I’m standing on the breathtaking 6th tee of Trump Doonbeg, the wonderfully wild County Clare links that will host the Irish Open 2026, when my caddie utters words that stop me in my tracks.
“Your line is straight out over the beach, Peter. If you hit in there, the wind will ease the ball back into the fairway. If it was blowing a little stronger, I’d be telling you to aim at the sea.”
It’s advice that feels a little ‘Tiger line’ for my game, but when it Rome and all that … and, lo and behond, I follow my caddie’s advice to the letter and the breeze drifts my ball back towards safety as it bounds up a fairway flanked to the right by an Everest-sized sand dune.
It’s a beautiful July day and we have come to play the celebrated links at Trump Ireland in Doonbeg, weeks before the DP World Tour rolls into town for the 2026 Irish Open. If my experience is anything to go by, the likes of Rory McIlroy, John Rahm and Shane Lowry are in for a real treat. Because when it comes to this links, there is no denying that despite its relatively tender age (Doonbeg golf course is only just approaching its 25th birthday) this is an extraordinarily natural test of golf. It feels as though it has been here for centuries and in many ways, it has.
When and where is the Irish Open 2026?
The Amgen Irish Open comes to Trump International Golf Links & Hotel, Doonbeg, in County Clare on Ireland’s west coast, from September 10 to 13, 2026, with the Pro-Am on Wednesday the 9th. It is a DP World Tour event and part of the Race to Dubai, and it is the first time the Irish Open has been staged at Doonbeg, and the first time the tournament has visited a Trump-owned course on this side of the Atlantic. Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, both huge home draws, are among those expected to tee it up.
A links reborn: the course they’ll play
This plot of land was first discovered by those with golf in their souls in the late 19th centur. The story goes that officers of the Scottish Black Watch regiment went searching for somewhere to play golf and the lack of transport to this remote location put them off, and a site a short drive up the coast was chosen instead. Lahinch was born.
As the 21st century dawned, former world No 1 Greg Norman proclaimed himself “the luckiest designer in the world” as his creation took shape. Although his intended routing was hampered by the discovery of protected microscopic snails, Norman used the towering dunes and natural contours to plot an old-school links of nine holes out, nine back, that followed the curving beach. It opened in 2002.
The initial plan for the resort stalled, but Donald Trump bought the place in 2014 and brought in the renowned architect Dr Martin Hawtree, who has worked with the R&A on Open Championship venues such as St Andrews, Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool, Carnoustie and Muirfield, as well as Trump’s Aberdeen links, for some fine-tuning. Some of that work was forced by the ocean, some by the demands of a professional championship. The quirky par-three 14th, played out towards the sea, had its green washed away in a storm; Hawtree’s attractive new hole is turned ninety degrees and runs parallel to the coast, playing downhill but into a prevailing wind that plays havoc with club selection. The old 18th, suffering from coastal erosion, was turned around to play as the first: an elegant right-to-left par5 (a par-4 for the pros) from an elevated tee that hugs the beach. (For the full course rundown, the standout holes and how to visit, see our Doonbeg golf course guide.)
The holes that could decide the Irish Open 2026
Doonbeg is packed with fun. Wide fairways and generally low rough keep play moving, while the pot bunkers are predictably penal and the undulating green surrounds let you show off a little creativity. On this quirky layout of five par-5s and five par-3s, everyone finds their own favourites.
The par-5 4th starts a superb run on the outward nine: clamber to the back tee for the views before taking on a genuine three-shotter that rewards an aggressive drive down the left, where the only punishment for a stray one right is a blind second. The idyllic 5th then plays uphill to a narrowing fairway and a second shot to an infinity green flanked by high dunes. And then the 6th, where you soak in the view and remember to aim for the beach and let the ball drift back to the fairway on the breeze.
For me, the pick came later: the par-4 15th, with its hidden dip and green half-hidden by mountain-sized dunes, ending a wonderful run that began with the uphill 13th (which needs one more club than you think) and the tantalisingly short 14th. It is exactly the sort of stretch where, come September, the tournament could be won or lost on the Atlantic wind.
Irish Open 2026 tickets and the field
General admission tickets start from around €35, with premium and hospitality options, including the ‘Green on 18’ experience overlooking the closing hole, available through the DP World Tour’s official Amgen Irish Open pages. Alongside McIlroy and Lowry, the expected field includes Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, the Højgaard twins Rasmus and Nicolai, and Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald.
Getting to the Irish Open 2026, and playing Doonbeg yourself
Doonbeg is about a 45 to 50 minute drive from Shannon airport, which has direct flights from New York, Boston, Manchester and Edinburgh; Dublin is roughly three hours by road. And here’s the good part: outside tournament week Doonbeg is a public resort course, so you can walk the same fairways the professionals will. Our Doonbeg golf course guide has the detail on green fees, where to stay and planning a visit.
*Peter Scrivener was a guest of Trump International Golf Links & Hotel, Doonbeg.
Irish Open 2026: the facts
- Event: Amgen Irish Open (DP World Tour)
- Dates: Rounds September 10 to 13, 2026 (Pro-Am 9 September)
- Venue: Trump International Golf Links & Hotel, Doonbeg, County Clare
- Tickets: from around €35 general admission; premium and hospitality available [CONFIRM]
- Expected field: McIlroy, Lowry, Rahm, Hatton, the Højgaards, Luke Donald (to be confirmed)
- First time? Yes. Doonbeg’s first Irish Open.
Irish Open 2026: frequently asked questions
When is the Irish Open 2026?
The 2026 Amgen Irish Open runs September 10 to 13, 2026, with the Pro-Am on the 9th.
Where is the Irish Open 2026?
At Trump Doonbeg, County Clare, on Ireland’s west coast, the first time the venue has hosted it.
What course is the 2026 Irish Open at?
The Greg Norman links at Trump International, Doonbeg, since reshaped by Dr Martin Hawtree.
How much are Irish Open 2026 tickets?
From around €35 general admission, with premium and hospitality packages, via the DP World Tour’s official pages.
How do I get to the Irish Open 2026?
Fly into Shannon (about 45 to 50 minutes away); Dublin is around three hours by road.
Can I play Doonbeg myself?
Yes. It’s a public resort course outside tournament week. See our Doonbeg golf course guide for green fees and how to plan a visit.
