Where would you retire (UK and Ireland)

[act0fgod]

If you were going to retire and spend part of the year in Scotland, Ireland, England or Wales where would go. Golf is the most important factor.

 

The obvious answer would be Saint Andrews, so looking for other suggestions.

 

I was also thinking Newcastle in Northern Ireland with Royal County Down and the real estate prices seem very reasonable but I've heard it's difficult to join the club and there really aren't many other options close by.

 

Let's year your thoughts (locations and courses).

[joe perry]

Portrush

[url="http://assets.u.tv/chapters/9/1/3/114319/610x343/Crop/portrushvms.jpg"]http://assets.u.tv/c...portrushvms.jpg[/url]


2 courses at Portrush
A few courses at Portstewart
Castlerock plus a good 9 hole course
Bushfoot GC
Ballycastle GC
and Ballyliffen if you don't mind the ferry ride

[duffer987]

What's your current situation, other family members that would be with you?
Where do you live and how long would each stay in the UK or Ireland be? Flight costs and travel times, transfers can be a right pain.
How old and mobile will you be when you retire and how good of a golfer are you?
What sort of a budget do you have?
How many courses do you like to play on a regular basis and would being a member somewhere be a mandatory condition?

Depending on those, there are loads of really interesting locations.

I would say St. Andrews is the obvious answer only if you've only ever been there. I don't think retiring to a major tourist destination would actually be that great, but maybe that's just me.

[act0fgod]

[quote name='duffer987' timestamp='1350016052' post='5784083']
What's your current situation, other family members that would be with you?
Where do you live and how long would each stay in the UK or Ireland be? Flight costs and travel times, transfers can be a right pain.
How old and mobile will you be when you retire and how good of a golfer are you?
What sort of a budget do you have?
How many courses do you like to play on a regular basis and would being a member somewhere be a mandatory condition?

Depending on those, there are loads of really interesting locations.

I would say St. Andrews is the obvious answer only if you've only ever been there. I don't think retiring to a major tourist destination would actually be that great, but maybe that's just me.
[/quote]

Both wife and I are military, with no kids. We figure we'll be nomadic rotating between CO, NC and UK/Ireland. Staying for 3-4 months. Not worried about the flights. She'll retire at 41ish I'll retire at 45ish. Single digit but never been scratch. I can play the same course over and over if it's a great course...which is mandatory.

I avoided the budget question but stated we'll be retired military. An 05 that retires today will earn $45,358 a year.

[duffer987]

Was thinking flights more from the inconvenience of things. For instance you can get from anywhere to London easily enough, Dublin, Edi or Glasgow, not as much and then more regional places less so. Obviously you can play some, so no need to worry about course ratings :-)

These are just all IMHOs, but if you really wanted to get away from things and just play golf, eat and drink and be in the company of some quality people, I'd recommend the north west of Ireland. Specifically the Inishowen Peninsula and get a place somewhere near Ballyliffin ([url="http://www.ballyliffingolfclub.com/membership"]http://www.ballyliff....com/membership[/url]). Memberships are cheap and you get two full length courses. Glashedy links is a big 'modern' links course, while the Old course you can tell was built without much (if any) assistance from earth movers. Please ignore the Faldo name dropping, the Glashedy course is a Craddock/Ruddy design and is great fun and a proper challenge.

For the region as a whole, check [url="http://www.northandwestcoastlinks.com/."]http://www.northandw...oastlinks.com/.[/url] I'm a bitbiased, as I used to visit a friend who lived up in Derry and Donegal and it was nice to head up to Ballyliffin and really feel like you were golfing on the edge of Europe. Also apparently having a membership at one of those clubs gets you discounted fees at the others. Also property prices in the northwest can be really really really cheap. Ireland got hit really bad by the economic collapse and they still have 'new builds' that are unsold years later.

