Northern Ireland Golf Trips – Beyond the Royals

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 are the most popular choice for our travelers hoping to play the Emerald Isle. A standing that would have been almost unthinkable just two decades ago.

Naturally, the #1 ranked course in the world and the newest member of The Open rota are the primary draws, but the popularity of the region is driven, in no small measure, by the rest of the outstanding golf in the area.

Here are five courses to pair with the Royal entries on your Northern Ireland golf itinerary.

Ardglass

Roughly 12 miles as the crow flies from Royal County Down, Ardglass Golf Club has become a favorite stop among our travelers in recent years. The opening tee shot is one of the most dramatic in Ireland, pressed hard against the Atlantic with the ancient castle turned clubhouse looming in the background.

The club has recently overseen a variety of updates to its course, including a new 12th tee which may give the panorama on the 1st a run for its money. All of this, combined with the warm hospitality of the club itself, makes Ardglass one of the best overall experiences during a golf trip to Northern Ireland.

The members of Westwood Country Club on the 1st tee at Ardglass.

Portstewart

Just a short 15 minute drive from Royal Portrush, Portstewart is home to one of the finest front-9’s in all golf. In fact, if Portstewart Golf Club was located anywhere else in the world, the front-9 alone would likely be the headliner of your Expedition. And while it plays understudy to the club down the street, Portstewart is not without its fair share of acclaim. The club hosted the 2017 Irish Open.

A member of the Union League of Philadelphia lets one fly at Portstewart.

Castlerock

Next door to Portstewart, Castlerock Golf Club has spent much of its 120 years in the shadow of its illustrious neighbors. That has all started to change of late. Thanks to a number of revisions to the links by Dr. Martin Hawtree - affectionately known as “The Open’s Doctor” - Castlerock has seen its star on the rise. In fact, we wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if the Irish Open comes knocking at their door soon.

In addition to its championship course, those looking for a truly unique and dramatic links experience during their Northern Ireland golf trip should not overlook an extra nine holes on the Bann course.

Ballyliffin

Before anyone questions our geography skills, we’re quite aware that Ballyliffin Golf Club is located in the Republic of Ireland. Still, its location along the North Coast - approximately 90 minutes from Royal Portrush - makes it a natural addition to any Northern Ireland golf tour.

Ballyliffin features two outstanding links courses, the Old Links and the Glashedy Links. The former is a favorite among our travelers who frequently enjoy friendly matches arranged by H&B against the members of Ballyliffin. The latter was the host venue for the 2018 Irish Open. Both should not be missed.

A member of Glenmoor Country Club has one dead center at Ballyliffin.

The Valley

Many golf travelers are unaware that Royal Portrush is actually home to a pair of great links golf courses. Like the Dunluce Links, the unheralded Valley Links was designed by Harry Colt and has long been the preferred course for the Royal Portrush Ladies and the Rathmore Golf Club.

In preparations for The Open Championship, the Valley lost a pair of holes to the Dunluce side. This prompted a variety of new holes and other revisions to the links by Mackenzie & Ebert, the same design firm that oversaw the updates to the Dunluce Links as well as the reimagination of the Ailsa course at Turnberry. If you should find yourself not quite ready to leave after your round on the famous Dunluce Links, an extra loop around the Valley is sure to be an enjoyable experience.

Views across the Valley Links at Royal Portrush.
Credit: Royal Portrush/Getty

As you can see, there’s no shortage of exceptional golf to accompany Royal Portrush and Royal County Down during a Northern Ireland golf trip. So much, in fact, that an entire week-long Expedition could be built around this region by itself. Of course, how much or how little golf to play here is always entirely up to you. Your H&B Expedition Planning Manager will help you land on the best combination of courses to match the makeup and desires of your group.

Whatever that combination happens to be, however, this corner of the Emerald Isle is sure to deliver an unforgettable experience.