Northern Ireland Golf Trips – Beyond the Royals Courses to Play with Royal Portrush and Royal County Down When someone approaches Haversham & Baker to begin planning a golf trip to Ireland, generally their list of desired courses has two mainstays: Royal County Down and Royal Portrush. For this reason, Northern Ireland golf trips…
Castlerock Golf Club
Some photos courtesy of Castlerock Golf Club
Course Guide
- Club Founded: 1901
- Par 73
- 6506 Yards
- Designers: Ben Sayers, Harry Colt
- Pro Tip #1 : If time allows, play an Emergency 9 on the Bann course.
- Pro Tip #2: Mind the tracks on the front-9.
Nearby Courses
Castlrerock Golf Podcast
Course Description
At numerous destinations for golf around the globe, a course like Castlerock might find itself as the headliner of an itinerary. But in Northern Ireland, where the neighbors consist of the current #1 ranked course on the globe (Royal County Down), the host of the 2019 Open Championship (Royal Portrush), and two courses with showstopping front-9s (Portstewart & Ardglass), that headliner could find itself in the role of understudy. Such is the case at Castlerock.
Founded in 1901, Ben Sayers designed the original links at Castlerock. In addition to a successful career as a ball and club maker, Sayers left his mark on numerous courses across Great Britain & Ireland. Most notably along Scotland’s Golf Coast, where almost every course was touched in one form or another by the North Berwick professional. To this day, the golf shop for the West Links is located in his former club factory.
Castlerock Golf Club - Underrated Excellence
The Sayers layout served the club well until 1925, when the great Harry Colt put in place the course which mostly played today. Some might say the course is an interesting blend of Irish links with those found on the Ayrshire coast of Scotland. That distinction comes courtesy of a pair of holes on the front-9 pressed hard against the bordering railway line. The 4th is a particularly fearsome test, with the railway and a meandering burn guarding each side of the 200 yard par-3.
Speaking of the sneaky little burn, pay careful attention on the short par-4 6th hole. The burn winds its way rather stealthily along the front of the green, ready to snap up the unsuspecting approach. From there the course moves closer to the sea, to more interesting ground and a collection of solid holes. The 16th and 17th form a rather dynamic duo, the former being a delightful par-3, the latter a cracker of a par-5 as good as any in Ireland. From the tee of the 17th, the links at Portstewart may just come into view in the distance, but the idea of trading positions is unlikely to enter the mind.
If Castlerock were located almost anywhere else in the world, it would likely receive its deserved share of acclaim. On the other hand, a benefit to having such illustrious neighbors is a constant supply of roaming golfers just waiting to be pleasantly surprised. Whether Castlerock has a prominent place in the itinerary or is merely a warmup round fresh off the plane, chances are that’s exactly how you’ll feel.
Ready to Experience Castlerock and the Rest of Northern Ireland?
Download Your Ultimate Guide to The Emerald Isle
The Complete Guide to
Ireland Golf Travel
What's covered in this free 40+ page guide:
- The best regions for golf in Ireland.
- Tips for making the most of your trip.
- Where to enjoy the Good Life between rounds.
- Lesser known courses you should play.
Plus links to over 50 additional guides and resources.
By downloading up you agree to receive marketing communications from Haversham & Baker and have read our privacy policy.
Learn More About Castlerock and Northern Ireland Golf Tours
The Complete Guide to Royal Portrush
The Complete Guide to Royal Portrush Explore Ireland’s Host of The Open Championship To say it has been an exciting time for the Royal Portrush Golf Club is putting it mildly. The only course in Ireland to host The Open Championship, Royal Portrush is fresh off its moment in the sun as the Claret Jug…
How to Plan a Golf Trip to Ireland – 12 Important Decisions
How to Plan a Golf Trip to Ireland 12 Important Decisions for Your Journey Many golfers arrive at our corner of the internet asking a common question: How do I plan a golf trip to Ireland? The first thing you should know is that planning Ireland golf trips requires the research and fulfillment of…
10 Tips for a Stress-Free Golf Trip Across the Pond
1o Tips for a Stress-Free Golf Trip Across the Pond How to Keep Your Golf Trip in the Fairway After weeks, months, or even years of stressing over the details and reading countless tips for planning your overseas golf trip, the time has finally come to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor.…
How Much Does an Ireland Golf Trip Cost?
How Much Does an Ireland Golf Trip Cost? Understanding the Price of Your Irish Golf Trip If you’re beginning the planning process for an Ireland golf trip, chances are there’s one question, among many others, that’s lingering in the back of your mind: How much does an Ireland golf trip cost? Perhaps you’re…
How to Choose the Right Golf Travel Company
How to Choose the Right Golf Travel Company Tips for Deciding Who to Trust for Your Journey So you’ve been appointed to the rank of Captain for your upcoming golf trip. In the time since, perhaps you’ve scoured the internet in search of answers to your numerous questions. Seeing that you’ve landed on our…
The Complete Guide to Royal County Down
The Complete Guide to Royal County Down Essential Info for Your Visit Depending upon who you ask or what list you’re reading, Royal County Down may find itself noted as the best golf course in the world. With such a lofty distinction, it’s little wonder why Royal County Down is the most sought after…
7 Things to See at Ardglass Golf Club
7 Things to See at Ardglass Golf Club Exploring the “Pebble Beach of Ireland” Over the last several years, Ardglass Golf Club has seen its star rise among golfers visiting on Ireland golf trips. For those who have sung its praises for decades – ourselves included – the growing popularity of Ardglass is of…
Discover More of Golf at its Finest with H&B