If you wanted something closer to civilization, there is Royal Porthcawl on Welsh coast, between Swansea and Cardiff [url="http://www.royalporthcawl.com/pages.php/index.html."]http://www.royalport...php/index.html.[/url] P&K golf club is just down the road too, to provide some variety. Away from golf you've got the Brecon Beacons to the north, which are great for hiking and have some excellent hostelries for a weekends stay too. You're also not that far away from Exmoor and the south west of England too. Also getting to Cardiff, is a lot easier than the north west of Ireland.

One other suggestion would be Kent. It's a simple enough (leaving the M25's awesomeness out of the equation) 2hr and a bit drive from Gatwick or Heathrow and you also have the channel right there and can be enjoying France or Belgium quicker than you can get to London. From the town of Deal or Sandwich you have Royal Cinque Ports (Deal), Royal St, George, Princes Golf Club and the more modest Walmer all within 10 miles. Have not played it, but I'd take a punt on Deal being a cracking course to be a member of. Because of it's location, if I was fortunate enough to be in such a position to retire, I think it'd be my choice.

There are many many other spots around the UK and Ireland, but I thought I'd offer up those three suggestions.

[Malvern]

First place I thought about was west coast of Ireland. Lahinch is a little seaside town but only 50 kms from Shannon Airport, brilliant golf course. As Duffer mentioned, Kent is also very nice, really enjoyed playing Royal Cinque Ports.

[mjtoal]

St[quote name='act0fgod' timestamp='1349748642' post='5768497']
If you were going to retire and spend part of the year in Scotland, Ireland, England or Wales where would go. Golf is the most important factor.

The obvious answer would be Saint Andrews, so looking for other suggestions.

I was also thinking Newcastle in Northern Ireland with Royal County Down and the real estate prices seem very reasonable but I've heard it's difficult to join the club and there really aren't many other options close by.

Let's year your thoughts (locations and courses).
[/quote]

Real estate in Newcastle is not expensive at all, but joining RCD is a big ask. However, there is another option. There is another club which has access to the RCD course. This is the Mourne Club, and it is kinda like the town club, whereas RCD is for the wealthy city types who come down at weekends.

Newcastle is about 45 mins to an hour drive from Belfast.

Donegal is also a good option, and Ballyliffin is a great club with 2 fine courses. It is about an hour from Derry, and as other have said, you have good access to Royal Portrush, Castlerock and Portstewart too. In the other direction, you can head to Sligo and play Rosses Point, or head round into Connemara and play Carne and Ennicrone. Lots of great great year round golf, and often pretty quiet on the courses too.

Donegal clubs are well suited to visitors, including people who spend several months in the area, and they usually have membership plans available. If you are a low handicap, they will probably be keen to have you on their club teams.

[Sean25rp]

[quote name='duffer987' timestamp='1350101746' post='5788197']
Was thinking flights more from the inconvenience of things. For instance you can get from anywhere to London easily enough, Dublin, Edi or Glasgow, not as much and then more regional places less so. Obviously you can play some, so no need to worry about course ratings :-)

These are just all IMHOs, but if you really wanted to get away from things and just play golf, eat and drink and be in the company of some quality people, I'd recommend the north west of Ireland. Specifically the Inishowen Peninsula and get a place somewhere near Ballyliffin ([url="http://www.ballyliffingolfclub.com/membership"]http://www.ballyliff....com/membership[/url]). Memberships are cheap and you get two full length courses. Glashedy links is a big 'modern' links course, while the Old course you can tell was built without much (if any) assistance from earth movers. Please ignore the Faldo name dropping, the Glashedy course is a Craddock/Ruddy design and is great fun and a proper challenge.

For the region as a whole, check [url="http://www.northandwestcoastlinks.com/."]http://www.northandw...oastlinks.com/.[/url] I'm a bitbiased, as I used to visit a friend who lived up in Derry and Donegal and it was nice to head up to Ballyliffin and really feel like you were golfing on the edge of Europe. Also apparently having a membership at one of those clubs gets you discounted fees at the others. Also property prices in the northwest can be really really really cheap. Ireland got hit really bad by the economic collapse and they still have 'new builds' that are unsold years later.

