Designed by David Jones and David Feherty, the par 71 Hilton Belfast Templepatrick Golf & Country Club layout can be set up from between 5,565 and 7,077 yards in length.
Designed by David Jones and David Feherty, the par 71 Hilton Belfast Templepatrick Golf & Country Club layout can be set up from between 5,565 and 7,077 yards in length.
Templepatrick Golf Club
The 400-year-old Castle Upton Estate at Templepatrick, near Belfast’s International Airport, had 220 acres of its grounds transformed in the late 1990s into an hotel and leisure complex, complete with a championship quality golf course.
Designed by David Jones and David Feherty, the par 71 layout can be set up from between 5,565 and 7,077 yards in length. Holes are routed in two loops of nine through lovely parkland, bounded on one side by Six Mile Water as it flows to Lough Neagh.
The Templepatrick terrain is fairly level and fairways are generous, bounded mainly by light rough. Bunker complexes are sensible and blend in nicely to the landscape. There are many tall stands of trees – some set in long lines – to admire on the property as the round progresses.
Difficulty in scoring can be attributed to two factors, the first of which is water – ponds at holes 3, 8, 9, 16 and 18 can prove to be very costly. The other element to beware is the quality of the putting surfaces – undulating greens constructed to USGA specification that demand concentration right up until the last putt drops.
A feature hole is the 12th, a 461-yard par four with a slight right dogleg where two mighty blows are required to have any chance of recording a par score. Trees screen the hole from the river all the way down the right side and there are sand traps to be negotiated left of the landing area and right of the putting surface – all in all, a formidable hole that rightly claims its status as number 1 on the stroke index.
The club have held the Ulster PGA Championships in 2000 and 2001 and additionally hosted the Northern Ireland Ladies Open in the summer of 2007.
The latest ranking of the Top 100 Golf Courses in the World serves as the ultimate global golf bucket list. Most members of our World Top 100 Panel are seasoned golfers, each playing 20-30 of these courses annually while travelling extensively over decades to form their opinions on others. We recognise that opinions vary—even among our panel members. Rankings are subjective, and there are undoubtedly 50 or more courses in the UK and USA alone that could easily fit onto this list. Links Golf Pilgrimages The rankings
California, United States
New Jersey, United States
Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
New York, United States
New York, United States
Links golf changes with the seasons, and knowing when to go can make a big difference to a trip. Summer brings long days in Scotland and Ireland, while winter offers the chance to head south to Australia and New Zealand. Spring and autumn can also be good times to play, with different conditions and green fees to consider. Here's a look at where to play throughout the year, with options for different budgets and travel plans. Winter (December–February): Follow the sun south While winter brings the links season to a close at many courses in Britain and Ireland, it's summer in Australia and New Zealand. For golfers keen to keep playing through December, January and February, the Southern Hemisphere has some excellent options. Tasmania is a good place to start, with Barnbougle Dunes and Lost Farm sitting next to each other on the island's north coast. Tom Doak and Mike Clayton designed Dunes, which follows the natural contours of the towering dunes, with plenty of uneven lies and the wind rarely far from play. Lost Farm, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, takes a different approach to the same landscape. The 20-hole course moves between the dunes and more sheltered ground, giving golfers a different test from its neighbour. Playing both gives golfers two different tests in the same part of Tasmania. Cape Wickham, on King Island, is another option for those happy to travel a little further. The course winds through sand hills and limestone outcrops before returning towards the coast and the lighthouse that gives the property its name. The closing hole wraps around a sandy bay, with the shoreline providing a memorable backdrop to the finish. New Zealand has plenty to offer, too. Te Arai Links, north of Auckland, has two courses on a sandy stretch of coast. Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw's South Course brings several holes right alongside the Pacific, while Tom Doak's North Course moves between the coastline and forest before returning to the sea for its closing holes. For a different kind of test, Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club, near Wellington, is one of New Zealand's best-known traditional links. Designed by Alex Russell in 1949, it has hosted the New Zealand Open 12 times. Wind can make club selection difficult, while the split fairway on the 17th gives players a choice of routes rather than a simple shot to the green. These destinations still get their share of bad weather, and reaching Tasmania's island courses takes more planning than a conventional city break. But for golfers willing to travel during the European winter, they offer the chance to play some excellent links while much of the northern hemisphere waits for spring. Green Fees: Barnbougle The Dunes & Lost Farm: A$285 Cape Wickham: A$315 Te Arai Links (North & South): NZ$975 Paraparaumu Beach: NZ$275 Spring (March–May): Get ahead of the summer rush Spring is a good time to start planning a links trip in the UK. Daylight increases through the season, and April and May can offer a chance to play some of the country's best courses before the busiest summer weeks arrive. March is less predictable, with cold, wet and windy conditions still very much part of the deal. Kent is an obvious starting point. Royal St George's, in Sandwich, has hosted The Open 15 times and is known for its undulating fairways, awkward lies and deep bunkers. The enormous bunker beside the fourth hole is one of its most recognisable features, but there are plenty of other places where a wayward shot can make the next one difficult. Royal Cinque Ports, known locally as Deal, is only a short distance away and makes a natural addition to a two-course trip. It's an exposed links that can be particularly demanding when the wind gets up, with the closing stretch a stern finish after a full day's golf. Playing both courses over a couple of days gives visitors two very different tests without spending much time travelling between them. Scotland has good options for a spring trip, too. North Berwick's West Links is one of the most distinctive courses in the country, with views across the Firth of Forth and a variety of holes that reward more than just hitting the ball as far as possible. Its unusual features make it a course worth playing with