Where to Play Golf in Northwest Ireland
Must-Play Courses in an Overlooked Region
One of the most interesting developments in golf travel of late has been the steady rise in demand for Northwest Ireland golf trips.
Although one course in particular has inspired much of the interest in the area, the region is no one hit wonder.
But for most golfers, the courses in this corner of Ireland remain largely unknown.
If you’re planning a golf trip to Northwest Ireland, here are some of the best courses to consider for your itinerary.
The courses are organized geographically from south to north. For more insight on the courses below, listen to our two-part podcast on golf in Northwest Ireland.
Carne Golf Links
Since its debut in the early 1990’s, Carne Golf Links has attracted a loyal and steadily growing group of fans.
From the moment you arrive at the club, it’s easy to understand why.
Carne was the final course designed by prolific Irish architect, Eddie Hackett. Some say that he saved his very best for last.
There’s no denying, however, that the canvas on which Hackett laid the links is simply spectacular.
The holes twist and turn their way through some of the tallest dunes in Ireland.
The golf is thrilling, the views are spellbinding, and as the round unfolds, it’s almost impossible to believe that the course is just a few decades old.
In recent years, Carne added an additional nine holes on terrain that somehow surpasses the original eighteen in terms of drama.
And while the golf is the main attraction, the hospitality at Carne is what many remember the most.
The experience may not include a battalion of caddies or resort-style facilities, but you’ll find the warmest of Irish welcomes and a staff that’s grateful that you’ve ventured off the well worn path.
To be sure, Carne is several miles past the middle of nowhere.
But in the end, it’s worth every minute of the journey.
Enniscrone Golf Club
Founded in 1918, the Enniscrone Golf Club is located along the enchanting shores of Scurmore Beach.
The club began its life with a rudimentary 9-hole course. But when architect Donald Steel arrived in the early 2000s, the club and the game of golf both received an incredible gift.
The aptly named Dunes course carves its way through some of the wildest sandhills on the planet.
With your first approach of the day, there’s a sense that Enniscrone may hold something special.
By the time you reach the towering dunes at the heart of the course, there is never any doubt.
This is links golf in its purest form.
The blind shots, tabletop greens, risk-reward drives, and spellbinding views are found in equal measure.
Be sure to pack your imagination and your camera, because you’ll need them both almost every step of the way.
In short, Enniscrone is a thrilling reward for your journey off Ireland’s well worn path.
It’s simply golf the way it was meant to be played.
County Sligo Golf Club
Situated on a finger of land known as Rosses Point, the County Sligo Golf Club dates to 1894.
The championship course was redesigned by the great Harry Colt in 1927 and plays through the formidable shadow of Benbulben, Ireland’s table mountain.
Just like his work at Royal County Down and Royal Portrush, Colt used the terrain of Rosses Point to his advantage in crafting an exceptional test of links golf.
Sligo is perhaps best known as the home and final resting place of acclaimed poet W.B. Yeats.
What the course lacks in monumental dunes like those found at nearby Carne an Enniscrone, it more than makes up for with the stunning scenery of Yeats Country.
For nearly a century, Rosses Point has hosted the West of Ireland Amateur Championship. The list of former winners includes Rory McIlroy and Padraig Harrington.
All of which speaks to the quality of the experience offered at County Sligo.
The course offers a stern but fair test for elite and average players alike, in a setting that helped inspire its favorite son to a Nobel Prize.
Donegal Golf Club
The journey to Donegal Golf Club feels like you’ve stepped straight into a Robert Frost poem.
For over a kilometer, a single lane path offers an uncommon welcome for links golf, as it winds its way through dense forest.
Eventually, the path reveals the Murvagh peninsula and tranquil ground that was clearly made for golf.
There are some tremendous holes set amongst the dunes at the heart of the course.
And given the very nature of a peninsula, the sea, while not always in view, is a continuous presence during your round.
For the well-traveled golfer, architect Eddie Hackett’s layout at Donegal may feel a bit familiar.
Just as it does at Muirfield, the opening-nine runs in a counterclockwise circle, while the back-nine flows in clockwise fashion inside it.
As a result, the prevailing wind taxes the player from almost every direction.
When the day is done, you’re likely to wonder why more golfers don’t take the road less traveled that leads to Donegal.
But you’re certain to be glad that you did.
Narin & Portnoo Links
Thanks to its intriguing course, towering dunes, and sweeping views of Gweebarra Bay, Narin & Portnoo Links has all of the necessary ingredients for an outstanding golf experience.
But not long ago, due to mounting financial difficulties, Narin & Portnoo was almost lost forever.
Thankfully for us all… The worst was avoided.
Narin & Portnoo was sold to a pair of new owners who share both a love for this links and a grand vision for its future.
Almost immediately, architects Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner were commissioned to breathe new life into Narin & Portnoo.
Greens were moved, tees were added, new holes were created, others were eliminated, and the raw, rugged feel of Narin & Portnoo which had been partially lost through the years was reintroduced.
The end result, while spectacular, can hardly be captured in words.
You simply have to see it for yourself.
Cruit Island Golf Club
The golf courses of Northwest Ireland are rugged and remote by their very nature, but none comes close to matching that of Cruit Island Golf Club.
At first glance, the terrain of this 9-hole course seems better suited for a leisurely hike than a round of golf.
But as you navigate this roller coaster of a round, you’ll find one heart-pounding moment after another.
The views are arguably the finest in all of Ireland.
And the par-3 6th hole, which plays across a cavernous corner of the ocean, is guaranteed to be unlike anything you’ve played before or since.
For some golfers, Cruit Island may be a step too far from their comfort zone.
But if it's unique and thrilling golf that you’re after, the course is worth the journey to the edge of the earth.
There’s simply nothing else like it.
Rosapenna Resort
The acclaim for golf in Northwest Ireland has been on a steady rise of late, much of which can be attributed to the Rosapenna Resort.
Most agree that Rosapenna is the oldest golf resort in the world.
In addition to its comfortable accommodations and wonderful dining, the resort is home to no less than three links golf courses.
The Old Tom Morris Links was designed by the Grand Old Man of Golf in 1891, while the dramatic Sandy Hills Links was laid out by architect Pat Ruddy in 2003.
But it’s the newest links course at Rosapenna which has shined a spotlight on both the resort and Northwest Ireland.
At St. Patrick’s Links, architect Tom Doak cherry picked the best terrain from two previously closed golf courses and transformed it into one spectacular layout.
When the course debuted in 2021, it quickly jumped onto the GOLF Top 100 courses in the world list.
Perhaps most importantly, it has helped put Northwest Ireland on the must-play list for golfers around the globe.
Ballyliffin Golf Club
Set along the stunning shores of the Inishowen Peninsula, Ballyliffin Golf Club is Ireland’s northernmost club.
Here you’ll find one of the warmest welcomes on the island and two outstanding links courses.
The Old and Glashedy Links weave their way through hundreds of acres of wild dunes that were destined for great golf.
The courses are charming and stern in equal measure and offer an enjoyable test to players of all levels.
In a testament to this versatility, the Glashedy Links was a recent host of the Irish Open.
In addition to its fine courses and warm hospitality, Ballyliffin is also situated between two exceptional regions for golf travel.
The club can be combined with rounds at Portstewart and Royal Portrush to the east as easily as it can be paired with Narin & Portnoo and Rosapenna to the west.
In our view, it’s the best of both worlds.
Additional Reading
Visit the Yardage Book for More Golf Travel Resources
Discover More of Golf at its Finest with H&B