If you wanted something closer to civilization, there is Royal Porthcawl on Welsh coast, between Swansea and Cardiff [url="http://www.royalporthcawl.com/pages.php/index.html."]http://www.royalport...php/index.html.[/url] P&K golf club is just down the road too, to provide some variety. Away from golf you've got the Brecon Beacons to the north, which are great for hiking and have some excellent hostelries for a weekends stay too. You're also not that far away from Exmoor and the south west of England too. Also getting to Cardiff, is a lot easier than the north west of Ireland.

One other suggestion would be Kent. It's a simple enough (leaving the M25's awesomeness out of the equation) 2hr and a bit drive from Gatwick or Heathrow and you also have the channel right there and can be enjoying France or Belgium quicker than you can get to London. From the town of Deal or Sandwich you have Royal Cinque Ports (Deal), Royal St, George, Princes Golf Club and the more modest Walmer all within 10 miles. Have not played it, but I'd take a punt on Deal being a cracking course to be a member of. Because of it's location, if I was fortunate enough to be in such a position to retire, I think it'd be my choice.

There are many many other spots around the UK and Ireland, but I thought I'd offer up those three suggestions.
[/quote]

You my friend are well informed for a Canadian in California! These are all very nice suggestions.

[duffer987]

[quote name='Sean25rp' timestamp='1350125831' post='5788521']

You my friend are well informed for a Canadian in California! These are all very nice suggestions.
[/quote]

Thanks :-)
From 2001-2009 I was a Canadian in Ireland for a while, but mainly in England (Herts/Beds to be specific).
I really miss a proper imperial pint of warm brown beer.

[Shemp]

If not St Andrews, I'd move to Ayrshire. Access to Troon, Turnberry, Prestwick, Western Gailes, Dundonald and a host of lesser known but outstanding courses. There's a great fish and chips joint on Troon harbor, ferries out to Arran or Belfast, Glasgow is a short drive. Wonderful people and countryside. Plus you get to look at the Ailsa Craig every day... see my avatar.

[eers2u]

[quote name='act0fgod' timestamp='1349748642' post='5768497']
If you were going to retire and spend part of the year in Scotland, Ireland, England or Wales where would go. Golf is the most important factor.

The obvious answer would be Saint Andrews, so looking for other suggestions.

I was also thinking Newcastle in Northern Ireland with Royal County Down and the real estate prices seem very reasonable but I've heard it's difficult to join the club and there really aren't many other options close by.

Let's year your thoughts (locations and courses).
[/quote]

For me it would either be Machrihanish on the west coast of Scotland, or Royal Dornoch. Machrihanish is great, but there is something about Dornoch that calls to the soul of a golfer.

[jay65]

[quote name='Shemp' timestamp='1350221134' post='5792049']
If not St Andrews, I'd move to Ayrshire. Access to Troon, Turnberry, Prestwick, Western Gailes, Dundonald and a host of lesser known but outstanding courses. There's a great fish and chips joint on Troon harbor, ferries out to Arran or Belfast, Glasgow is a short drive. Wonderful people and countryside. Plus you get to look at the Ailsa Craig every day... see my avatar.
[/quote]

I actually live in Prestwick, and there's nowhere else I would rather be.

[teejaywhy]

Dornoch +1

[Sean25rp]

What about Cornwall? You've got some lovely beaches and seaside towns (eg Padstow). There is also some nice golf in the region, such as Trevose, St Enodoc, Newquay, St Austell etc. These courses might not have the prestige and tradition of some of the others mentioned in the thread but are great courses in their own right. Living costs are low in these region too. Only downside my be transport links though there are airports at Bristol and Bournemouth which are a few hours drive away.

[eyewipe]

Another vote for Ayrshire here - lots of truly great courses locally, nice part of the world and great transport liks both sea and air (road not so much!).

Not sure what the process would be like for becoming a member of Royal Troon though?