Planning a corporate event at an Irish golf resort does not mean everyone has to play golf. A successful mixed-group day gives keen golfers the opportunity to enjoy the course while offering colleagues who do not play an equally considered programme. The important decisions are the schedule, the available indoor and outdoor spaces, and how the whole group comes back together.
For HR teams, executive assistants, office managers and conference planners, that is often the difference between an inclusive company away day and an afternoon where half the team is left waiting for dinner. Event Square designs hands-on corporate activities for groups at suitable hotels, estates and meeting venues across Ireland, subject to the venue’s approval and the agreed event brief.
What can non-golfers do at a corporate golf resort?
Non-golfers can take part in facilitated indoor challenges, collaborative art, problem-solving games, Irish cultural activities or outdoor team challenges where the resort has suitable space. The right activity depends on the number of people, their interests, accessibility needs, the weather, and how long the golfers will be away.
Start with the experience you want people to share, rather than trying to fill spare time. A programme for colleagues meeting across departments for the first time has a different purpose from an annual customer appreciation day or a leadership retreat.
Six practical team-building formats to consider
1. A short indoor challenge before the golf begins
Beat the Clock is listed by Event Square as a one-hour conference icebreaker built around time management, problem-solving and strategy. It can give the entire group a common experience before golfers depart for their tee times. This is useful when the golfing and non-golfing groups will otherwise spend most of the day apart.
2. Collaborative artwork for mixed interests
In the Big Picture experience, smaller groups create separate sections of a larger image, coordinating how the pieces fit together. It offers a shared task without requiring participants to enjoy sport. Ask about room protection, tables, storage and suitable clothing before deciding whether a hotel’s meeting room is appropriate.
3. Portable puzzles and physical problem-solving
The Krypton Factor Challenge combines communication, creativity and problem-solving, with indoor or outdoor delivery depending on the venue. A mixed-level programme should allow people to contribute in different ways: reasoning, planning, observing, making and explaining, not simply completing a physical task fastest.
4. Outdoor group challenges on appropriate grounds
WeGo Team Challenge combines mental and physical challenges. It may suit a larger group using hotel lawns or a separate activity area, provided the resort has approved the site and a suitable bad-weather alternative exists. Do not assume the golf course, practice area or landscaped grounds can be used for non-golf activities: golf operations, other guests and grounds maintenance take priority.
5. Irish-themed activities for visiting delegations
For international sales teams and incentive visitors, Celtic Games offers Irish-inspired team challenges. An indoor bodhrán workshop can also provide a hands-on cultural option; Event Square describes the workshop as typically lasting around 1–1.5 hours. These formats work particularly well when the event brief calls for an Irish experience rather than another sports activity.
6. Team development when the objective is more than entertainment
For a senior management offsite or a team reviewing how it works together, consider The Belbin Experience. It combines Team Role insight with experiential learning. This requires a more thoughtful briefing and should not be presented as an interchangeable substitute for casual evening entertainment.
Three ways to structure a mixed golf and team-building day
Option A: Start together, then split
Run a common facilitated session before lunch. After lunch, the golfers take their booked tee times while the other participants join a dedicated programme in the meeting room or approved grounds. Bring everyone together for a reception or dinner. This structure works when the company wants the whole team to share at least one activity.
Option B: Parallel programmes with a planned reunion
Plan golf and a non-golf activity as parallel programmes, with a clearly identified meeting point afterwards. This is harder to coordinate than it sounds. A round of golf may occupy several hours, whereas an indoor team challenge may last only around an hour or two. Build in a meaningful second element for the non-golf group—such as lunch, an optional cultural workshop or scheduled free time—rather than leaving a large unplanned gap. Confirm the course’s likely finish window directly with the resort; it is not a guaranteed timetable.
Option C: Use the golf resort as the venue without playing golf
Sometimes the meeting facilities, accommodation, dining and grounds are the attraction, not the course. A company could run a full indoor team day, leadership session or facilitated outdoor challenge at an appropriate golf hotel. This can suit mixed-ability groups and teams where the majority would not choose golf at all.
What to check before booking the venue
Golf hotels vary considerably. Some have extensive meeting rooms and separate activity lawns; others may be much better suited to dining and smaller private gatherings. Before confirming any activity supplier, ask the venue:
- Which spaces are actually approved for group activities? Identify the exact room or outdoor area, with usable dimensions, surface, access route and occupancy limits—not simply an advertised maximum conference capacity.
- Will golf operations affect the timetable? Check tee times, course events, buggy routes and whether your proposed activity area crosses any circulation routes.
