
$1,000.00
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| Included |
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Ten rounds of golf with prizes |
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Return economy class airfare |
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First-class hotels |
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First-class motorcoach |
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Meals as shown (B=breakfast, D=dinner) |
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Sightseeing including entrance fees |
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Luggage handling at hotels |
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Tipping for all tour services |
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All foreign taxes |
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Strider Golf travel gift |
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Tour documentation and travel information |
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| Not Included |
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Meals not shown |
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Beverages |
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Power carts, trolleys or caddies |
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Items of a personal nature |
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Airport Improvement Fees |
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Excess baggage fees |
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Any new taxes or fees |
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Any fuel surcharges |
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Insurance |
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Strider Golf Adventures
strider@rostad.com
1-877-563-GOLF
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| Southern Ireland's Spectacular Links |
| September 16 - October 2, 2010 - 17 days |
15 Breakfasts (B)
9 Dinners (D) |
| Escorted by: David & Tracy Rostad |
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| Day 1
Departure Day
(Sep 16,10)
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Our exciting journey begins today! Bring your suitcase, your clubs and your sense of adventure, as we embark on a golf and sightseeing tour of the "Emerald Isle".
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| Day 2
Arrive Dublin
(Sep 17,10)
D
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Portmarnock Links Hotel and Golf Course
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We arrive in London then connect to Dublin. Then we are taken to the Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links, located just minutes from the airport between the seaside villages of Malahide and Howth. Depending on our arrival time, there may be an opportunity to hit a few golf balls on the range before dinner.
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| Day 3
Dublin Tour and Spirits
(Sep 18,10)
B
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Get set for a full day excursion into the vibrant capital of Ireland. The morning will feature a tour of the Guinness Storehouse (with a sample of course). Then we have a walking tour of the old city before we finish off the day in Dublin at the Jameson Distillery for another tour and tasting. For those so inclined, perhaps we'll visit a nearby pub on a Saturday night.
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| Day 4
Portmarnock Golf
(Sep 19,10)
BD
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Portmarnock Golf Club (Old)
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This morning is free to sleep in, practice on the range or visit the historic town of Malahide. In the afternoon we golf Portmarnock, considered one of Ireland's premier links courses and listed on the World's Top 100. It has hosted many international events since its inception in 1894. Note: carts are only allowed with a medical certificate. For those that require a cart but do not have a medical certificate, we can arrange for a round at the Portmarnock Links course, located right at our hotel. This is a Bernhard Langer design that opened in 1997 and was built on land originally owned by the Jameson family. While it may not be considered a "top twenty" course, it will be an excellent introduction into playing Irish links golf.
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| Day 5
Cross Country Sightseeing
(Sep 20,10)
BD
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Durty Nelly's and Bunratty Castle
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We travel from the east coast to the west coast of Ireland today while admiring the many shades of green. Our lunch stop will be at Durty Nelly's - one of Ireland's best known pubs. Then we visit Bunratty Castle and Folk Park - a living museum that introduces us to the way of life in Ireland over 100 years ago. Afterwards we continue to Ballybunion and our hotel - the Iragh Ti Connor Country House ("The Inheritance of O'Connor") which takes its name from lands held by Ciar, the first King of Kerry and his descendants, the O'Connor Clan, who ruled the Kingdom of Kerry for over 1,000 years.
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| Day 6
Ballybunion Old Course
(Sep 21,10)
B
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This afternoon we play what Tom Watson says is the "Greatest Golf Course in the World" - the Old Course at Ballybunion - founded in 1893. More than one-third of all the true links courses in the world are located in Ireland and Ballybunion is generally considered to be one of the best. Unlike many of the older links style courses, you won't find too many blind shots on this course. Stewart Cink played here to warm up prior to winning the 2009 British Open. Our round here will definitely be a memorable one. Please note: no golf carts are allowed on this course. However caddies are available if booked in advance. Anyone who cannot walk will play the Ballybunion Cashen course twice.
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| Day 7
Ballybunion Cashen Course
(Sep 22,10)
BD
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Ballybunion Cashen Course
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Today we play the newer (and some say more difficult) Ballybunion Cashen course - designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1981 and considered one of his finest. He referred to it as "the finest piece of links-land that I have ever seen, and perhaps the finest piece of links-land in the world." That might be an overstatement but we will undoubtedly be tested by the soaring dunes, and inspiring vistas. Carts are allowed on this course. After our round we travel on to Killarney, Ireland's premier tourist destination and our home for the next five nights. We will stay at the Randles Court Hotel, located just a few minutes walk from the town centre.
