IRELAND -- The Emerald Isle boasts perhaps the most magical mix of golf courses and castles in the world.
Killeen Castle Golf Club in County Meath was a spectacular host of the 2011 Solheim Cup, won by the Europeans. Tralee Golf Club and Lahinch, two beloved links in the southwest of Ireland, offer castle ruins so close they're almost in play. The famous ruins of Dunluce Castle of Northern Ireland can be seen in the distance from the fifth and six holes of the Dunluce Course at Royal Portrush, the only Irish club to host the British Open.
Several golf resorts use refurbished castles as luxury hotels or ruins as a main attraction. The Dromoland Castle Hotel in County Clare might deliver the best combination of castle accommodations coupled with an excellent course, the Dromoland Golf and Country Club. Ashford Castle in County Mayo offers just nine holes, but the resort is magnificent. Waterford Castle Hotel & Golf Resort in County Waterford added a Des Smyth design on its 320-acre island in 1992. Deer Park Golf Hotel & Spa, on the grounds of Howth Castle, and the Luttrellstown Castle Resort, adjacent to the Lufftellstown Golf & Country Club, both reside near Dublin. A haunted castle overlooking the 10th green of the Galgorm Castle Golf Club gives the nearby Galgorm Resort & Spa in County Antrim in Northern Ireland some spooky charm. Castle ruins rest near the courses at the Castlemartyr Luxury Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort in County Cork and Castle Dargan Golf Hotel and Wellness Resort in County Sligo.
Ardglass Golf Club in County Down, Northern Ireland calls a former castle its home, a structure recognized as the oldest clubhouse in the world. Historians technically classify Carton House in County Kildare and the Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort in County Limerick as manor houses, but they look just like castles to the untrained American eye.
Other lesser-known courses -- Kirkistown Castle Golf Club and Scrabo Golf Club, both in County Down in Northern Ireland; Ballinlough Castle Golf Club and Delvin Castle Golf Club, both in County Westmeath; Bandon Golf Club in County Cork and Ballyheigue Castle Golf Club in County Kerry -- offer more castle views.
Ardglass Golf Club - hole 1
Next to a 13th-century castle wall, the first tee at Ardglass Golf Club requires a heroic uphill shot over a rocky coastline.
Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf
Castlemartyr golf course
The golf course at the Castlemartyr Luxury Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort features ruins.
Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf
Tralee Golf Club - hole 3
Tralee Golf Club's third hole is a par 3 named "Castle" for the outlook post that sits next to the green.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Carton House - O'Meara Course - hole 12
A folly -- defined as a castle-like tower -- looms over the 12th fairway of the O'Meara Course at Carton House.
Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf
Carton House - hotel
The Carton House is a cut-stone Georgian mansion, not a castle, but it's still an excellent 36-hole golf resort.
Courtesy of Carton House
Killeen Castle Golf Club - hole 18
The 18th hole of the 2011 Solheim Cup course sits in the shadow of Killeen Castle.
Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf
Castlemartyr ruins
Ruins dating to 1210 reside on the grounds of the Castlemartyr Luxury Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort.
Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf
Lahinch Golf Club - Old Course - hole 12
The remains of Castle Dough lie in the distance of the par-5 12th green on the Old Course at Lahinch Golf Club.
Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf
Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort
The Adare Manor isn't a castle, but it sure looks like one from the ninth hole of the Adare Manor Golf Club.
Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf
Adare Manor Golf Club - hole 14
The Adare Manor might not be a castle, but stone ruins do rest behind the 14th green at the Adare Manor Golf Club.
Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf
Adare Manor Golf Club - hole 18
The Adare Manor Golf Club climaxes near the 18th green in the shadow of Adare Manor, which isn't a castle but a "calendar house."
Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf
Adare Manor Golf Club - hole 15
Adare Manor, a "calendar house" not a castle, towers over the 15th green at the Adare Manor Golf Club.
Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf
Galgorm Castle
Legend has it that Galgorm Castle, which dates back to 1618, is haunted by the ghost of Reverend Alexander Colville, who owned the castle in the mid 1600s. Colville is supposed to have sold his soul to the devil for great riches.
Courtesy of Galgorm Castle G.C.
Dromoland Castle
The Dromoland Castle welcomes guests with a five-star experience that can include golf, spa and fine dining.
Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf
Dromoland Golf and Country Club - hole 18
The 18th hole at the Dromoland Golf and Country Club sits near the Dromoland Castle.
Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf
Ardglass Golf Club - hole 18 and clubhouse
The par-4 18th green stands above the castle clubhouse of Ardglass Golf Club.
Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf
Castle Dargan Golf Hotel and Wellness Resort
Castle Dargan Golf Hotel and Wellness Resort features ruins of a castle on its Castle Dargan Golf Club course.
Courtesy of Castle Dargan
Kirkistown Castle Golf Club
The Kirkistown Castle Golf Club is a traditional links by James Braid.
Jason Scott Deegan/TravelGolf
Waterford Castle Golf Club
The Waterford Castle Golf Club was designed by former Ryder Cup player and assistant captain Des Smyth.
Courtesy of Waterford Castle G.C.
Scrabo Golf Club
The Scrabo Tower looms over Scrabo Golf Club.
Courtesy of Scrabo G.C.
Ashford Castle golf course - fifth green
A golfer putts on the fifth green of the nine-hole course at Ashford Castle.
Courtesy of Ashford Castle G.C.
Ballinlough Castle Golf Club
Highly regarded Irish architect Pat Ruddy designed Ballinlough Castle Golf Club, seen here from the air.
Courtesy of Ballinlough Castle G.C.
Luttrellstown Castle Resort
Luttrellstown Castle Resort features a 15th-century castle and the Luttrellstown Castle Golf & Country Club just outside Dublin.
Courtesy of Luttrellstown Castle Resort
Deer Park Hotel Golf & Spa - Howth Castle
The Howth Castle is visible from the course at the Deer Park Hotel Golf & Spa.
Courtesy of Deer Park Hotel Golf & Spa
Bandon Golf Club - Castlebernard
Bandon Golf Club features the ruins of the Castlebernard.
Courtesy of Bandon G.C.
Ballyheigue Castle Golf Club
The 19th-century ruin at Ballyheigue Castle Golf Club.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
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