Ireland/Northern Ireland Recommendations

[jwellefson1]

Hi everyone, so my dad and I are looking for places to golf in Northern Ireland and around Dublin for June 2019. We are getting RCD booked now, but I am looking for other courses as well. We have two days in Belfast and three in Dublin. I've looked at Portstewart and Castlerock in Northern Ireland (Portrush will be closed in June). Around Dublin I've looked at Portmarnock, Royal Dublin, the Island, and the European Club. I'm not really looking to drive across the country to Lahinch/Ballybunion etc. Ideally if one of the courses is a really tough walk (other than RCD) it wouldn't be the best for my dad. If anyone has recommendations for other courses or hidden gems I'd love to hear them! Thank you!

P.S. if anyone has played Castletowne on the Isle of Man, I'd appreciate hearing how that experience was as well, Ill be on the Isle for two days and I want to get a round in there if at all possible.

[Roadking2003]

If it were me, I would find a way to get down to Old Head. You are looking at a lot of very nice courses, but none have the spectacular views like Old Head.

[duffer987]

You can have a fantastic trip and play some world class links courses, just sticking to the East coast and Northern Ireland, absolutely :)

 

RCD, Portstewart, Castlerock, Ardglass, and Ballycastle would be your best bets in Northern Ireland itself, with Portrush being closed.

The European Club, Portmarnock, The Island, Baltray, Laytown & Bettystown, Portmarnock Links will get you the best of what's on offer around Dublin.

 

For your dad, The European Club is a strong walk. Ballycastle has one big hill to climb, otherwise it's easy. RCD, Portstewart and The Island are actually on pretty flat land, it's just that you have to get up and over a lot of dunes. The other courses around Dublin are all easy walks.

 

Is there any particular reason you want to stay in Belfast? As it's not particularly close to any of the top courses. It could mean a pretty long day if you wanted to get out to Portstewart. If I was to stay in Belfast, then I'd just hit courses outside Drogheda on the way up and down.

 

Assuming you start in Dublin, then up to Belfast, then back down to fly out of Dublin, I'd go something like:

Portmarnock | The European Club | The Island | Laytown & Bettystown | RCD | Baltray

 

If you're staying in Belfast to fly out of it, then I'd drop one of the two Drogheda courses and add in Portstewart.

 

A 600km 'side trip' to Old Head is pointless. Think of your local muni, now imagine they put it on the moon, that's pretty much it. Incredible location, mundane course. You're better off hiking some coastal paths and saving the golf for the golf courses.

[TBD203]

Above covered it pretty much. Really did enjoy Ardglass. Wish I had made the drive across the country to try and get a few of the western courses in, as who knows when I'll be back!

[DoubleorQuits]

I would strongly recommend playing RCD twice, preferably on separate day to get different weather, pins, etc. Portstewart was a nice course, but I would probably pass as it is not the easiest of walks.

 

Portmarnock is an easy walk and I would not miss a round at Baltray, really cool place. The Island is really quirky and kind of a love or hate deal. I loved it!

[knoe07]

The Island was a fun course. Felt I got a true links experience. Not too difficult of a walk at all. Heard Portmonark is great too.

[puttnforthe8]

If it were me, I would find a way to get down to Old Head. You are looking at a lot of very nice courses, but none have the spectacular views like Old Head.

.

You can have a fantastic trip and play some world class links courses, just sticking to the East coast and Northern Ireland, absolutely :)

 

RCD, Portstewart, Castlerock, Ardglass, and Ballycastle would be your best bets in Northern Ireland itself, with Portrush being closed.

The European Club, Portmarnock, The Island, Baltray, Laytown & Bettystown, Portmarnock Links will get you the best of what's on offer around Dublin.

 

For your dad, The European Club is a strong walk. Ballycastle has one big hill to climb, otherwise it's easy. RCD, Portstewart and The Island are actually on pretty flat land, it's just that you have to get up and over a lot of dunes. The other courses around Dublin are all easy walks.

 

Is there any particular reason you want to stay in Belfast? As it's not particularly close to any of the top courses. It could mean a pretty long day if you wanted to get out to Portstewart. If I was to stay in Belfast, then I'd just hit courses outside Drogheda on the way up and down.

 

Assuming you start in Dublin, then up to Belfast, then back down to fly out of Dublin, I'd go something like:

Portmarnock | The European Club | The Island | Laytown & Bettystown | RCD | Baltray

 

If you're staying Belfast to fly out to then, I'd drop one of the two Drogheda courses and add in Portstewart.

 

A 600km 'side trip' to Old Head is pointless. Think of your local muni, now imagine they put it on the moon, that's pretty much it. Incredible location, mundane course. You're better off hiking some coastal paths and saving the golf for the golf courses.

 

Pretty solid...including the point of not even considering Old Head (possibly worst advice to give someone).

 

Only other consideration I would throw in, assuming links golf is not a must, is you could play Carton House(2 courses) just outside of Dublin. Both excellent.

