It’s a good and worthy debate: Who has the better links courses, Scotland or Ireland? If it can’t be answered decisively, we should at least acknowledge that the courses from each country are different.

In general, the links of Scotland are subdued, embedded with small intricacies, sly strategies and dunes that only occasionally rise to the level of Herculean. Ireland’s links are wild and wooly, bouncy and rugged.

There’s no debate, however, that links golf in Ireland is anything less than rip-roaring fun. To help you plan your next trip to the Emerald Isle, check out our ranking of the 25 best courses in Ireland.