Northern Ireland’s dramatic coastlines, rolling hills, and rich sporting heritage make it one of Europe’s most captivating golf destinations. From championship links that have hosted major tournaments to hidden parkland gems nestled in the countryside, this corner of Ireland offers golfers an extraordinary variety of courses set against some of the most breath-taking landscapes you’ll find anywhere.
The region’s golfing pedigree runs deep, with courses dating back over a century and a passionate local golf culture that welcomes visitors with genuine warmth. Whether you’re drawn by the challenge of seaside links where the wind shapes every shot, or prefer the strategic demands of parkland courses carved through ancient estates, Northern Ireland delivers experiences that will stay with you long after your final putt drops.
This guide explores ten exceptional courses that showcase the very best of Northern Ireland’s golfing offerings, each providing its own unique character and challenges whilst offering visitors the chance to experience the region’s stunning natural beauty and rich cultural heritage.
1. Royal County Down Golf Club, Newcastle
Widely regarded as one of the finest golf courses in the world, Royal County Down sits majestically beneath the imposing Mountains of Mourne, offering a links experience that combines natural beauty with formidable golfing challenges. The course, which dates back to 1889, has consistently ranked in the top five golf courses globally and provided the backdrop for numerous professional tournaments.
The opening holes immediately establish the course’s dramatic character, with the famous 4th hole offering panoramic views across Dundrum Bay whilst demanding precision from an elevated tee. The signature 9th hole, a par-4 that doglegs around ancient dunes, requires both power and placement to avoid the numerous pot bunkers that guard the fairway. Throughout the round, players navigate between towering gorse bushes and undulating fairways that follow the natural contours of the land.
What sets Royal County Down apart is its authentic links experience – the course remains largely unchanged from its original design, with blind shots and uneven lies that demand creative shot-making. The closing holes, particularly the demanding par-4 18th, provide a stern test as players battle both the elements and the course’s natural defences.
The clubhouse, with its traditional architecture and warm hospitality, offers the perfect place to reflect on your round whilst enjoying views across the course to the mountains beyond. Visitors should book well in advance, particularly during the summer months when the course is at its most spectacular.
For golfers planning an extended stay in the Newcastle area, ConnollyCove’s comprehensive guides to County Down attractions provide excellent suggestions for exploring the nearby Mourne Mountains, the charming coastal villages, and the region’s rich cultural sites between rounds.
2. Royal Portrush Golf Club, Portrush
Royal Portrush holds the distinction of being the only golf course outside Scotland and England to host The Open Championship in modern times, cementing its status as one of the world’s premier golf destinations. The Dunluce Links, the club’s championship course, underwent significant renovations before hosting The Open in 2019, enhancing an already exceptional layout.
The course opens with a gentle par-4 that lulls players into a false sense of security before unleashing its true character. The iconic 5th hole, “White Rocks,” offers stunning views of the Causeway Coast whilst presenting a challenging approach to a green perched on the cliff edge. The famous 14th hole, “Calamity Corner,” is a par-3 that has humbled professional golfers and amateurs alike with its demanding carry over a deep ravine.
What makes Royal Portrush special is its perfect integration with the dramatic coastline. The course flows naturally over sandhills and around rocky outcrops, with the sound of crashing waves providing a constant soundtrack to your round. The wind, which can change direction and intensity throughout the day, adds another dimension to the challenge.
The club also features the Valley Links, a shorter but equally charming course that offers magnificent views and a more relaxed round for those seeking a different experience. Both courses showcase the wild beauty of the Causeway Coast, with holes that wind through natural amphitheatres formed by ancient dunes.
The recently renovated clubhouse combines modern amenities with traditional character, whilst the professional shop offers excellent service for equipment needs. The nearby town of Portrush provides numerous accommodation options and dining establishments that celebrate local cuisine.
Visitors exploring the broader Causeway Coast region will find ConnollyCove’s detailed guides invaluable for discovering the Giant’s Causeway, the atmospheric ruins of Dunluce Castle, and the scenic Causeway Coastal Route that connects numerous charming coastal towns.
