Royal County Down (Championship)

Northern Ireland punches well above its weight in world golf. This corner of the British Isles is home to two courses that regularly feature among the finest on the planet, a coastline that rivals anything Scotland or England can offer, and a depth of quality that surprises even seasoned links travellers. From the Mountains of Mourne to the Causeway Coast, the golf here is nothing short of extraordinary. The Top 100 Golf Courses Northern Ireland Ranking currently features 15 courses assessed by a dedicated panel of local experts. With 10 additional courses on the contenders list and plans to expand the ranking to 25, there has never been more reason to explore Northern Irish golf beyond the headline names. Alongside the standalone Northern Ireland ranking, courses from the region also feature in the Island of Ireland Ranking and the broader GB&I Top 100. The most recent 2025 update was a minor post-COVID refresh — a necessary recalibration after several disrupted seasons. The comprehensive 2026 GB&I ranking overhaul, currently underway, will reassess every course across Britain and Ireland under updated criteria, and the Northern Ireland results are expected later this spring. The Current Rankings: Northern Ireland's Top 15 The 2025 refresh kept the core order largely intact, while revised panellist guidance began to reshape the middle and lower reaches of the table. The shift towards rewarding exciting, strategic golf over pristine conditioning and resort polish is a theme that will accelerate further with the 2026 overhaul. 🏆 The Top 15 at a Glance The Unmoved Elite 🥇 Royal County Down (Championship) — The perennial number one contender. A World Top 100 fixture and, for many, the most beautiful golf course on earth. The outward nine beneath the Mountains of Mourne remains among the finest stretches of links golf anywhere. 🥈 Royal Portrush (Dunluce) — Host of The Open in 2019 and 2025, and the only Irish venue on the Championship rota. H.S. Colt's masterpiece continues to gain momentum in both the GB&I and World Rankings following Martin Ebert's hole revisions. 🥉 Portstewart (Strand) — Firmly established in the GB&I Top 100, the Strand retains third place. The front nine through towering Atlantic dunes has been called the finest nine holes in the British Isles. The Risers ⬆️ Royal Portrush (Valley) — Up following significant recent work to the opening three holes. Martin Ebert's redesign, including new par 3s, has elevated what Tom Doak once called "the most underrated golf course in Ireland." ⬆️ Castlerock (Mussenden) — The Causeway Coast's best-kept secret continues its steady climb. Martin Hawtree's renovation work has transformed the Ben Sayers original into a layout that more than holds its own alongside its celebrated neighbours. The Consistent Core Ardglass — A cult favourite with dramatic clifftop holes and the oldest clubhouse in the world (a 13th-century castle). Ken Kearney's routing changes and new holes are bedding in. Malone — Belfast's finest parkland holds its position. The 27-acre lake dominates the thrilling back nine, and recent upgrades continue to enhance an already impressive layout. Belvoir Park — Another Harry Colt design, this time a parkland gem tucked into Belvoir Forest just minutes from Belfast city centre. Old-world charm and mature tree-lined fairways define the experience. 🗺️ Best Golf Courses by County Northern Ireland's six counties each contribute something distinct to the golfing landscape. County Antrim dominates the upper reaches of the ranking with Royal Portrush (both Dunluce and Valley courses), Portstewart Strand, and Galgorm Castle. The Causeway Coast stretches from Portrush through Portstewart to Castlerock and represents one of the finest concentrations of links golf anywhere in the world. County Down claims the number one spot through Royal County Down's Championship links at Newcastle, along with Ardglass on the dramatic coastline. Belvoir Park adds Belfast-area parkland quality, while the Annesley links at Royal County Down offers an additional links experience following Mackenzie & Ebert's 2015 redesign. County Londonderry contributes both Castlerock courses — the Mussenden and the Bann — ensuring that the Causeway Coast's links pedigree extends well beyond Portrush and Portstewart. County Fermanagh is represented by Lough Erne's Faldo Course, the westernmost-ranked course and the only lakeside resort layout in the top 15. The setting on the Fermanagh Lakelands is unlike anything else in Northern Irish golf. 