- What is the wet-weather option? Reserve an indoor space if the programme requires one; do not rely on finding an empty room on the day.
- How will equipment arrive? Confirm loading access, parking, setup and pack-down windows, storage and any restrictions on furniture or floor protection.
- Can the venue support different mobility and sensory needs? Review routes, lifts, toilets, seating and quieter participation options based on the group’s actual requirements.
- Who coordinates food and transitions? Assign one contact for golf, activities, reception and dinner so participants are not directed to different places at the same time.
Irish resorts such as Portmarnock Resort & Jameson Golf Links and Roganstown Hotel & Country Club publicly promote both golf and meetings or events. They are examples of the type of setting to investigate, not a statement of Event Square partnership, permission, availability or suitability for any specific activity. Always confirm proposed use of a venue directly.
For a wider starting point, see Event Square’s corporate event venues in Ireland and its golf and incentive experience planning page.
An illustrative running order for 60 delegates
Consider a company with 60 attendees, of whom 24 want to play golf and 36 prefer an alternative. The figures below are a planning example, not an advertised Event Square package or a promise about any venue’s capacity:
| Time | Whole group / golfers | Non-golf group |
|---|---|---|
| 09:30–10:00 | Arrival, refreshments and briefing | Same welcome |
| 10:00–11:00 | Shared short team challenge | Same challenge |
| 11:00–12:00 | Lunch and changeover | Lunch and changeover |
| Afternoon | Golf programme arranged by the resort | Facilitated challenge plus an agreed follow-on element |
| Early evening | Rejoin for reception or dinner | Rejoin for reception or dinner |
The golf start time, finishing time, catering, staffing and non-golfer programme must be agreed with the venue and organisers. A non-golfer activity is not automatically the same duration as a round of golf. For an actual quotation, Event Square would first need the detailed timings and group split.
What should the event organiser send to the activity provider?
A useful first enquiry includes the date and county, proposed resort, total participants, likely golfer/non-golfer split, indoor space or outdoor area available, programme objective, accessibility considerations, meal and golf timings, and an indicative budget or procurement process. If golf is part of the event, share the resort’s working tee-time schedule when it becomes available. This helps avoid pricing and designing a programme around space or time that the venue cannot provide.
For teams seeking a dedicated estate-based activity day rather than a golf-centred programme, Event Square’s venue directory includes different setting types. Belmont Demesne in Wicklow remains Event Square’s featured home venue; other hotels and resorts can be considered to suit location and brief.
Frequently asked questions about golf resort team building
Can we organise team building at a golf hotel without playing golf?
Yes, potentially. Golf hotels can also provide meeting, dining and accommodation settings. The activity depends on suitable space, venue permission, group requirements and Event Square’s delivery plan; golf does not have to form part of the day.
What are good activities for non-golfers on a corporate golf day?
Indoor problem-solving challenges, collaborative art, cultural workshops and facilitated outdoor activities can all work. The strongest choice matches the non-golf group’s interests and the time available, rather than trying to imitate golf.
Can the golfers and non-golfers do something together?
Yes. A shared introductory activity before the golf, or a whole-group finale after the two programmes, gives everyone a common point of connection.
Can team building take place on the golf course?
Never assume that it can. Any use of golf-course areas requires the resort’s explicit permission and an appropriate safety and operations plan. A separate lawn or indoor meeting room may be more suitable.
What happens if it rains?
Agree an indoor alternative and decision deadline before the event. Ireland’s changeable weather makes this especially important for outdoor challenges; available meeting-room space cannot be assumed at short notice.
Will a one-hour activity keep non-golfers occupied for an entire afternoon?
No. Plan the complete afternoon, including breaks, catering and any second element. The timings should be checked against the resort’s golf schedule.
Can Event Square organise golf tee times?
The resort or golf operator must confirm course access, tee times and golf arrangements. Event Square can discuss how a separately agreed team-building activity fits around that schedule; do not assume golf is included in an activity quote.
How do we get a quotation?
Send your preferred date, venue, location, group size, golfer/non-golfer split, objectives and available activity window through Event Square’s enquiry page. The team can assess a realistic programme and identify the venue details that still need confirming.
Plan an inclusive golf resort company day
The best corporate golf resort events give non-golfers a proper experience rather than a holding activity. Event Square can help plan a low-tech, hands-on programme at a suitable Irish venue, shaped around your group and the resort’s actual permissions and timetable. Ask Event Square about your date, location and group.
