Winter Golf & Accommodation... try the Clanree Hotel in Donegal

The par five 15th at Narin & Portnoo.

Let's not beat about the bush... there are Irish holiday breaks galore around Ireland at the moment, with many of these targeted at golfers. If you tie accommodation and golf together you have an easy and attractive mix. The challenge is finding one that fits your budget and appeals to your golfing ambitions... and given the volume of courses and hotels at our disposal that is hardly going to be an arduous task

From the high end offers (K Club, Castlemartyr and Lough Erne), to the astounding

(Carne, Enniscrone), to the budget you're spoiled for choice if you want to slip away for a couple of days of brilliant golf, cosy bedrooms and superb Irish cooking. I'd be a big fan of open fires - I have fond childhood memories from Parknasilla (Ring of Kerry) - but you have to balance what you want in a hotel with what you want from the golf course.

Views over the 18th green down Old Tom Morris's original holes.

And, to that end, I'll mention one particular offer that caught my eye. Partly because of the golf courses included and partly because of my love of Donegal. The four star Clanree Hotel, in Letterkenny, has a winter offer running from now until March 14th, which combines one night (midweek) at the hotel with a round at Narin & Portnoo and a round at Rosapenna (Old Tom Morris)... for €95 per golfer. See their flyer above. Work out the value in that one... not bad, eh! 

Old Tom Morris looks out at his links at Rosapenna.

The hotel does several golf offers at different Donegal courses so you're spoiled for choice and while a trip to Narin & Portnoo takes an hour from the hotel, this is still an ideal base as the courses are well spread out.

The short, dramatic downhill par four at Narin and Portnoo.

Now, the fact of the matter is that one night in Co. Donegal is never going to be long enough... not if you're coming from any kind of distance... and not if you want to experience the beauty of this county and its golf courses. It's worth a two night trip at least. Toss in Portsalon or Rosapenna (Sandy Hills) or North West or Ballyliffin's two courses or Greencastle or Murvagh or Dunfanaghy or Cruit Island... or enjoy Letterkenny GC just a few minutes from the hotel.

Hell, stay the week! The Clanree does all manner of deals.