Golf Vacations Northeast Ireland with Absolutely Golf & Travel

Below is a list of our recommended golf courses to play during your Northheast Ireland golf tour. As you can see there are more than enough fantastic courses to choose from. The photographs can only give you a hint of the true beauty of this part of Ireland and spectacular playing conditions found on these world class golf courses.

Use our Custom Golf Tour Planner for your personalized and free custom Northeast Ireland golf tour itinerary. If you're not sure what golf courses to play then we will be happy to make some recommendations.

Royal Portrush Golf Club - Dunluce Links

Host to the 1951 British Open, Dunluce has views of the Irish Sea and Scotland beyond. Designed by Harry S. Colt in 1929, the course has many faces -- relatively short par 3's, long par 3's, monstrously long par 4's, undulating and tiered greens, as well as flat greens. Gorse, thick marram grass rough, buckthorn, and some very good bunkering abound. The fun par three 14th hole is aptly named "Calamity" -- if your drive from the tee isn't perfectly placed, you're in trouble! Portrush Dunluce was ranked #3 in Golf Digest's 2005 Top 100 Golf Courses Outside the US. Portrush Golf Club's second course, the Valley, lies on the sea side of the Dunluce Course and is growing in stature year by year. Formed at the same time as The Dunluce Course, it is the home of the Ladies' Golf Club. Although nearer the sea than the Dunluce Course, it is mostly laid out in the moderate shelter of the Old War Hollow and is therefore less exposed. The Valley is a good option for those wishing to play 36 the same day.

Royal County Down Golf Club

Royal County Down Championship is arguably Ireland's most beautiful links, with towering dunes, abundant heather, unbelievable bunkering, and views of the Mourne Mountains and the ocean. Originally laid out by Old Tom Morris, the links will challenge you at every turn including a number of blind shots and superb gently rolling greens. While located just over the border in Northern Ireland, with the new motorway the drive to Royal County Down from Dublin is just 1 ½ hours, thus this spectacular links should be included in your Ireland Southeast & Dublin golf tour. Ranked #4 in Golf Digest's 2005 100 Best Courses Outside the US.

Portstewart Golf Club

Portstewart Golf Club - Strand Course

Opened in 1992, Portstewart Strand's front nine covers some of the most intense, high dunes land that you'll find anywhere. This par 72 6,895 yard championship links has traps that are intelligently placed, and the greens conform to the land's contours. The opening hole is widely considered as one of the best opening holes in Ireland. The River Bann's presence along the back nine combines to provide you with a challenging links golf experience.

Castlerock Golf Club

Founded in 1901 and designed by Ben Sayers, this is a fine links course with great views of Scotland, the North Atlantic, the Inishowen Peninsula of Donegal, and the River Bann estuary. The River Bann is a bonus in that it comes into play on five holes. The course has a good intuitive layout among some high dunes. Castlerock has some very strong par 3's, and many of the greens are on elevated plateaus. While wind is always a factor on a links course, at Castlerock it seems to come into play more than others

Ardglass Golf Club

Considered one of Ireland's "Hidden Gems", Ardglass is a nearly classic in-and-out configuration over a rather hilly links tract. The course offers terrific views of both the Mourne Mountains and the Irish Sea. On a clear day you can see the Isle of Mann. The course is blessed with a plethora of heather, gorse, dunes, humps, hollows, and deep frightening gorges; a wind that almost always blows; and all the other joys of links golf.

Royal Belfast Golf Club

The Royal Belfast Golf Club is one of the oldest in Ireland, founded in 1881 and designed by Harry S. Colt. Its clubhouse is an elegant former manor house, and here at Royal Belfast heritage and tradition abound. This rolling parkland course drifts down toward Belfast Lough with great views of the blue hills of Antrim. The course is relatively short and open, but the trees, sand, and elevation changes will challenge your game.

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