💡 What the Rankings Tell Us Links Golf Reigns Supreme The top six positions are all occupied by links courses, underlining Northern Ireland's coastal strength. This is a region where the best golf is found on natural terrain shaped by wind and sea rather than by earth-moving machinery. The Causeway Coast Triangle Royal Portrush, Portstewart, and Castlerock form one of the great links triangles in world golf. All three sit within a 15-minute drive of each other along the north Antrim and Londonderry coastline, making this stretch an essential destination for any serious links golfer. Parklands Under Pressure The updated ranking criteria have seen polished parkland and resort courses lose ground — a theme echoed across other Top 100 regional rankings. Courses that deliver exciting, strategic golf have gained at the expense of those offering primarily pristine conditioning and luxurious surroundings. Architectural Heritage Runs Deep Northern Ireland's golf courses read like a who's who of course design. Old Tom Morris, Harry Colt, Ben Sayers, and Willie Park Junior have all left their mark. A Decade of Growth: 2011–2025 The Northern Ireland ranking has evolved considerably since its inception, expanding from a Top 20 to a Top 30 before settling into its current focused format. 📅 2011 — The Inaugural Top 20 The first standalone Northern Ireland ranking established the pecking order that would prove remarkably stable for over a decade. Royal County Down and Royal Portrush occupied the top two positions, with Portstewart and Castlerock completing the Causeway Coast quartet in the upper reaches. The initial list showcased the region's links strength while also recognising quality parkland at Malone, Belvoir Park, and Royal Belfast. 📅 2012 — Expanded to Top 25 The ranking grew to 25 courses, reflecting increased panellist coverage and a desire to capture more of Northern Ireland's golfing depth. Ardglass cemented its position as a fan favourite, while the expansion allowed hidden gems from across the six counties to gain recognition. 📅 2014 — Consolidating the Top 30 A further expansion to 30 courses brought the ranking to its largest format. The additional positions allowed courses like Galgorm Castle, which was steadily building its reputation through tournament hosting, to break into the national chart. The depth of Northern Irish golf was becoming increasingly apparent. 📅 2018 — Pre-Open Anticipation With the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush on the horizon, the 2018 update carried added significance. Martin Ebert's new 7th and 8th holes on the Dunluce course — carved from Valley Course land — generated considerable excitement. Portstewart Strand continued to climb following its successful hosting of the 2017 Irish Open, won by Jon Rahm. 📅 2020 — Post-Open Revision Following Shane Lowry's memorable Open victory at Portrush in 2019, the 2020 revision showed remarkable stability. Royal County Down held firm at number one, with only seven courses moving upward and each by just a single position. The Mussenden at Castlerock climbed to 5th following Martin Hawtree's renovation, while the 9-hole Bann course at Castlerock rose four places, earning praise as "the most exciting, fun and engaging 9-hole links course" from the then editor-in-chief. 📅 2022 — The Last Full Pre-COVID Update The 2022 revision confirmed the mature nature of the ranking — very little movement, the same number one, and only four new chart entrants. Edenmore Country Club made its debut at 24th, while City of Derry (Prehen) and Dunmurry re-entered the chart. The departures of Ballycastle, Gracehill, Roe Park, and Warrenpoint reflected tightening standards rather than any decline in those courses. 📅 2025 — Post-COVID Refresh The 2025 update was a minor revision rather than a full reassessment — a necessary refresh after several disrupted seasons. The ranking contracted from 30 to 15 courses, reflecting a tighter focus on quality, while panellist coverage was rebuilt. The headline stories were Royal Portrush Valley's climb to 4th and the downward pressure on polished parklands under revised guidance. Planning Your Northern Ireland Golf Trip Northern Ireland is a compact golf destination where world-class courses sit remarkably close together. The entire region can be covered from two or three well-chosen bases, making it ideal for golf trips of any length. The Causeway Coast is the essential starting point. Base yourself in Portrush or Portstewart, and you are within minutes of Royal Portrush (Dunluce and Valley), Portstewart Strand, and Castlerock (Mussenden and Bann). Five outstanding courses, all links, all within a 15-minute radius. Allow three to four days to do this stretch justice. The Belfast Area offers a different flavour. Malone, Belvoir Park, and Royal Belfast provide top-quality parkland golf, while Galgorm Castle sits just 30 minutes north-west. These courses make excellent additions to a Causeway Coast itinerary or a rewarding standalone trip for those who prefer parkland golf. County Down demands at least a day, ideally two. Royal County Down at Newcastle is a pilgrimage course — the Mountains of Mourne backdrop is unforgettable. Combine it with Ardglass, just along the coast, for a clifftop links experience that delivers some of the most dramatic holes in Irish golf. The Fermanagh Detour adds Lough Erne to the itinerary. It is roughly two hours from Belfast, but the lakeland setting is so distinctive that it rewards the journey, particularly for those seeking a complete picture of Northern Irish golf. The beauty of Northern Ireland as a golf destination lies in its contrasts — wild Causeway Coast links one day, refined Belfast parkland the next, dramatic clifftop golf the day after. Few regions anywhere offer such variety in such a concentrated area. Explore the complete Northern Ireland Golf Course Rankings on Top 100 Golf Courses. The 2026 GB&I ranking overhaul results for Northern Ireland are expected later this year.

