Course Recommendations in Northern Ireland

[Albanach]

Myself and the old man go away on a golfing trip every year and considering NI. Looking for recommendations for links courses preferrably, mainly within 1-2 hours drive from Belfast ferry terminal. - obviously there is Royal County Down and Royal Portrush but they could prove a wee bit expensive. Does anyone have any recommendations?

 

[JT77]

Portstewart strand is a great track, just along from portrush, castlerock too.
There are a couple lower priced courses around too, likes of the portstewart old course, or the bann course at castlerock.

 

[Lawrence22]

If you are up Portstewart direction then Ballycastle isn't a bad course.First 5 holes some would consider parkland but the next 13 are links.

 

[Philm]

Kirkistown Castle Course is a lovely course not too far from belfast. on the East coast.

Phil

 

[Thor]

If links golf is your prefered option then Portstewart and Castlerock on the North coast are highly recommended, although Portstewart can be expensive. Both are 90 mins from Belfast approx.
South of Belfast the best are Ardglass and Kirkistown.

If parkland is also on the agenda Belvoir Park, Malone and Clandeboye are super courses in the Belfast area.

 

[Dodger]

After the weekend I have just enjoyed there is no where else you should be thinking that Ballyliffin.

http://www.ballyliffingolfclub.com/

2 quality courses that can be played on a medium budget.

 

[bladeplayer]

After the weekend I have just enjoyed there is no where else you should be thinking that Ballyliffin.

http://www.ballyliffingolfclub.com/

2 quality courses that can be played on a medium budget.

+1 two great courses & i dont like links, views on Glaseady have to be seen to be apreciated , short par 3 5th (i think) view from that tee box of the hole , the course & the surrounding ares , wow , courses are in pristine condition & a good test of golf aswell

 

[Dodger]

..........just don't order our taxi driver if you are heading out of town for an ale!

 

[bladeplayer]

..........just don't order our taxi driver if you are heading out of town for an ale!

ring & ask if jensen the getaway driver is working .. if he is . walk .. oh & avoid the rusty nail pub (sorry bayjohn thats one dire place dude) crash the locals party & say BEAR sent ya , infamous up there

 

[clubchamp07]

Your spoilt for choice for good golf courses in Northern Ireland.
Ballyliffin isn't in NI.

 

[bladeplayer]

Your spoilt for choice for good golf courses in Northern Ireland.
Ballyliffin isn't in NI.

Falls within the 1-2 hours of belfast tho & links , think it was a geographical question rather than anything else ,, apologies if i offended anyone in donegal OR NI

 

[brendy]

To be honest if you go as far from belfast as portstewart, ballyliffin and rosapenna would be two musts, if you had time. They don't cost the earth like RCD etc too.

 

[stevie_r]

Kirkistown Castle Course is a lovely course not too far from belfast. on the East coast.

Phil

+1, my favourite course when i lived there - mind you it was a fair few years ago

 

[Ethan]

I would suggest a two centre approach. RCD and Ardglass are pretty close, and Royal Portrush and Castlerock or Portstewart.

If you ever play a better course than RCD in your golfing life, you have done very very well indeed. It is a sell a kidney if you must-play.

Ballyliffin (Old) is a great course, but it is barely within 2 hours of Belfast.

 

[brendy]

Played Castlerock on Friday, first two holes weren't what I expected and were a bit forgettable. The levels of rough along the railway line were impossible to find a ball in.
Stuck behind 4 americans we played 9 holes as it took 2 hrs 35 for 8 holes. The 4th and 6th holes were very nice and as we walked in the bunkers up the 17th looked deeeep though. Their burgers in the clubhouse are frozen flat efforts too, not homemade either. The onion rings were nice though they reused a bowl for my garlic sautees which had vinegar previously in it.
Even for the £15 we paid each, I wont be rushing back there.