IRELAND

Lahinch Golf Club is one of the very best in the world and won't beat you up like some of the others in the area!

Ask any keen golfer which golf trips they have on their bucket list and Ireland is likely to feature pretty high up. Indeed, for many Americans, it may even rank above Scotland as being the spiritual home of the game.

Compared to Scotland it is probably a little harder to plan a golf trip to Ireland. The courses are a bit more spread out and as a result it's harder to cram in too much in a short period. Having said that, there are plenty of places to stop along the way to take in the local atmosphere and, as you would expect, the welcome will normally be a warm one.

There are a few different ways you can cut the country up for a manageable golf trip. You could stick to the north and take in County Down and Portrush as well as other courses with very strong reputations such as Lough Erne, Ardglass and Portstewart. Donegal is an incredibly thriving area now from Ballyliffin to Narin & Portnoo to the three courses at Rosapenna you really are spoilt for choice.

Then there's down to the south-west where Ballybunion, Doonbeg, Lahinch, Tralee and Waterville make a really strong line-up. There's some travelling involved to make this trip work - and what looks like a short journey on a map can take much longer to navigate - but the golf is truly world class. With the addition of Ryder Cup venue Adare Manor this really is one of the best places in the world to make a trip to.

Dublin is the other obvious place to base yourself with top quality courses like Portmarnock, The European Club, The Island and County Louth.

If nightlife is one of your criteria then there are pros and cons to any of these but, frankly, you are never far away from a busy pub. Don't worry too much about the advertised closing times even in a sleepy village - they will more than likely lock the doors and keep serving you until you are ready to hit the hay!