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GOLF TRAVEL ver.indd 1 12/1/1 ver.indd 1 12/1/1 ver.indd 1 12/1/1 ver.indd 1 12/1/1 St Andrews S cotland and Ireland are often mentioned when it comes to ultimate golf vacations. But when it comes to which is best, that's open to debate. So, we turned to Golfbreaks.com to find out which one should be crowned with the "Best Trip" title. SCOTLAND: It would be difficult to find a more fulfilling golf destination than St Andrews. Naturally, playing the legendary Old Course is a must for anyone. With palpable levels of history and numerous iconic images around you, playing there is an unforgettable experience for anyone with an appreci- ation of the game in its purest form. There are seven courses under the St Andrews Links umbrella – with the next best of them being the New. This is a more conventional course than the Old, but it remains a classic links chal- lenge, and is a perfect companion piece to its more famous neighbor. The same can be said for the Jubilee and Eden Courses, both of which have their own understated charm, while the most recently added Castle Course boasts imaginative and thrilling holes. St Andrews is also ideally positioned as a base for playing other courses, in- cluding nearby Kingsbarns. Opened for play in 2000, this modern layout is vi- sually spectacular and fun to play. On a clear afternoon, you can often see across the North Sea to the town of Carnoustie and its fearsome and chal- lenging Championship Course. Within two hours of St Andrews are Gleneagles in Perthshire, whose King's Course is one of the best inland tracks in Scotland, and the delights of East Loth- ian, which features the iconic links of Muirfield, Gullane and North Berwick. IRELAND: Ireland's South West is renowned for its string of links courses that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean. It starts with Alister MacKenzie's clas- sic, Lahinch, to the north, and embraces Doonbeg, Ballybunion, Tralee, Dooks and the idyllic Waterville on the Ring of Kerry to the south. On Ireland's south- ern coastline lies Old Head Golf Links, peering down on the ocean from 300 foot cliffs on a peninsula that resembles a diamond earring in shape. When it comes to drama and beauty, this region is astounding, while the stretch of coastline from Clare to Cork forms part of the Wild Atlantic Way. And there's no better place to start than Killarney Golf Club. Set on Lough Leane, with mountains filling the horizon, this is idyllic parkland golf that's in good company by the club's two other tracks. The real action begins with Water- ville, Dooks and Tralee – three links courses that boast the most spectacular scenery in Ireland. And then there's Ballybunion, a links course of muscular dunes and outstanding green settings. Ninety minutes away, Old Head lures golfers to play luxurious cliff-top golf. It doesn't get more thrilling than this, with nine of its holes literally clinging to the cliffs' edge. CONCLUSION: The bottom line is that it's impossible to recommend one region over the other. The only way is for you to draw your own conclu- sions – and that starts with a trip to the British Isles! Turnberry Old Head WHAT'S THE BEST GOLF TRIP? CLICK HERE to contact Golfbreaks.com if you would like to experience the magic of a golf trip to the UK or Ireland. THE EMERALD ISLE TAKES ON THE HOME OF GOLF!