Top 100 Courses of Britain & Ireland 2022 In the last few weeks we’ve published ranking charts for Northern Ireland, Wales, England, Ireland and Scotland so it’s now time to extract the best 100 of those 380 courses and present them in a collated fashion within our Britain & Ireland Top 100 listings. In this revision, 32 layouts move up, 50 drop down, 13 stay in the same place and 5 are new entries or re-entries. Royal County Down One of the non-movers is the Championship course at Royal County Down in Newcastle which has been our No.1 for the British Isles since 2006. The layout began as a 9-hole track back in 1889 and its development has seen design input from iconic architects such as Old Tom Morris, Harry Vardon and Harry Colt. In the past few years, Martin Ebert has made judicious alterations to both the Championship and Annesley courses at the club. Review comments from last year include: “from start to finish the course doesn’t let up… not a single bad hole out there… without a doubt the best golf experience in the world… there are some classic links holes and the backdrop of the mountains of Mourne is spectacular… a few of the par threes are post cards from heaven… conditions are immaculate, greens are superb.” North Berwick (West) Climbing three places from number 13, the West course at North Berwick enters the elite Top 10 strata for the first time, having slowly risen every two years in the rankings from #41 in 2004. A golf course has operated here since the club was founded in 1832 (though the game was being played on the links as far back as 1672) and the current layout is attributed to Ben Sayers Jnr. and C.K. Hutchison who made use of additional land in the early 1930s. Review remarks this year include: “My main takeaway from playing golf here was just how much fun it was… it isn’t just a brutal slog lined by punitive rough and heavy bunkering… it is a varied challenge of strategy and skill that keeps you thoroughly engaged… somewhere I suppose you would never tire of playing… for me it’s what golf is all about.” St Patrick’s The highest placed of five newcomers to the chart is the St Patrick’s course at Rosapenna in Donegal which enters at number 14. Located a few kilometres along the coast from the resort’s Sandyhills and Old Tom Morris layouts, St Patrick’s is Tom Doak’s first foray into golf design in the Emerald Isle, where he was aided and abetted by a small team of associates who’ve done a remarkable job of transforming what was formerly a failed 36-hole project into a world-class 18-hole links. Our well-travelled correspondent Fergal O’Leary visited the new course last year just before it officially opened, calling it “a dream come true for Tom Doak, for the Rosapenna resort and for the golfers of Ireland… golfers will be left speechless by the sheer scale of the course, the width of the fairways, shaping of greens and a setting that will take your breath away.” Dumbarnie The second new entry in the standings is the latest addition to the golf scene in Fife at Dumbarnie Links on Largo Bay, arriving at number 40. Already a multiple award winner soon after it opened in 2020, the course quickly established its championship-hosting credentials by staging the Women’s Scottish Open last year. Designed by Clive Clark, the course has garnered nothing but positive comments since its unveiling. “How wonderful this piece of land is to experience,” wrote a reviewer just last month. “It photographs well but it is when you take it in with your own eyes that you truly appreciate the peaceful and majestic aura it exudes.” Another poster said: “like all courses that begin with a blank canvas, the variety offered up is very good… it’s a nicely balanced collection of strong holes that offers up the instant sugar rush that travelling golfers crave.” Further down the rankings, four English courses make significant improvements on their position. Rye The Old course at Rye in East Sussex advances ten spots to number 45. Host venue for the President’s Putter which has been played every January since 1920 by members of the Oxford & Cambridge Golfing Society, the course was originally laid out by Harry Colt, with subsequent modifications made between the wars made by Tom Simpson and Guy Campbell. Comments in reviews last year included: “Rye summed up why I love the Top 100 quest – history, drama, great views and lovely people… if the course was more open to visitors I suspect it would be way higher in the rankings… they are still using the same understated ‘temporary club house’ from the 1920s and it does very much feel like you are stepping back in time.” Hankley Common The ranking fortunes of the course at Hankley Common outside Farnham have fluctuated severely over the years. In the second revision of this chart in 2008, it rose to #51 from #76 before falling back to #70 two years later. Since