Galgorm Castle

The course at Galgorm Castle Golf Club lies within a spacious 220-acre estate that was once the ancestral home of the McQuillan clan and the Castle that looms over the 10th green dates back to 1618, when it was commissioned by Sir Faithful Fortescue.

The lush fairways of the course are laid out in mature parkland, bordered on two sides by the rivers Main and Braid, with several small lakes adding further aquatic interest. Because of the low-lying aspect of the site, four of the fairways were actually raised during construction to cope with potential flooding problems in the future.

The short par four 4th is a hole to be reckoned with on the front nine (even though it only ranks as stroke index 10 on the card) as the fast flowing waters of the Braid River race past the front of the green. “Treasury,” the 141-yard 7th is another hole where water must be crossed between tee and putting surface.

On the inward half, locals will tell you the only way to play the 177-yard 14th, named “Devil’s Elbow,” is to “aim at the Slemish Mountains on the horizon,” but don't go too long or too far right, otherwise your golf ball will probably end up wet on the river bed.

Mount Juliet was due to host the Irish Open in May 2020 for the first time since 1995, but the event was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The European Tour hoped to stage the tournament later in the year at Mount Juliet, but quarantine restrictions for travellers into the Republic of Ireland forced the European Tour to move the event to Galgorm Castle.

The club’s signature project at the 18th has completely revamped the closing hole, with a new water feature installed to the left of the putting surface and stadium-like mounding around the green complex creating an exciting finish to the round.