Courses

Ireland - Northern Ireland

Castlerock

Originally built as a nine-hole layout in 1901, the Mussenden Course at Castlerock Golf Club was remodeled and expanded to 18 holes by clubmaker Ben Sayers in 1909. An additional remodeling of the links was done by H.S. Colt in the early 1930s. Today, Mussenden is considered one of the best links layouts in Northern Ireland. It measures 6,747 yards from the championship tees, has a par of 73, and features five par 5s, four par 3s, and nine par 4s. The course's signature hole is the 200-yard fourth. Called "Leg O' Mutton," the tee shot on this par three is played across a river to a perched green. There's out-of-bounds on both sides and a railroad track running down the right of the hole. In 2001, Castlerock was the site for the Smurfit Irish Open.

Galgorm Castle Golf Club

Galgorm Castle Golf Club is an exciting mixture of the new and the old. This 18 hole, 6736 yards par 72 Championship course is set in 220 acres of beautiful, mature parkland located in the heart of County Antrim. It is overlooked by Galgorm Castle, which was built in 1618 by Sir Faithful Fortescue. From the outset it has received wonderful reviews from both golf writers and players, rapidly building up a reputation as one of the finest inland courses in Ireland. The course has been built in the estate grounds of Galgorm Castle, a site of great historical interest and one of the finest examples of Jacobean architecture in Ireland.

Portstewart

The sturdiest of the three layouts at Portstewart is the Strand Course. Designed by Des Giffen and opened in 1992, the Strand was ranked the 3rd best course in Northern Ireland by Golf Digest in 2005. The Strand's 425-yard, dogleg-right first hole is considered by many to be one of the best opening holes in the country. This classic links layout, however, gets tougher as it goes along. It measures 6,895 yards from the back tees and offers spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean, Donegal Hills, Stand Beach and the River Bann. Prior to taking on the tougher Strand Course, a warm up on Portstewart's Riverside Course (5,725 yards) or Old Course (4,730 yards) might be a good idea.

Roe Park Golf Club

Part of the Radisson SAS Roe Park Resort, the Roe Park Golf Club is one of the best 18-hole parkland golf courses in Northern Ireland. The 6318 yard par 70 course is set amidst the beautiful countryside of the Roe Valley - with mountains to the south and the sea to the north - the Roe Park course provides a challenging combination of water hazards and natural features. The course is also within a easy drive to some of the world's best links courses in County Antrim.

Royal County Down

Located in the charming seaside town of Newcastle, Royal County Down is one of the most famous — and toughest — golf courses in the world. Originally built in 1889, it is the only course in Northern Ireland designed by one of Scotland's most famous golfers and one of its most beloved figures: Old Tom Morris. With the majestic Mountains of Mourne looming above it, Royal County Down is as challenging as it is beautiful. But don't let the stunning views of Dundrum Bay and the Irish Sea distract you. Punishing rough, purple heather and golden gorse await the errant shot. Due to the course's difficulty and numerous blind shots, a caddie is highly recommended. In 2005, Golf Digest ranked Royal County Down the second best course in Northern Ireland.

Royal Portrush — Dunluce Course

Since it was first played in 1860, the only time the British Open has been held at a club outside of England or Scotland was in 1951. The club was Royal Portrush, and the venue was the Dunluce Course here. Named for the ruins of Dunluce Castle (which are frequently visible during play), this championship course was ranked No.1 in Northern Ireland by Golf Digest in 2005 and No.3 on its "100 Best Courses Outside the U.S." list. Little about this layout has changed since it was redesigned by H.S. Colt in 1933. Unlike Royal County Down, which features numerous narrow fairways, Royal Portrush has a more open feel to it. Few of the holes here are straight, however, and that puts a premium on accurate driving. Good score or not, this one is special.

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