then, it’s gone out as far as #82 in 2010 then come back in to a best placed #50 in 2016 – the course’s rise of 12 places now to #58 is just the latest in a chart roller coaster ride that might well continue for some time to come. Founded in 1897, the club started out with a 9-hole layout which James Braid doubled in size in 1922. Fourteen years later, Harry Colt remodelled the course into the one that’s still in play today. Both the English Men’s Amateur (2019) and the Men’s Home Internationals (2021) were held at Hankley Common in recent years so the club’s ability to host major championships is in no doubt. Prince’s The Shore & Dunes nines at Prince’sin Sandwich also makes good progress after entering the chart for the first time at #99 in 2020. It now soars fourteen places to number 85. Guy Campbell and John Morrison re-built the layout after World War II and Martin Ebert recently completed an upgrade to re-bunker holes, install new tees, create natural sand scrapes and introduce a new sea-facing par three on the Shore loop. Comments over the last 12-month period include: “a wonderfully mature course that provides a true test of all facets of golf… Prince’s is looking outstanding, with impressive bunkering and immaculate conditioning… new tees add length and change angles to increase the options and challenge… the wide run off areas leave you with the option to recover with a putt, chip or pitch… much more fun and thought-provoking than one dimensional rough.” Dropping out to make way for the five new courses are Castletown on the Isle of Man, Moray (Old) in Lossiemouth, Royal Ashdown Forest (Old) in East Sussex, Wentworth (East) in Surrey and Woburn (Marquess) in Buckinghamshire. To view the complete detailed list of our new Top 100 Golf Courses of Britain & Ireland chart click the link. View list here

The Green Journey Golf Rally along Northern Ireland By Javier Pintos Javier@wegolf.com.ar www.wegolf.com.ar Three great days of golfing in the northwest of England were over and it was time to fly to Belfast and start a great trip leading a group of twenty-four golfers around the north of Ireland. The schedule was to play six consecutive days, tackling the two classics - Royal Portrush (Dunluce) and Royal County Down (Championship) - along with the Glashedy and Old courses at Ballyliffin, Portstewart (Strand) and the beautiful Ardglass. I arrived on the Friday and checked in at the Ramada Portrush, a very nice hotel in the middle of the town. Driving from Belfast, I had stopped at Portrush around twilight and was able to take some great photos around the clubhouse and 18th hole. The Ramada enjoys an excellent location, offers excellent service and a good restaurant, all of which was a good combination in advance of The Green Journey starting. On Saturday, before my clients arrived, I had a game on the Strand course at Portstewart, playing in really heavy rain. I also got onto the Mussenden course at Castlerock, another 18-hole layout that golfers need to play if they’re in the area. Unfortunately, the rain was so heavy that we only managed nine holes, with even my Irish playing partners saying the weather conditions were too bad to play golf. All the same, I was happy to get in a great front nine that was far better than I had imagined beforehand. It was then back to the hotel to receive clients for a Welcome Dinner and an explanation of trip details, including the tournament we were going to play. At last, we were ready to experience some great golf under really green conditions! Sunday - ROYAL PORTRUSH (DUNLUCE) The day started with breakfast after a 12km run along the strand at Portrush, as I was training for the 2014 Buenos Aires Marathon. It was one of the nicest outdoor runs I’ve ever had, with great temperatures as the sun was shining. The morning was then taken up by “Tourist Trail” visits to The Giant’s Causeway, Dunluce Castle and Bushmills Distillery. It was really worth spending the time to catch these iconic regional places before driving back to Royal Portrush for a special golfing afternoon. I had the chance to have a look inside the clubhouse and see all the pictorial images of the course, especially those relating to the 1950s, when it became the first club outside England or Scotland to host golf’s oldest Major, The Open. It’s now known that the course will host the Open Championship again as early as 2019 and changes will be made before then. I was blessed to see the plans for the new holes, although I could not take pictures. Nonetheless, what I saw will make the course even better! I’ve read many reviews, most of them good and some of them not, but everybody seems to agree that the 17th and 18th are just standard holes for such a great venue and I agree with that. Those two holes will disappear for The Open so no worries there; just a sad note to say goodbye to the huge crossbunker on the 17th called “Big Nellie”. But, as it will be reconstructed on the new 7th hole, one of the Dunluce’s trademarks will remain alive. The first three holes are maybe not that great, although the par five 2nd is a nice birdie chance. The par three 3rd is a short one