After the excitement of The 148th Open which was hosted at Royal Portrush Golf Club (July 2019), there's never been a better time to practice your swing and experience some of the greatest links and parklands in the world! Whether you're searching for a peaceful countryside retreat, surrounded by nature and lush green fields, or a stunning coastal location with epic seaside views, there's a golf course for everyone on the Causeway Coast!
Here's a guide to exploring the wondrous golf courses in the Causeway Coast and Glens region.
Royal Portrush
Royal Portrush was the host venue for The 148th Open. This place is a giant of golf in every sense: towering dunes, sweeping valleys and rough so thick only the greats of the game can conquer it.
One of the world’s great golf courses, short, left or long here means trouble; right means staring into a yawning chasm. Go long with your approach on the sublime 5th, a dogleg 411-yard par 4, and your ball may one day wash ashore with the surfers on the nearby White Rocks Strand.
Portstewart Golf Club
Portstewart’s course weaves through towering dunes, and stunning links land, with something for every golfer.
In 2008, the writer and golfer Tom Coyne walked the entire island’s coastline playing every links course along the way. He summed up Portstewart’s front nine in a word; ‘WOW’ – and then placed the whole course amongst his top five in Ireland.
Ballycastle Golf Club
Founded in 1890, the Ballycastle Golf Club is a part-parkland, part-links course, which climbs to a tremendous height and boasts towering views out over Fair Head, Rathlin Island and Scotland’s Mull of Kintyre.
Bushfoot Golf Club
Nine hole course with double tees adjoining a tranquil seaside village and offering prime sea views. This very tight course, mixing links and parkland elements, demands the peak of accuracy.
Castlerock Golf Club
By the time you strike the first ball on Castlerock’s championship course you’ve entered uncharted waters. On this par 73 with five par fives, the most talked-about challenge is the nerve-jangling Leg o’ Mutton, the 200-yard 4th with a railway line to the right, a stream (called a “burn” in this part of the world) to the left, and raised green in the distance. The “Leg” plays tough even without the wind.
Cushendall Golf Club
Founded in 1937 and affiliated to the G.U.I. in 1938, Cushendall Golf Club nestles in the heart of the beautiful and celebrated Glens of Antrim.
A major feature of this picturesque but challenging nine hole course, is the River Dall which creates out of bounds at seven of the nine holes as it meanders through the course to the legendary Sea of Moyle.
Roe Park Resort
Beauty takes centre stage at the Roe Park Resort. This traditional country house boasts an 18-hole parkland course against a backdrop of Lough Foyle and the stunning Inishowen Peninsula. Just a short drive from the famous Royal Portrush golf course. It also makes a great base to explore the area’s best courses, with historic accommodation and an Elemis spa to unwind in afterwards!
Brown Trout Golf and Country Inn
This heavily-wooded parkland course opened in 1973. The course is built on clay ground so is wet in winter but perfect for summer play. Each hole is individually tree-lined and golfers cross water seven times in 9 holes. The layout ensures minimal walking between green and tee. The signature hole, the second, involves a 170 yard carry across the Agivey River.
Gracehill Golf Course
Gracehill Golf Course is a pristine 18 hole golf course within the Dark Hedges Estate. Surrounded by ancient woodland and dotted with a variety of lakes and ponds this American-style course was designed by Frank Ainsworth and remains one of the most challenging in the country.
Kilrea Golf Club
Kilrea Golf Club was founded in 1919, and is situated a half mile to the south west of the town of Kilrea, Co. Derry. The original undulating inland course, is one of the driest to be found. Recent extensions to the course, whilst reclaimed from bogland, are also well drained, and the course is often open when others have succumbed to the Irish climate.
Extended in recent years to 5672 yards long, it is longer than the typical 9-hole course.
Manor Golf Club
This stunning nine hole golf course at the Manor House in Kilrea spans over 4000 yards of lush fairway and precision cut greens.
It is among the group of shorter courses in Ireland but makes up for it with tight fairways, some tricky sloping greens and astutely placed bunkers, trees, and a small lake on the 6th hole.
Where will you start your golf journey in the Causeway Coast and Glens?
Have you already booked your next holiday to Ireland? We’d love to see your snaps of the Causeway Coast and Glens so be sure to tag us on Instagram @visitcausewaycoastandglens, and use the hashtag #VisitCauseway
We look forward to welcoming you to Northern Ireland’s famous Causeway Coastal Route
