Ready for an epic end-of-year tee time?
Then grab your clubs.
Let’s hit the links for a riveting round packed with 2024 Carr Golf highlights.
2024 Carr Golf highlights overview
Fore!
Just a quick heads-up (pun intended):
This recap covers the best moments, milestones and memories across Carr Golf Group.
Your 12 holes of 2024 include:
- 1 remarkable crossover golf tour
- 3 unforgettable customer stories
- Marty and rock royalty in Portmarnock
- 5 must-read articles from Roddy Carr
- 2 undefeated family golf traditions
- Championship golf course maintenance
- The legendary season at Seapoint
- How Swingyard took Dublin golf by storm
- The new addition to Corballis Golf Links
- A 3-peat for Castleknock Golf Club
- Our commitment to a worthy cause
- Your invitation to the next 35 years
Custom golf tour of 2024
The New York Islanders had already enjoyed the Carr Golf Travel experience.
So the NHL stars knew we could deliver even the most elaborate custom golf tour.
After a Stanley Cup playoff appearance, they were ready to swap the ice rinks for scintillating links.
Just wait until you see their incredible itinerary.
First, quickly crunch the numbers:
- 8 golfers
- 10 days
- 2 countries
- 10 courses
- 4 accommodations
- 2 coaches
- 1 helicopter
Hallowed kingdom
What better place to start a golf trip for the ages than the cradle of the game?
That’s right:
The Islanders journeyed to the hallowed kingdom of Fife.
We arranged a 3-night stay at the enchanting Fairmont St Andrews and luxury transportation with Woods Coaches.
As for their golf, well, see for yourself:
- Kingsbarns Golf Links: 7,224 yards of majestic terrain along the North Sea
- Carnoustie Golf Links: An 8-time British Open host designed by 3 masters
- Dumbarnie Golf Links: A modern masterpiece with a classic playing experience
- Lundin Golf Club: The epic out-and-back links from Old Tom Morris’ collection
- Balcomie Links: Another Old Tom wonder with all manner of holes
Picturesque luxury
Next stop: Northern Ireland.
And so, the stick-men grabbed their clubs and caught a HeliGolf chopper to picturesque Portrush.
Then checked into the luxury seafront apartments at Curran Gate.
You’ve got to love their first 3 tee times.
As always, between rounds, our driver took the scenic route.
That way, everyone could enjoy the jaw-dropping natural beauty that makes Northern Ireland such a special place.
Now for the last leg of this tailored adventure.
Epic venues
Slieve Donard, an elegant Victorian-style beachside resort, sits on the doorstep of the world’s greatest golf course.
Likewise, it’s only a short drive from one of the most thrilling layouts in the game.
Needless to say, the New Yorkers loved their 2-night stay beneath the moody Mountains of Mourne.
Back to those epic venues.
On a cloudless, windswept morning at Ardglass Golf Club, our guests enjoyed 18 holes of uncommon excitement and suspense.
There’s nothing quite like playing across clifftops at the edge of a heaving Irish Sea.
Where to next?
You guessed it: Royal County Down.
Unsurprisingly, the iconic Championship Links provided the perfect finale to an extraordinary golfing getaway.
A relaxing last night in Dublin’s Merrion Hotel made for yet another fond memory to bring back to the Big Apple.
3 unforgettable customer stories
You probably have lots of golf travel plans for 2025 and beyond.
And the time to start planning is now.
For inspiration on the best golf destinations, explore our handpicked selection of guest experiences from 2024.
1. Northwest Ireland
Barb and Dick Wenninger got off the beaten track for their third trip with Carr Golf Travel.
Certainly, you stay and play in spectacular seclusion on the majestic Northwest Coast,
The Wenninger party – from Colorado – explored Donegal and Sligo during 8 special days along the crashing Wild Atlantic Way.
Firstly, let’s look at their amazing accommodations:
- Rospenna Hotel & Golf Resort
- Harvey’s Point
- Sligo Park Hotel
Secondly, here are their 6 world-class, though often unexplored, courses:
- Sandy Hills Links (Rosapenna)
- Ballyliffin Golf Club
- St Patrick’s Links (Rosapenna)
- Narin & Portnoo Links
- Enniscrone Golf Club
- County Sligo Golf Club
We had a fabulous third trip to Rosapenna and the north coast and will look forward to our next vacation with Carr Golf! Fitzy's attention to detail is unsurpassed.