3. Ardglass Golf Club, Ardglass
Perched on dramatic clifftops overlooking the Irish Sea, Ardglass Golf Club offers one of the most spectacular settings in world golf. This links course, established in 1896, winds its way along rugged headlands where medieval castle ruins add historical intrigue to the natural drama of the coastline.
The course immediately captures attention with its opening holes that skirt perilously close to cliff edges, offering breath-taking sea views whilst demanding respect for the natural hazards. The 2nd hole, a par-3 played across a rocky inlet, exemplifies the course’s dramatic character and requires precise club selection to account for sea breezes.
What distinguishes Ardglass is its intimate scale and authentic links character. Unlike some resort courses, Ardglass feels genuinely wild and untamed, with holes that follow natural corridors between rock formations and gorse-covered hills. The 4th and 5th holes provide a particularly memorable sequence, with elevated tees offering panoramic views before dropping down to fairways that hug the coastline.
The course’s back nine includes several holes that play directly along the cliff edge, creating both visual drama and strategic challenges. The wind, channelled by the coastal topography, can transform club selections and shot strategies multiple times during a single round.
The clubhouse, built into a medieval tower house, provides a unique post-round experience with its historical atmosphere and warming hospitality. The views from the clubhouse terrace, across the course to the Isle of Man on clear days, are simply magnificent.
Ardglass village itself retains much of its maritime character, with a working harbour and traditional fishing boats providing an authentic coastal atmosphere. The nearby Lecale Peninsula, rich in early Christian heritage and natural beauty, offers numerous attractions for visitors extending their stay.
4. Belvoir Park Golf Club, Belfast
Located just minutes from Belfast city centre, Belvoir Park represents the finest tradition of parkland golf in Northern Ireland. Established in 1927 and designed by Harry Colt, this championship course has hosted numerous prestigious tournaments whilst maintaining its reputation as one of Ireland’s premier inland courses.
The course immediately impresses with its mature tree-lined fairways and strategic bunkering that rewards thoughtful course management. Colt’s design philosophy is evident throughout, with holes that present clear strategic choices whilst punishing wayward shots. The par-4 6th hole exemplifies this approach, offering multiple route options from the tee whilst demanding precision on the approach to a well-protected green.
What sets Belvoir Park apart is its perfect conditioning year-round and the variety within its layout. The front nine features several outstanding holes, including the challenging par-4 4th that requires a precise drive between mature trees before presenting a demanding approach to an elevated green. The back nine includes the spectacular par-3 17th, where water hazards and strategic bunkering create both beauty and challenge.
The course’s parkland setting provides a welcome contrast to the links courses along the coast, with its lush fairways and strategic water features offering different challenges and shot-making opportunities. The mature trees that frame many holes create natural corridors that demand accuracy whilst providing shelter from coastal winds.
The clubhouse combines traditional elegance with modern amenities, offering excellent dining facilities and panoramic views across the course. The club’s professional shop provides comprehensive services, whilst the practice facilities allow golfers to refine their games before tackling the course.
Belfast’s proximity means visitors can easily combine golf with urban attractions. ConnollyCove’s extensive Belfast guides highlight the city’s rich cultural heritage, from the historic Titanic Quarter to the vibrant Cathedral Quarter, making Belvoir Park an ideal choice for golfers seeking to experience both exceptional golf and urban culture.
5. Castlerock Golf Club, Castlerock
Nestled between the dramatic Causeway Coast and the Bann Estuary, Castlerock Golf Club offers a links experience that perfectly captures the wild beauty of Northern Ireland’s north-western coastline. The course, which dates back to 1901, provides challenging golf in a setting of remarkable natural beauty.
The Mussenden Links, the club’s championship course, opens with holes that establish its seaside character whilst building towards more dramatic coastal encounters. The early holes wind through natural dune valleys before the course reveals its spectacular clifftop setting. The signature 4th hole, “Leg O’Mutton,” is a par-4 that plays along the cliff edge with views stretching to Scotland on clear days.
