Clandeboye (Dufferin) - Down - Northern Ireland

The Dufferin course is well worth seeking out. Just a little out of the city within the massive Clandeboye estate and should be on any tour in this Belfast area.

If the nearby courses at Malone and Belvoir Park are the manicured parkland style, then the Dufferin is most certainly in the rustic and natural class and I am a fan. Gorse, bracken and majestic trees are all around and be prepared for plenty of twists, turns and a few ups and downs, in places it is difficult to remember which way you are facing!

For me, the first three holes can be described as the warm-up act, with the uphill par-3 2nd, needing a little re-think right now.

but…….from the 4th tee we have some special holes. The 4th is named, ‘Cairo’ - now I am not saying you need a ‘night-boat’ to score well but you do need two very good shots to hit this 403 yard (Blue tee) hole. Firstly hitting out of a bracken/gorse tunnel and then over more foliage and if you are not towards the right side of the fairway, this approach will be blind - a great but tough hole and stroke index-1 says it all.

The three remaining par-3’s (5th, 11th and 14th) are all really very strong and at varying lengths which is a huge plus - a couple of these could be enhanced further with the re-routing of the paths that lead away from the tee - just a touch too much in your eye-line at present.

My favourite hole on the front nine, is the par-5 6th, named Rathgill. 520 yards from the blues and crossing a ditch, slightly doglegging left and then with some very strong bunkering at the green and two more offset at 60 and 40 yards short to catch the longer hitters as seen back in August when EuroPro’s NI Masters was held here.

The 9th is another strong hole; 409 yards and the drive is to a generous fairway but the approach is played across a fairly steep valley, so driving distance has to be precise otherwise you play from a downhill lie.

The very next hole also has a rather big dip when approaching, similar holes in some way but so different in others, both really strong tests though.

My favourite stretch of three holes are from the 16th to the end… three brilliant and varied par-4’s. the 16th played from a low teeing ground to a generous fairway that turns a little right to a kidney shaped offset green, a tough cookie too at 424 yards. The 17th hole offers possibly the best views, the hole named ‘Panorama’ for obvious reasons as you look out across the Belfast coastline, with Scotland not too far away. The hole plays shorter than it’s 375 yards and offers up a good birdie chance.

The last, at 433 yards, slightly uphill from the tee and carries a stroke index of 10 (which feels a touch unkind!) is a beast of a finishing hole. Favour the right side and hope for your Sunday best from distance; a large green helps but if you need a par to win your match, be prepared to work hard…

The club at Clandeboye is popular with around 1300 members - they are also very lucky to have the Ava course too, which is shorter and with a more of a heathland feel - I have yet to play this one and will next time without a doubt. Great club atmosphere, very friendly members and a team on and off the courses that are all rather proud of what they have and rightly so.

Recommended.

The Dufferin course at Clandeboye is an excellent test of golf. It is always in good condition despite the unpredictable Irish weather. Coupled with the sporting Ava course and a fine clubhouse it is a good place to visit where good golfers can be well challenged by the Dufferin course and others can enjoy the tricky but interesting Ava course. The Dufferin is consistently regarded as one of the best parkland courses in Northern Ireland with a good balance of holes in a beautiful setting within Clandeboye estate. The first is a lovely opening hole played from a high tee looking towards Belfast Lough and don't be put off by the long uphill par 3 second as it is probably the poorest hole on the course. From the 4th tee you will be well tested by the variety and shape of each hole.

This is a must play course in the Greater Belfast area along with Belvoir Park, Malone and others. Favourite hole is the par 5 6th.