2. Scotland Experience
It’s got a nice ring to it.
- 8 intrepid travelling golfers
- 8 wild, wonderful links
- 8 nights of luxury accommodation
The final tally was a jaw-dropping journey from Edinburgh to Fife, the Highlands and back to the Scottish capital for our McInerney group.
In other words, the tour featured a captivating combination of courses, cities, countryside, and coast.
But don’t just take our word for it.
Thank you very much for coordinating the trip for us — you did a great job. We had a fantastic time. And thanks for the Carr Golf gift. All my best.
So, where did Tom and Co. play?
- Kingsbarns Golf Links
- The Castle Course at St Andrews Links
- Carnoustie Golf Links
- Dumbarnie Golf Links
- Castle Stuart at Cabot Highlands
- Nairn Golf Club
- Royal Dornoch Golf Club
- The King’s Course at Gleneagles
3. Off-course Ireland
The Corace clan definitely made the most of their time on the Emerald Isle.
They explored everywhere from Dublin to Belfast to Galway, Cork, Clare, and Kerry.
All in 12 days!
Then again, this was not your conventional group golf trip.
Sure, along the way, the multigenerational Corace group played 3 top-notch courses:
- The Island Golf Club
- Portstewart Golf Club
- Tralee Golf Links
But they had also asked us to create a guided luxury holiday with pitstops at Ireland’s top visitor attractions.
So we did just that.
Here’s a sample of their unbelievable experiences:
- Guinness Storehouse
- Cliffs of Moher
- Giant’s Causeway
- Book of Kells
- Dingle Peninsula
- Powerscourt Estate
Talk about a once-in-a-lifetime family adventure.
I just want to thank you for a terrific job in arranging our Ireland trip for me and my family. Everything was first class from the hotels to the golf courses and everything in between. Our bus driver Mike was also terrific pointing out the many attractions along the way. Thanks again.
Marty plays Portmarnock with rock royalty
Elite athletes aren’t the only celebrities who like to unwind on Irish golf courses.
Specifically, Nathan Followill.
When he’s not playing soldout arenas or winning Grammys, the Kings of Leon drummer is also an avid golfer.
His band brought the house down at Dublin’s Marlay Park last July.
Afterwards, Nathan joined Marty Carr for a round at Portmarnock Golf Club.
The legendary links has become Nathan’s ‘Irish golf home away from home‘.
He’s not alone.
5 must-read articles by Roddy Carr
Roddy Carr is a living, breathing golf encyclopaedia.
You’re always guaranteed a hot take, eye-opening insight, historical nugget, or inside story.
So it was tough to pick only 5 of Roddy’s articles from 2024.
But this must-read list will keep you entertained throughout the festivities.
Take a look.
- Roddy reflected on the tournament’s golden age ahead of a thrilling Amgen Irish Open at Royal County Down.
- Paul McGinley gave Roddy a tour of his masterful upgrades to the Murvagh Links at Donegal Golf Club.
- Proud papa Roddy visited the Paris Olympics to see his son represent Ireland and golf’s new fifth Major.
- Roddy reminisced about his own father when exploring the enduring legacy and allure of the Augusta green jacket.
- The ‘fearless’ performance of Arnold Palmer 62 years earlier added history to Roddy’s preview of The 152nd Open.
World Invitationals stay undefeated
Every family has cherished traditions.
Nevertheless, very few become annual global events.
But therein lies the lasting magic of the Carr Golf Travel World Invitational Golf Tournaments.
This year, like so many before, families from near and far joined us in the sparkling Southwest.
So did that magic.
Fathers and daughters
You couldn’t ask for a better inclusion in the 2024 Carr Golf highlights than the 16th Father and Daughter World Invitational.
Fathers and daughters from 5 countries shared 5 fantastic days in sun-kissed Kerry.
On and off the course.
Eventually, following 3 thrilling competition rounds between Dooks Golf Club and Waterville Golf Links, the Miller family prevailed.
Get the complete inside story from Jerry Tarde at Golf Digest.