What makes Castlerock special is its authentic links character combined with dramatic elevation changes. The course features several holes perched on clifftops that demand both courage and precision, whilst others wind through intimate dune valleys that require strategic thinking and accurate iron play.
The famous downhill par-3 4th hole provides one of golf’s most memorable experiences, with a tee shot from an elevated platform to a green far below, surrounded by the natural amphitheatre of the coastline. The hole captures the essence of links golf whilst providing breathtaking views of the Causeway Coast.
The course also features the nine-hole Bann Course, perfect for beginners or those seeking a shorter round. This course, whilst less dramatic than its championship sibling, still offers excellent golf with views across the River Bann to the Sperrin Mountains.
The clubhouse provides traditional hospitality with modern comforts, whilst the coastal location offers dramatic sunset views that make post-round refreshments particularly memorable. The nearby village of Castlerock retains its Victorian seaside charm, with traditional shops and cafes adding to the authentic coastal experience.
6. Portstewart Golf Club, Portstewart
Portstewart Golf Club combines three distinct courses in one of Northern Ireland’s most beautiful coastal settings. The Strand Course, consistently ranked among Ireland’s finest links, provides a championship test that showcases the dramatic landscape of the Causeway Coast whilst offering golfers an unforgettable experience.
The Strand Course opens with one of golf’s most spectacular starting holes – a par-4 that plays from an elevated tee across natural dunes to a fairway framed by the Atlantic Ocean. This opening immediately establishes the course’s dramatic character and the quality of golf to follow. The early holes wind through towering dunes before emerging onto more open coastal terrain.
What distinguishes Portstewart is the variety within its links layout. The course features intimate dune-enclosed holes alongside expansive seaside stretches, creating constantly changing challenges and visual experiences. The par-5 4th hole, which curves around natural wetlands, requires both strategic thinking and precise execution.
The Old Course, the club’s original links, offers a more traditional and compact golfing experience whilst still providing spectacular coastal views. This course proves particularly popular with visitors seeking a relaxed round in beautiful surroundings. The Riverside Course completes the offering with parkland-style holes that provide a different challenge and year-round playability.
The club’s facilities reflect its status as a premier golf destination, with excellent practice areas, professional instruction, and a welcoming clubhouse that celebrates the area’s golfing heritage. The views from the clubhouse terrace, across the courses to the ocean beyond, provide the perfect backdrop for post-round relaxation.
Portstewart Town itself offers charming Victorian architecture, traditional shops, and excellent restaurants that celebrate local produce. The nearby coastal attractions, including the famous Portstewart Strand beach, provide numerous opportunities for non-golfing activities.
7. Galgorm Castle Golf Club, Ballymena
Set on the grounds of a historic castle estate, Galgorm Castle Golf Club represents the finest in modern parkland golf design. The course opened in 1997, winds through mature woodlands alongside the River Maine, creating a peaceful and challenging environment that contrasts beautifully with the region’s coastal offerings.
The course opens with a welcoming par-4 before revealing its strategic complexity through holes that demand both distance and accuracy. The layout makes excellent use of the natural landscape, with holes that follow the river valley whilst incorporating the estate’s mature trees and rolling terrain. The signature 17th hole, a par-3 played across the water to an island green, provides both beauty and challenge.
What sets Galgorm apart is its perfect maintenance and strategic design that rewards good golf whilst remaining fair to players of all abilities. The course features multiple tees on each hole, allowing golfers to choose appropriate challenges whilst enjoying the same spectacular routing. Water hazards, strategically placed throughout the layout, add both beauty and strategic importance to shot selection.
The parkland setting provides year-round playability with excellent drainage, making Galgorm a reliable choice regardless of weather conditions. The mature trees that frame many holes create natural corridors that demand accuracy whilst providing shelter and adding to the course’s scenic beauty.
The River Maine winds through several holes, creating both strategic challenges and a peaceful ambience. The course’s design integrates these water features naturally, with bridges and elevated tees providing dramatic viewpoints whilst maintaining the flow of play.
