Us golfers have always liked to think we are pretty cool even if the rest of the world may not have agreed. Without doubt the hipster golfer with the tweed glove and ‘Beef’ beard can be seen at most golf clubs these days. To avoid an awkward silence next time on the putting green, visit one of these ‘cool’ golfing destinations. If craft beer and hidden gems are your thing, have a look at our Top 4 Hipster Hot Spots:

1)  Donegal

Ballyliffin Golf Club in the worlds ‘coolest’ holiday destination – Donegal

This isolated location in the North West of Ireland can often seem to be at the edge of humanity. So much so that the latest Star Wars movie used Donegal as a location to shoot scenes set on another planet!

What you will find in this hidden corner of Ireland is not the well trodden tourist trail or the manufactured and ‘perfect’ visitor experience with queues, gift shops and audio tours. Windy roads, thatched pubs, freshly caught sea food, locally brewed craft beers, deserted beaches, quirky club houses and clear fairways are all part of the Donegal experience. You will find yourself hitting tee shots over sea stacks along the Atlantic Ocean before settling into a night of live music and craic in a little local pub which feels like the roof may blow off at any given time! When you are in Donegal, you will find perfectly manicured golf courses, rugged landscape and an authentic experience alongside the locals. There is an air of relaxation on a golf holiday in Donegal but make no mistake, when it comes to teeing off on the first, things become serious. Especially if there is a friendly skins game on the go!

The courses are world class with Ballyliffin, Rosapenna, Narin & Portnoo, Portsalon and Murvagh all recognised by the industry as leading links courses. The prices however are a fraction of what you will find in Scotland or Ireland’s South West.

Championship golf while being immersed in what the locals get up to on a daily basis sounds pretty cool. The guys at National Geographic Magazine agree and voted Donegal as the ‘Coolest Visitor Destination’ in the world for 2017.

2) Prague

‘The King’ – This guy was as cool as they come

When you think of a weekend city break, Prague will be one of the first destinations that will come to many minds. A city rich in history, architecture, nigthlife, shopping and of course Czech beer is easily accessible with flights from Dublin. What many don’t realise is that since the end of the soviet era, golf has been enjoying a boom in this central European city.

During the Soviet era, golf was not exactly a popular sport in the eyes of the power brokers and so most courses around Prague are less than 20 years old. Nowadays the European Tour has a regular spot at Albatross Golf Resort which could stand shoulder to shoulder with any parkland course in mainland Europe. Other courses such as Plzen, Karlstejn and Black Bridge offer varied and quirky golf challenges.

A golf break in Prague will see evenings filled with beer, history, architecture and traditional dishes such as ‘pork knee’ or ‘beef shank goulash’. You can wander the cobbled streets and make sure you pick up a Trdelník which is rolled dough made as you watch and coated in sugar. Serve this with a centre of local ice cream and you certainly have a recommendation to come back home and tell your playing partners about.

This is not your average golf break which is why it makes number 2 in our ‘hip golf destinations’.

3) Marrakech

Golf at the base of the Atlas Mountains – Marrakech

Very few destinations can offer guaranteed sunshine, championship standard golf and a vibrant city for exploring post golf. Marrakech established itself in the 60’s as the must visit destinations for rock stars and artists alike with Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood regulat visitors while Yves St Laurent was a famous resident.

Today it one of North Africa’s most inviting cities and is enjoying a golf boom. The climate allied with beautiful riads and hotels as well as superb golf courses mean that it ticks most boxes. Venues such as Assoufid and Noria Golf can stand up to any of the best courses in Europe but the traffic levels are nowhere near these established destinations.

By night you can wander through the labyrinth of Souks and perfect your haggling for varied items from Moroccan tea pots to the mandatory Fez hat! The cuisine is exotic while not daunting with lots of European themed restaurants but also fantastic local dishes for the more adventurous. A lamb tagine a must before you leave.

This certainly is a ‘hip’ golfing destination and it is only a matter of time before the mass market finds out this wonderful secret!

4) Iceland

Iceland – The next hip golf destination?

OK, we may be pushing it if we were to name Iceland as a golf destination alone! You might be surprised however to learn that the country now has over 10 courses and some experiences that you will not find anywhere else in the world.

How does a round of golf at midnight surrounded by lava fields sound? Or a morning tee time followed by an afternoon spent in the geothermal spa known as ‘The Blue Lagoon’. These quirky adventures will ensure unforgettable experiences and plenty to chat to your Sunday 4 ball about.

Evenings can be spent sampling the numerous local beers in Reykjavik. True golf hipsters will surely be fans of ‘The Big Lebowski’ and will enjoy a trip to the bar dedicated entirely to this movie. The Dude’s bar sums up the Icelandic sense of humour and you will not get tired of chatting to the locals during your trip.

***All of the above destinations are available through Green Golf Travel so contact info@greengolftravel.com to enquire***