but if you miss the green, making par is a huge challenge. Then we have a stretch of five great holes: the 4th is a tough par four where the uphill second shot is not easy, the 5th plays to the ocean with Dunluce Castle close by, the 6th is a terrific par three, the 7th a very tough par four before the short, right doglegged 8th, my favourite hole on the front nine. The 9th is not a bad hole, just maybe not as spectacular as the stretch of holes before it. The halfway house is nice, with anything you wish to drink, which was a good idea in the cold conditions we were playing in. The back nine starts with an easy par five at the 10th and this is maybe the last real birdie chance on the card. The short 11th hole precedes a tough stretch that includes the dramatic par three 14th (probably the toughest and nicest hole on the course), the downhill 15th and the brutal par four 16th, which will be the closing hole for The Open, playing almost 500 yards from the championship tees. As mentioned earlier, the last two holes will disappear as they don’t match the quality of the other sixteen, but they are not bad holes at all. The par five 17th is long and that big bunker gives a nice target from the tee. The closing hole is a long and rather flat par four, nothing unremarkable and a tough driving hole. In summary, the Dunluce course is a must, even worth playing twice, and I believe it justifies its status as one of the best and toughest links courses in the world. We finished playing around 8.00pm and headed for a late evening meal in the harbor area of Portrush. The word amongst the golfers over dinner was that the trip might possibly match our experience of playing in Scotland as the Dunluce could easily outperform Carnoustie or Turnberry - I’m not sure if I shared this view, but I do know that I really loved the course! Monday – PORTSTEWART (STRAND) This was a totally different day from Saturday in terms of weather as we had sun and a light wind, perfect conditions for links golf. We arrived at the club and the car park was really busy with trucks and machinery involved in nearby filming of “Game of Thrones,” the American fantasy drama television series. That didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of my twenty-four golfers though, who all rushed into the pro shop to purchase plenty of goods carrying one of the nicest logos I’ve seen in the UK. Soon after, we all set off on our round and I was last out with the Club Captain and a couple of members in what turned out to be a very fun grouping. The front nine on the Strand course has some of the nicest holes I’ve been lucky to play in my whole life. On Saturday, we had to quit due to rain but on this day we had the course in the great condition it’s usually presented in. Before we start with the course, some special words need to be said about the clubhouse, which is modern and elevated, giving clear views of the surroundings, including the beach. Everybody was warm in their welcome and the caddies for the group were all members of the Club who really enjoyed sharing their knowledge of the course with their visitors. The outward half is situated in maybe the nicest piece of property we would face in the entire trip, going around huge dunes with views of the beach and Atlantic Ocean. Although the course is playable, any mistake will result in a big number on the scorecard as there’s little chance of recovery after a bad shot. Hole 1 is a downhill right dogleg par four where finding the fairway is 90% of the job done. Hole 2 from an elevated tee plays downhill before an uphill approach is required while hole 3 is a long and tough par three. Hole 4 (a reachable uphill par five) and hole 5 (a downhill long par four) are difficult but great holes before golfers arrive at the extremely nice and short par three 6th, where missing the green is disaster as it’s so hard to get back to this elevated green. Arriving at the reachable par five 7th, you face a big birdie chance but don’t miss the second shot on any side. Holes 8 and 9 are two terrific par fours, where placing the tee shot is the real key to making a possible birdie. After a nice beer at the halfway hut, get ready for some different holes with fewer elevation changes closer to the river on the back nine. The par five 14th is a great hole, before the last three par fours, where scoring is not easy. The Strand course is a good test, a fun place and a very nice setting, I have to say that it’s not quite at the level of Royal County Down and Royal Portrush but it’s a must play track that co-hosted The Amateur in 2014 and the R&A wouldn’t take that event to a bad course! I was treated like a member when I was at Portstewart, where everybody made you feel so at home. After golf, we had lunch in the clubhouse lounge then some of the golfers went down to the beach to see some filming on the “Game of Thrones” set. The sun was out and watching scenes being made of the television series was a big thrill. Again, dinner was in the marina area of Portrush, where there’s plenty of nightlife and great eating alternatives available. In truth, the location of the Ramada Portrush