Golf near Newcastle County Down

[USER1999]

Once again I am going to Newcastle county down for a week, between 20th and 26th September.

Last year I played RCD (and will be again), and Ardglass. This year I was going to play the Annesley Links as well as RCD, since it is easy to do, as I am staying at Slieve Donnard.

Are there any other courses within a shortish drive from Newcastle worth considering? PortStewart/Portrush look nice, but are way too far for a mornings golfing from Newcastle.

 

[brendy]

Spa (a little like bangor only wider), Downpatrick (reasonable course with plenty of trees and rough) and rockmount (not a bad course with plenty of little ponds and tiered greens to keep you amused) are within a 30 mins drive. If you are cvoming as far as Rockmount then you might as well visit the north down coast, there are 7

Bangor (my own course) Undulating parkland with plenty of trees to foil a decent score. (Irish Boys Close championship was here last week, Irish ladies was here at the start of the year also)

Carnalea (by definition a links course but is actually a parkland course with decent views across belfast lough, decent course)

Royal Belfast (I know the head greenkeeper and he prides himself on having greens faster than Augusta during the summer)

Helens Bay (tidy little 9 holer)

Blackwood (parkland course, has the potential to become a championship course if extra money was invested)

Donaghadee (hybrid links and parkland course, sandy fairways on those nearest the sea but parkland generally)

Clandeboye (AVA and Dufferin courses) Two good courses with plenty of long holes and trees to keep the best golfers at bay.

 

[brendy]

And then, if you are coming to north co. Down then yuo could run over to Belvoir, Malone and shandon. All within 15 minutes of each other. All of the mentioned courses are worthy of a run round. There are a couple I have missed out (intentionally!)

 

[USER1999]

Thanks Brendy, I shall have a look at those listed and decide from there.

Nothing like a bit of local knowledge.

 

[julsk10]

Murph I am a member of Spa which is only 25 mins from Newcastle. You could also try Kilkeel or Warrenpoint, the latter being a very good track. Both of these are quite close to Newcastle.I played RCD yesterday with a member (Mourne) and my cousin over on holidays from Dubai. He rated it as the best he has ever played. The holes palying towards the Mournes were all into the wind and were brutal!!!
Murph to be honest I wouldn't be overly keen on the Annesley course, you would be better trying to 'fall in' with a member of he Mourne and try to get out on RCD twice.

 

[kevinmarkham]

Kilkeel is definitely worth a visit and September would be the perfect time to play as there are big trees and the colours should be glorious.

Brendy makes some great recommendations in his list. For me, Clandeboye Dufferin is a superb track and Bangor has some great holes as does Royal Belfast and Spa. I'm sure one of the courses he was deliberately not mentioning is a course called Scrabo. It's one of my favourite courses in Ireland. It's dangerous and hilly and probably unfair (good shots often punished), but you're unlikely to see views as good as this anywhere and a number of holes will blow you away. Shouldn't cost much more that 15 quid either.

You;ll find photos of Spa on my Flickr page, but I haven't got around to putting up the others mentioned. If any of the courses take your fancy just let me know and I'll put them up so you can have a look
K

 

[Andy]

Agree with Kilkeel. Played a few years ago and owuld love to return.

Andy

 

[brendy]

Damn right I never mentioned scrabo, I dont think he could fit enough golf balls into his bag haha (only joking, it slipped my mind strangely). The first hole is an absolute killer, I love the course to bits and it has excellent views over strangford lough.
Kilkeel, I have never played so couldnt comment, Ardglass is going to be one of the highlights of your stay though, I can't make my mind up which weather is better to play it in, sunny blue skies where the course radiates beauty or grey skies and lots of wind which makes the course the thriler that it really is.
I think these courses alone are probably reason enough for guys to write books about them.

 

[clubchamp07]

Brendy, you should work to Visitireland.com they coundn't put it better themselves.

 

[USER1999]

Last time I played Ardglass it was a three club wind and hosing it down. I forgot my water proof trousers, and was soaked to the skin in the first hour. The course is stunning though, and I did enjoy it. The golf suffered a bit on the back nine, as everything got wet.

 

[brendy]

One of the few courses over here where there truely is nowhere to hide with regards to the weather and your game, it will get found out!