Or find out about the first-of-its-kind 2025 event.
Fathers and sons
Before long, the boys were back in town.
90 teams from 10 countries arrived in Waterville for the 35th Father and Son World Invitational.
What happened next?
In short, it was yet another 5-day celebration of world-class golf, camaraderie and craic.
Plus, the tournament went right down to the wire.
The Durkin family reclaimed their title following a nerve-jangling playoff that will live long in the memory.
Carr Golf Maintenance gets championship results
2024 was a huge year for the Carr Golf Maintenance division.
Notably, Ed Pettit and his team welcomed a trio of popular venues to their growing portfolio:
Also, Carr Golf Maintenance entered a commercial partnership with the UK Golf Federation (UKGF).
Subsequently, Ed was among the expert speakers at the UKGF’s Golf Sustainability Roadshows.
Elsewhere, Carr Golf Maintenance caused quite a stir in the media with its eye-opening golfer satisfaction snapshot survey.
Finally, for 2 clients, Carr Golf’s data-driven course care produced championship results.
Ballyneety Golf Club was selected to host the prestigious Junior Ryder Cup in 2027.
Meanwhile, Seapoint Golf Links continued its rise as a marquee tournament venue.
Seapoint finishes a legendary year in style
You’ve got to hand it to Seapoint Golf Links.
From beginning to end, it’s been a standout season for the club in Termonfeckin, County Louth.
Everyone involved – from management to members – deserves great credit for Seapoint’s stellar achievements throughout 2024.
And so does the sublime Championship Course!
After all, this year, the true links charmed major winners, blue-chip executives, international golfers, Irish celebrities, and celebrated journalists.
Similarly, big things are on the horizon for 2025.
With that in mind, here’s the Seapoint roll of honour:
- February: Hits No.77 on the Irish Golfer Top 100 Courses ranking
- May: Selected to host the 2025 Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Championship
- June: Stages the OFX Irish Legends for the second consecutive year
- October: Receives this rave review from the Global Golf Post
- December: Wins Best Links in East Ireland at the Golfer’s Guide to Ireland Awards
New swing-sation sweeps Dublin
Imagine a top-notch driving range, gaming centre, diner, and pub – all in one place.
In effect, that’s Swingyard.
So, there’s something for everyone.
You’re guaranteed endless golfing excitement, entertainment and improvement.
Why not book a bay this Christmas and see for yourself?
You’ll find Swingyard at Elmgreen Golf Centre.
Corballis gets a brand-new 8th hole
Next, a quick pitstop at a true hidden gem among links courses in the Irish capital.
Corballis Golf Links looks and plays like a dream.
Even more so since we unveiled the stunning new 8th hole in October.
DAR Golf brought the design of the par 4 to life.
Then Head Greenkeeper Mark Berigan and his team grew in the upgraded tee box and green complex.
And just in time for the popular (and ongoing) Race to 59 series at Corballis.
Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the 8th with Norman Lovie.
Castleknock hits a special 3-peat
Generally, quality golf courses produce quality golfers.
For instance, the Castleknock Golf Club Senior Cup team.
Scooping their third consecutive Barton Shield North Leinster Championship more than deserves a place in the 2024 Carr Golf highlights.
The team also reached the All-Ireland Final.
Furthermore, there was plenty of individual excellence. Members Quentin Carew and Paul Coughlan did Castleknock proud at the AIG Irish Men’s Amateur Close Championship.
Giving back to the community
It’s always important to support the less fortunate among us.
But particularly at this time of year.
Since 1985, Focus Ireland has challenged homelessness and changed lives throughout the country.
Their efforts in the community cannot be overstated.
That’s why Carr Golf Travel was delighted to donate €10,000 to such a worthy cause.
You can also give to Focus Ireland here.
Join Carr Golf for the next 35 years
Without question, our 35th anniversary tops the leaderboard of 2024 Carr Golf highlights.
What a journey! Just ask Marty Carr.
Thank you for taking it with us.
And rest assured:
The best is yet to come.
Whether at home or abroad, Carr Golf Group remains dedicated to creating unique experiences and lifelong memories for every golfer.
Now and always.
Let’s embark on the next 35 years together.
We’ll see you in 2025.
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