The Galgorm Resort and Spa, which surrounds the golf course, offers luxury accommodations and world-class dining facilities. The thermal spa, restaurant, and hotel provide a complete resort experience that appeals to golfers and non-golfers alike. The castle grounds add historical interest to the golf experience, whilst the professional facilities support golfers seeking to improve their games.
8. Cairndhu Golf Club, Larne
Cairndhu Golf Club offers one of Northern Ireland’s most spectacular clifftop golfing experiences, with holes perched dramatically above the North Channel providing stunning views to Scotland’s Mull of Kintyre. The course, established in 1928, combines challenging golf with some of the most breathtaking scenery you’ll find on any golf course.
The opening holes establish the course’s elevated character, with fairways that run along clifftops offering panoramic sea views whilst demanding precision to avoid natural hazards. The par-4 6th hole exemplifies Cairndhu’s dramatic appeal, with a tee shot across a deep ravine to a fairway perched on the cliff edge.
What makes Cairndhu unique is its combination of parkland and links characteristics in an elevated coastal setting. The course features tree-lined holes alongside open clifftop stretches, creating variety and constant visual interest. The famous 13th hole, a par-3 played across a dramatic chasm, provides one of golf’s most memorable and intimidating tee shots.
The course’s elevated position means wind plays a significant factor in club selection and strategy, with sea breezes affecting play throughout the round. This adds an extra dimension to the challenge whilst contributing to the authentic coastal golf experience. The back nine includes several holes that showcase the course’s spectacular setting, with elevated tees providing viewpoints across the North Channel to the Scottish islands. On clear days, the views extend to the Hebrides, creating a truly magical golfing experience. The clubhouse, positioned to maximize the panoramic views, provides excellent facilities and warm hospitality. The terrace offers spectacular sunset views across the water, making post-round refreshments particularly memorable.
Larne’s position as a gateway to the Causeway Coast makes Cairndhu an excellent base for exploring the broader region. ConnollyCove’s guides to the Causeway Coast highlight numerous attractions within easy reach, from the Giant’s Causeway to charming coastal villages, making it easy to combine exceptional golf with cultural exploration.
9. Clandeboye Golf Club, Bangor
Located in the beautiful Helen’s Bay area near Bangor, Clandeboye Golf Club offers two distinct championship courses set in parkland that once formed part of a grand estate. The Dufferin and Ava courses provide contrasting but equally challenging experiences, with mature trees, strategic water hazards, and undulating terrain creating memorable golf.
The Dufferin Course, the longer of the two layouts, winds through established parkland with holes that showcase the estate’s natural beauty. The course opens with a challenging par-4 that immediately demands accuracy, before revealing its strategic complexity through holes that require both power and precision. The signature 8th hole, a par-3 played across the water to a well-protected green, exemplifies the course’s risk-reward philosophy.
What distinguishes Clandeboye is the quality and variety of its two courses, allowing visitors to experience different challenges and characteristics within the same venue. The Ava Course, whilst shorter, provides no less a test with tighter fairways and more strategic demands on course management and iron play.
The parkland setting provides excellent year-round conditions, with mature trees creating natural corridors that demand accuracy whilst providing shelter from coastal winds. The courses make excellent use of natural water features, with streams and ponds adding both strategic importance and visual appeal to numerous holes.
Both courses feature multiple sets of tees, allowing golfers to choose appropriate challenges whilst enjoying the same quality conditioning and scenic beauty. The design philosophy rewards strategic thinking over pure distance, making both courses enjoyable for players of varying abilities.
The clubhouse combines traditional charm with modern amenities, offering excellent dining facilities and panoramic views across both courses. The professional facilities provide comprehensive services, whilst the practice areas allow golfers to prepare properly for their rounds.
The nearby town of Bangor offers excellent accommodation options and serves as a gateway to the Ards Peninsula. The area’s rich heritage includes historic houses, gardens, and coastal attractions that provide numerous opportunities for exploration between rounds.