hotel is unbeatable. Tuesday - BALLYLIFFIN (OLD) During the planning of the trip, I made one big mistake and that was not analyzing the travel distance between the two Ballyliffin courses and the Ramada Portrush hotel. Unfortunately, the order of playing the courses had to be set that way, so two long journeys were needed to play golf. But the night before going to Donegal, we came up with the idea of staying in the area close to the courses and most of the golfers decided to remain near Ballyliffin that night instead of returning to Portrush. We arrived at Ballyliffin and the first sight of the clubhouse, although modern, gives the image of pure tradition. We played the Old Course, where the layout was not even constructed as they mowed the grass, placed the bunkers, created the greens and there you have one of those true natural links where shot making is the only way to score. Opened in 1949, Nick Faldo completely refurbished the bunkers in the 1990s. The course is pretty much plain, with no big elevation changes but there are nice views of the Atlantic Ocean and Glashedy Rock, which gives its name to the other course on the property. I played with Club Captain Paddy and it was interesting to learn from him the history of the course and club, how the new Glashedy was built, how Faldo helped the club develop and how Rory as a young kid smashed the Glashedy course record with a 66. The front nine is maybe easier than the back nine with some great holes like the uphill par three 5th, played to a very tough green which, if you miss it off the tee, then God help you! The course gets tough and demanding as you arrive at the long par three 12th, where a long iron is needed to reach a really difficult green. Holes 14 to 18 comprise a good final stretch, especially the long and tough 18th. If you fluff the tee shot then your third one will be a very long one. We finished in the rain and I was pleased to get one of the best pars of the tour on the 18th after a fantastic five iron to fifteen feet, unfortunately missing the birdie putt. After getting soaked out on the course, a very nice lunch was served in the restaurant upstairs, where the views of the course and coastline are tremendous. In my case, with five other guys, we stayed at a lovely little guesthouse at Malin Head, the most northerly spot in Ireland. John McLaughlin from North & West Coast Links invited me for dinner at Ballyliffin Lodge, where we had a good chat about the fantastic trip we were experiencing. We were at the half way stage of the trip and at that moment, the north of Ireland was showing us it certainly had courses at the level of the best in Scotland. Wednesday - BALLYLIFFIN (GLASHEDY) Next day, after an early morning breakfast, it was time to head back to Ballyliffin, where I played with my Irish friends from North and West Coast Links on the Glashedy. We had a really fun match which we lost to the locals, of course, but it was a great golfing experience nonetheless. We had a decent day in terms of weather, even though there were some short, sharp showers during the round. The course is totally different to the Old as this one was completely manufactured. The views are as good as you can imagine, the best of which are from the top of the dunes on the 7th tee. This signature hole is a great downhill par three with water to the front right side of the green, where calculating distance is extremely difficult. The opening six holes are great, especially the par five 4th and par three 5th, played in the direction of Glashedy Rock (which is similar to Ailsa Craig at Turnberry). The back nine is tougher than the front nine and you will find many difficult holes. For example, the 15th is a monster par four (into the wind and rain, it was driver and 3 wood to reach the green) and the 17th is a very demanding par five that also plays into the wind normally. The home hole is a very nice right dogleg, where tee shot needs to be extremely accurate. After playing thirty-six holes here, I can say that Ballyliffin was a very nice golfing experience on a great pair of courses with a fantastic clubhouse, making it well worth the ride up the Inishowen peninsula. And the presence of Glashedy Rock reminded me a little bit of my beloved Scotland! But the day was not over as a three hour drive to the Slieve Donard hotel awaited us so, with my friend Fernando, we jumped into the car after lunch and set off for Newcastle. Luckily, the sun was shining so it was a very enjoyable journey to the east coast. I quickly left my belongings in my hotel room then rushed next door to the Championship course at Royal County Down to take some pictures in very nice late evening light. We had dinner at the hotel with eight other guys and the consensus of opinion was that the Slieve Donard was really something special, at least at the same level as the Turnberry hotel in Scotland. Thursday – ARDGLASS We woke up early as tee times at Ardglass were for early in the morning. The weather forecast was great, so all of us enjoyed a hearty breakfast at Slieve Donard then drove to this breathtaking place some twenty-five minutes away from