[adschus]

Can’t mention Ardglass enough. Great price <100 pounds for a true links style.

 

Definitely play RCD twice. That’s the only thing I regret after going in June

[Roadking2003]

Pretty solid...including the point of not even considering Old Head (possibly worst advice to give someone).

 

It's interesting how some think their opinions are the only ones that matter. If somebody told me to play Old Head before I ever went there, I would consider it the best advice I got. Not everybody enjoys the same courses so you shouldn't assume everyone will agree with your recommendations. You might never choose Old Head, but I assure you many of us would.

 

I've been to Ireland several times and played all of the highly rated courses. But if I could only go one time and could only play two courses, I would play RCD and Old Head.

[Roadking2003]

A 600km 'side trip' to Old Head is pointless. Think of your local muni, now imagine they put it on the moon, that's pretty much it. Incredible location, mundane course. You're better off hiking some coastal paths and saving the golf for the golf courses.

 

Yes, it's so bad that this site ranks it #15 in Ireland. Just like your local muni? Mundane?

 

https://www.top100golfcourses.com/golf-course/old-head

 

And Golf Digest ranked it #14. But what do they know? Mundane?

 

http://www.theirishgolfblog.com/2018/03/golf-digest-ireland-top-100-courses.html

[jwellefson1]

Thanks for the tips everyone! Just to answer the Belfast thing, I have no issue driving an hour or so each way, but my Dad and Brother want to stay in Belfast. This isn't solely a golf trip (as much as I'd like it to be) so we need to try and stay near places for my brother to have stuff to do as well. Thanks a ton for all the recommendations so far!

[duffer987]

Thanks for the tips everyone! Just to answer the Belfast thing, I have no issue driving an hour or so each way, but my Dad and Brother want to stay in Belfast. This isn't solely a golf trip (as much as I'd like it to be) so we need to try and stay near places for my brother to have stuff to do as well. Thanks a ton for all the recommendations so far!

Gotcha. RCD is no prob from Belfast, just getting up to Portstewart - depending on time of day and where exactly you are in the city can be an easy 90mins.

Certainly wouldn't want to dissuade you from playing there :) just that the ease with which you could hit Baltray and/or L&B on the way up or down would win out for me. Gives you more time for non-golf touristy stuff too!

 

Really if you get in RCD, The European Club, and Portmarnock, however else you filled in your trip really wouldn't matter.

RCD is simply awesome and you might never play a course you like more; Portmarnock is an excellent example of a straightforward Muirfield/Birkdale Open championship type traditional links, and the European Club would only be behind Bandon Dunes in a list of my favorite modern links.

[chrisronline]

I'm heading to Dublin this October for work but going to squeeze in some golf while I'm there. I'll report back on which courses I ended up playing and how they were

[Herm33]

On a trip back in April, some of all of our 8 person group did the following in that area (plus some others in the north and northwest: European Club (1 guy), Portmarnack (3 guys), then all of us played the following: The Island, Laytown and Bettystown, County Louth/Baltray, RCD.

 

All were very popular. L&B obviously a bit of a tier below all the others but found it to be very fun with some great quirk and at a great price. Their club president made it a point to chat with both of our groups on the 5th tee and then take a picture for their Facebook page after our round. He was absolutely delightful.

 

I think I'd choose Baltray just slightly ahead of The Island and obviously RCD is in an otherworldly class.

[Chanceman]

To be different, near Belfast you might try Scrabo and just south of Dublin a nice course is Macreddin. Both are low cost and rated.

[hokiebird2008]

I played castlerock last summer. Was a terrific course, good conditions, and just a very different feel from the super busy Rota level courses. I would recommend it as a easy day with a push cart going at your own pace.

 

Also as a warm up round as soon as we got of the plane, we played Hollywood golf club which is just a few minutes from the airport. Very cheap. Short course that is an easy walk. Course that Rory grew up on and was definitely a good course for the price.

[Rk5]

I live in NI and usually play around Belfast.

 

My top picks in order for within 15 mins of city centre would be:

 

Malone Golf Club (Drumbridge/Ballydrain 18 holes)

Belvoir Park

Shandon Park

 

Royal Belfast is also very nice and about 30 mins from city centre (oldest club in Ireland)

 

We have GolfNow over here so usually cheaper to book through that if the courses are on it.

 

If you want links the closest is probably Ardglass at about 1 hour drive, I played 2 weeks ago it and was brilliant.

 

There are lots of courses beside the sea but I wouldn't call them links, very green and lots of trees. Most of the good links have been mentioned above.

 

Any questions just ask!

[TmCnU]

I'm going on a Northern Ireland trip next month. I'll be sure to give you my thoughts after the trip. We're flying into Belfast playing the courses below over the span of 5 days and then flying out of Dublin to Paris for the Ryder cup.

 

- Portrush

- Castlerock

- Portstewart

- RCD

- Belvoir Park

- Ardglass

- Portmarnock