10. Ballyclare Golf Club, Ballyclare
Ballyclare Golf Club provides an excellent example of quality parkland golf in a peaceful countryside setting. The course, established in 1923, has developed into one of Northern Ireland’s finest inland tracks, combining mature parkland features with a strategic design that creates engaging golf for players of all abilities.
The course opens with a welcoming par-4 before revealing its strategic depth through holes that wind through established parkland featuring mature trees, gentle elevation changes, and well-placed hazards. The layout makes excellent use of the natural landscape, with holes that follow valley floors and ridge lines whilst incorporating streams and ponds naturally into the design.
What makes Ballyclare special is its perfect conditioning and strategic variety within a compact but challenging layout. The course features numerous holes where multiple strategic options exist from the tee, with risk-reward decisions that influence scoring opportunities. The par-5 holes provide genuine three-shot challenges, whilst the shorter holes demand precision rather than power.
The course’s parkland character ensures excellent playing conditions throughout the year, with good drainage and maintenance standards that keep fairways and greens in superb condition regardless of weather. The tree-lined fairways create natural corridors that reward accuracy whilst providing beautiful framing for photographs and memories.
Several holes feature water hazards that add both strategic importance and visual appeal, with streams and ponds positioned to influence club selection and shot-making decisions. The design integrates these features naturally, creating challenges that feel authentic rather than artificial.
The clubhouse provides a warm welcome with traditional hospitality and excellent facilities. The views across the course to the surrounding countryside create a peaceful atmosphere that perfectly complements the golf experience. The professional shop offers comprehensive services, whilst the practice facilities support golfers seeking to improve their games.
The Ballyclare area offers easy access to both Belfast and the Causeway Coast, making the club an excellent base for exploring Northern Ireland’s attractions. The peaceful countryside setting provides a relaxing contrast to busier tourist areas whilst maintaining convenient access to cultural and historical sites.
Planning your Northern Ireland golf adventure
Northern Ireland’s compact geography makes it possible to experience multiple world-class courses within a single visit, whilst the region’s rich cultural heritage and natural beauty provide countless opportunities for exploration between rounds. The courses featured in this guide represent different styles and challenges, from championship links that test the world’s best professionals to peaceful parkland courses perfect for relaxing golf holidays.
Best time to visit – the golf season in Northern Ireland extends from March through October, with summer months offering the longest days and most settled weather. Spring and autumn can provide excellent conditions with fewer crowds, whilst winter golf remains possible on most courses with appropriate clothing and equipment.
Getting Around Northern Ireland’s excellent road network makes it easy to travel between courses, with most destinations accessible within an hour’s drive of Belfast. Car rental provides the most flexibility for golf tourists, whilst organised golf tours offer comprehensive packages that include transportation, accommodation, and tee times.
Accommodation Options From luxury resort hotels like the Galgorm Resort to charming bed-and-breakfasts in coastal villages, Northern Ireland offers accommodation to suit every budget and preference. Many golf courses have partnerships with local hotels that provide attractive packages combining accommodation with golf.
Cultural experiences Northern Ireland’s golf courses provide the perfect base for exploring the region’s rich cultural heritage. ConnollyCove’s comprehensive guides to Northern Ireland’s attractions help visitors discover everything from ancient castles and historical sites to traditional music venues and artisan food producers, ensuring your golf holiday includes authentic cultural experiences that showcase the best of Irish hospitality and tradition.
Practical Tips
• Book tee times well in advance, particularly for championship courses during the summer months
• Pack layers and waterproof clothing regardless of season
• Many courses offer equipment rental for travelling golfers
• Consider purchasing a golf pass that provides access to multiple courses at reduced rates
• Allow extra time for travel between coastal courses, as scenic routes often take longer than expected
Whether you’re drawn by the championship challenges of Royal County Down and Royal Portrush, the clifftop drama of Ardglass and Cairndhu, or the parkland pleasures of Belvoir Park and Galgorm Castle, Northern Ireland’s golf courses promise experiences that combine exceptional golf with breath-taking scenery and warm hospitality. Each course tells its own story whilst contributing to the rich tapestry of Northern Irish golf, creating memories that will inspire return visits for years to come.