Newcastle. I was the first to arrive and the clubhouse, designed like a fort, certainly grabs your attention! Regarding the course, I’d been told some months before by another client that Ardglass was not that good, despite five great opening holes and a couple of others that were good holes. I have to say that I totally disagree with this opinion! I learned a few things about the history of the club inside the clubhouse then received my group of twenty-four golfers, spending time between the putting green - rolling at 10 on the stimpmeter, at least - and the first tee. Finally, it was time for my round with the Club Captain, which is a very big honor as a visitor. The first hole is one of the most challenging opening tee shots I’ve faced, where you have to carry more than two hundred yards. You also need to be precise to have a better angle to an elevated green in between the rocks. It was very nice to start with a birdie from twenty feet downhill which rolled extremely pure. The 2nd is a dramatic, over the cliff, par three which that day played 165 yards into the wind. Holes 3 and 4 are two terrific par fours, one of them with a semi blind shot which made it tough into the wind. All four holes go along the cliff on the left. The 5th is a fine par three where, if you land in the right side bunker, you need to donate money to charity as it’s called the “Captain’s Bunker”. After that, holes 6, 7 and 8 are just standard holes which, in my opinion, might need some creativity in redesign as they go inland away from the ocean views. We then reach a great stretch from hole 9 to 13, which I loved. Hole 9 is a great uphill par five, with a very tough second shot. The 10th is a very difficult par three, where the green sits by the shore, before the spectacular par five 11th leads to a well-protected green, the shoreline flanking the right side of the fairway. Playing into the wind, I managed to hit the shot of the week with my three wood to two feet for an eagle. Hole 12 is a dramatic, downhill par three where hybrid is often the club of choice then the 13th is a demanding, long par four with a blind second shot. Holes 14 to 17 are nothing special before a very nice finishing par four, where the elevated tee and a tail wind make it reachable with the tee shot. The views of the Irish Sea and the clubhouse are amazing and maybe the nicest I was able to experience in Northern Ireland. After the round, a big dish of mussels in the clubhouse completed a very pleasurable experience that I really hope to repeat in the future. If you go to this part of the country, you have to play Ardglass. Some holes may just be “standard” but the views are all fantastic and there’s thrilling golf to be played at more than half the holes on the card. With well-maintained greens that run fast and true, staff that are kind and helpful, everything at Ardglass is just as a golf course should be. And the other special feature of the course is that they have twenty-three greens, so in winter they change the configuration of the course, enabling you to play some different layouts. On my way back to the Slieve Donard hotel, and taking advantage of a sunny day, I went to Royal County Down for a short walk and the chance to take some more pictures. It looked like the nicest woman on earth! It was then time for another long run, using the golf course, the shore and part of the dunes for a special 12km stint on my own. Dinner took place in a nearby restaurant, tasting some of the best seafood in all of the UK. A special day lay ahead of us and many of our group had already walked the course and spent a good many sterling pounds in the pro shop. Friday - ROYAL COUNTY DOWN (CHAMPIONSHIP) Well… the day finally came and my round at RCD came true. Since I started to play some of the top ranked courses in the world, I really wanted to be in Newcastle and experience for myself how good the course was, as words and text are never enough. I’ve played Pine Valley, Cypress Point, Shinnecock, Merion, Winged Foot and some more, and all I can say is that RCD comes very close, if not better, than Pine Valley. I believe it is a greater course than Cypress and Shinnecock, not only because of design and variety, but also due to the great scenery surrounding the course with the Irish Sea, the Mourne Mountains, the dunes and coloured gorse making it look totally natural. We arrived early at the course as the pro shop is an attraction not only for shirts and sweaters but for every kind of souvenir you can imagine, such as ball markers, glasses, paintings, club covers and logo balls. Many of my group spent quite a bit and they’ll exhibit their new gear very proudly back in Argentina. The day was not perfect and sunny, but not bad at all as we only had a little bit of wind and it rained on only one hole. Every golfer in the group was extremely excited and knew how special this course is. You could see the happiness in their faces and, when the first group hit their opening tee shots, the best round of the Tour was on its way. The first four holes are as great as you can imagine. Hole 1 is a gentle par five, where a good drive can give you a