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| Day 8
Dingle Peninsula - Dooks Golf Club
(Sep 23,10)
B
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This morning we venture out to the Dingle Peninsula, a scenic region consisting of undulating hills, craggy mountains and a curving shoreline. In the afternoon we'll play at the Dooks Golf Club, a real gem of a layout that demonstrates that a course does not need to be long to be both challenging and unique. The golf course is set out on one of three stretches of sand dunes at the head of Dingle Bay. After a great day we'll return to Killarney.
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| Day 9
Play Tralee Golf Club
(Sep 24,10)
BD
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Today we will play Tralee, the first course Arnold Palmer built in Europe and considered one of his best. The back nine may be one of best nine holes you can play anywhere. In Arnie's own words: "I may have designed the first nine, but surely God designed the back nine." So memorable is this course, we'll return for a second round in a few days. Afterwards we return to Killarney.
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| Day 10
Ring of Kerry - Waterville
(Sep 25,10)
BD
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A full day excursion to the Ring of Kerry, famous for the spectacular scenery that has attracted visitors for hundreds of years. The highlight will be a round at the famous Waterville course, one of the top three courses in the country. It recently underwent a make-over by Tom Fazio and is now one of the best courses in the world - with unique holes, amazing views and daunting challenges - the course record from the tips is 71. After we return to Killarney we will go out for dinner then to the pubs to enjoying some local music.
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| Day 11
Free Time in Killarney
(Sep 26,10)
B
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Take time to rest or explore the area today. Whether it be shopping, sightseeing, another round of golf or maybe a little fishing, it's up to you. Killarney offers a little bit of everything.
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| Day 12
Play Tralee - to Kinsale
(Sep 27,10)
BD
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This morning we check out of our hotel and return to Tralee for another round at this memorable course. Can we improve on our previous score? Following golf we will travel to the south coast and the fishing village of Kinsale where we will stay at the Trident Hotel.
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| Day 13
Play Old Head
(Sep 28,10)
B
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This morning is free to wander around the narrow streets and quaint shops in Kinsale. This afternoon we play Old Head, probably the world's most unique setting for a golf course. It is situated on a 220-acre promontory which juts two miles out into the Atlantic. You are surrounded by water and some of the cliffs rise as high as 300 feet above the sea. It is usually very windy but the setting ensures that you will never forget the day you played Old Head.
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| Day 14
To Dublin - Pub Crawl
(Sep 29,10)
BD
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This morning we check out of our hotel and travel to Cobh to visit the Queenstown Story, a museum that explains why over six million people emigrated from Ireland between 1848 and 1950. Over 2.5 million departed from Queenstown (now Cobh), most arriving in Canada before settling here or in the US. This is also where the Titanic started her fateful journey. Our next stop is the Rock of Cashel, the seat of kings of Munster for several hundred years prior to the Norman invasion. Several of the buildings here date back to the 12th and 13th centuries. Then we continue to Dublin and our hotel located downtown - the Radisson Royal Hotel. Tonight we discover another side to the city - after dinner we are taken on the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl. Two actors escort us around to several of Dublin's pubs while performing scenes from famous Irish writers' works.
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| Day 15
Play The European Club
(Sep 30,10)
BD
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If we feel up to it this morning we will travel south of Dublin and visit Powerscourt Gardens. Afterwards we play one of the most talked about links courses in the world - The European Club. Here we find a wonderful balance of new course design and old links characteristics. Opening in 1992, it quickly attained international acclaim and now is listed among the world's top 100 courses. There are even two bonus holes, making for an unique day featuring twenty memorable challenges. Note: There are no caddies and carts are only allowed with a medical certificate.
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| Day 16
Play The Island
(Oct 1,10)
B
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Our challenge today is The Island Golf Club, which was founded in 1890 by members of the Royal Dublin Golf Club who did not care for the rule that play was not allowed on Sundays. Originally the only way to play the course was to take a rowboat across the channel, but now it is quite a bit more accessible. The course is the epitome of true links with undulating fast-running fairways, large sand dunes and numerous elevation changes. Note: Carts are only allowed with a medical certificate.
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| Day 17
Return Home
(Oct 2,10)
B
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This morning we travel to the airport to board our return flight home. The golf, food, Guinness and friends we made along the way have resulted in an unforgettable adventure. What are we going to do next year to top this?
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