birdie chance but the second shot needs to be very accurate. Holes 2 and 3 are marvellous par fours with a very challenging tee shot normally. As we played downwind, a three wood was enough. Arriving at the 4th hole, you find the first monster, playing 215 yards into the wind, with danger all around. All I can say is bogey here is not bad! The tee shot on the 5th is tough to find the fairway but once you’ve done this, most of the job is done. The short par three 7th is relatively easy, but a shanked pitching wedge led me to a very disappointing double bogey and my only lost ball! The final two par fours on the front nine are wonderful holes, with the 9th maybe the nicest hole in Ireland. When you get over the hill, a picture there is mandatory! The back nine played downwind from the great par three 10th to the par three 14th, where I unfortunately played another shanked shot from the tee, resulting in another double bogey! The last four holes into the wind were tough but I managed pretty well as finding the fairway makes the difference between a par and a really big number. At the 15th, which was the only hole where we had some rain, one of the excellent caddies said the hole should be the rated stroke index 1 as it plays all of 454 yards, normally into the wind. My low cut drive found the fairway, 215 yards from the pin, then I hit another low cut hybrid with such good fortune that the ball went into the hole for eagle - finding the cup from that distance was 100% luck! After finishing the round, an exploration of the clubhouse is a must as there are lots of pictures to see, including one of Rory and GMac playing on their own, carrying their bags, just days after the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach, which shows the great amateur spirit they both still have. It was a great round and an even better experience on a must play course. RCD is a demanding challenge and now shares my personal number 1 rank with Pine Valley. Many may disagree and I can understand that, but neither of them should be number 2 to the other. It would certainly be a very tough job to build a course better than these two. We held our prize giving in the clubhouse then many of us spent some quality time in the hotel pool, reliving memories of an unforgettable golf trip. Before our evening meal, I went back to the course to take a few more pictures and got some fantastic shots of holes 1, 8 and 9, all the time wishing I had another chance to play the course. At the last dinner in the hotel, we all agreed that the north of Ireland is a special golfing spot where every golfer should come to play. The Irish Open 2015 will show Royal County Down to the world and in 2019 we should have The Open at a redesigned Royal Portrush, with more people hopefully falling in love with these two golfing masterpieces. I have not been to many courses in The Emerald Isle that are very well renowned (like Ballybunion, Lahinch, Old Head, Tralee, Rosapenna, Waterville, Portmarnock Old, The K Club and Druids Glen) but I really expect to visit more in the future as these eight days in the north of the island were something really special. Saturday – THE ISLAND GOLF CLUB There was a bonus for me with my good friend Áine Mangan from the East Golf Alliance and this was playing a gem of a course at The Island Golf Club. After a very early wakeup call at 4.00am and a two-hour drive to meet my friend, we met up outside a deserted clubhouse, where I hit the opening shot of the day, a very nice stinger with the three wood. On a lovely sunny day, we enjoyed one of the best, though still relatively unknown, layouts in Ireland, where the quality of the course was spectacular. The opening hole is a tough par four, whilst you go close to the sea for holes 2 and 3. All the front nine holes are good and sort of tricky, compared to some tougher holes on the back nine. A reachable but difficult 8th and a short par three 9th provide a nice finish to the outward half. The back nine starts with a long and difficult par five but when you arrive at “Valhalla” (the par four 12th) you face the best and most difficult hole on the course. After a missed drive into the rough, I had to lay up then play a 130-yard iron into the wind for my third shot! The par three 13th used to be the 18th when golfers arrived at the course by boat, up until 1973. The narrow and reachable par four 14th is maybe the last real birdie chance as the final par five at hole 15 is long and the fairway is hard to find. The par three 16th requires a long iron from the back tees to a difficult, sloping green. Hole 17 could offer a birdie if it plays downwind then the home hole is a brutal 460-yard par four which I could not reach in two despite two good shots. Lunch in the clubhouse concluded my visit to Ireland. The Green Island certainly has a lot more to show and I’ll do my best to experience more of it in the future but, as a start, this was a hell of a trip! To read my player reviews click any of the links below. Javier Pintos Royal Portrush (Dunluce) Ballyliffin (Old) Ballyliffin (Glashedy) Portstewart (Strand) Ardglass Royal County Down (Championship)