an open mind, especially for golfers used to more conventional layouts. Further along the coast, Dunbar is a strong option for anyone wanting another East Lothian round. The course runs beside the North Sea, with a rugged setting and plenty of exposure to the wind. It attracts less international attention than some of its neighbours, but it deserves a place on a trip to the area. Spring weather is never a sure thing, particularly in March and early April. By May, longer days make it easier to fit in multiple rounds, but demand starts to build. Booking tee times and accommodation ahead of time is still a sensible move. Green Fees: Royal St George’s: £235 (March), £430 (April to September) Royal Cinque Ports: £185 (March), £285 (April to October) North Berwick: £260-280 (March), £360-380 (April to November) Dunbar: £135-155 (March), £165-265 (April to October) Summer (June–August): The classic Scottish and Irish links trip Summer is peak season for links golf in the UK and Ireland. Long daylight hours make it possible to fit in extra rounds, visit more remote courses and cover plenty of ground on a golf trip. Green fees and visitor demand are at their highest, but this is also the time of year when golfers have the best chance of making the most of a long day on the links. St Andrews Old Course is the obvious centrepiece for many trips to Scotland. Its enormous double greens, deep pot bunkers and humps and hollows have challenged golfers for generations. The Road Hole, with its notorious bunker and narrow green beside the hotel, is one of the game's most famous tests. Getting a tee time takes planning and a degree of luck, with the ballot one of the main options for visitors who haven't secured a place in advance. For something further from the usual tourist route, Machrihanish Dunes sits on the Kintyre peninsula, where the rugged coastline and natural dunes make for an unpredictable round. Uneven lies and the Atlantic wind are part of the challenge, and the remote location means it takes more effort to reach than courses around St Andrews. Across the Irish Sea, Royal County Down is one of the major draws. Set beneath the Mountains of Mourne in Newcastle, Northern Ireland, the course combines views of the mountains and sea with a demanding test through gorse and heather. Blind shots and tricky approaches mean position matters, and the course can be a tough proposition when the wind picks up. On Ireland's west coast, Enniscrone is another trip worth building around. The Dunes course runs through towering dunes in County Sligo, with a scale and setting that make it feel a long way from the more familiar golfing hubs. The dunes provide plenty of drama, but the challenge is about finding the right lines and positions as much as it is about length. Summer comes with the highest prices and the most competition for tee times, particularly at the best-known courses. Book early, and consider adding a less familiar course or two rather than building an entire itinerary around the biggest names. Green Fees: St Andrews Links (Old Course): £380 Royal County Down: £495 Enniscrone (Dunes): €290 Autumn (September–November): Make the most of the shoulder season September and early October can be a good time to play links golf in the UK and Ireland. The summer rush begins to ease at some courses, while the weather can still allow for a full day on the links. As the season progresses, shorter days and more changeable conditions become increasingly important when planning a trip. Kingsbarns, just south of St Andrews, is a good fit for an autumn visit. The modern links hugs the Fife coastline, with several holes running right beside the North Sea. It can be paired with the Old Course and Carnoustie for a trip to the area, although its popularity means tee times still need to be booked well ahead. For golfers looking for another East Lothian round, Gullane No. 2 is worth considering alongside its better-known neighbour. Designed by Willie Park Jr and opened in 1898, it occupies elevated ground above the coast. It's shorter than Gullane No. 1, but still provides a demanding test, with the long par-three 11th among the holes to look out for. Ireland's Atlantic coast is another good place to head in autumn. Portsalon Golf Club, in County Donegal, sits beside Ballymastocker Bay on the Fanad peninsula. The early holes run close to the shoreline, the second skirts the beach, and an approach shot over a burn adds another challenge. Elevated tees provide views across the bay, and Portsalon is a useful option for visitors wanting to explore beyond Ireland's most heavily travelled golf destinations. Further south along Ireland's Atlantic coast, Carne Golf Links sits on the Belmullet peninsula in County Mayo. Its enormous dunes and rugged terrain make for a very different round from the more accessible parkland courses found elsewhere. The elevation changes and scale of the landscape are a big part of the challenge, and its remote position means it takes some planning to include in an itinerary. September and early October generally offer the best balance of daylight and playing opportunities. By November, shorter days and more unpredictable weather can make a trip harder to organise, so build some flexibility into the schedule and check tee-time availability before booking accommodation. Green Fees: Kingsbarns: £524 Gullane No. 2: £100-125 Plan around the season There isn't one perfect time to play links golf. Winter opens up the Southern Hemisphere, spring can bring better value in Britain, summer gives golfers the longest days in Scotland and Ireland, and autumn offers another chance to play before the weather turns. The best choice depends on the courses you want to play, your budget and how much uncertainty you're prepared to accept with the weather. Wherever you go, it's worth checking seasonal green fees and visitor access before committing to flights and accommodation. Note: Green fees are based on international visitor rates for the 2026/27 season and are listed in each course's local currency. Prices may vary by date and availability.
A good halfway house can turn a great round of golf into a memorable one. It might be a cold beer on a Scottish links, a burger with a spectacular view or a hot drink to warm you up before the back nine. Whatever is on offer, the best halfway houses give golfers a chance to forget about the scorecard for a few minutes and enjoy the experience. We recently asked the Top100 Golf Courses community to share their favourite halfway houses, uncovering plenty of memorable stops around the world. We've picked five of their recommendations, alongside five more renowned halfway houses that are well worth knowing about. What is a Halfway House? A halfway house is a food and drink stop positioned around the turn of a golf course, usually between the ninth and 10th holes. Some are little more than a hut serving snacks and drinks, while others have become destinations in their own right, offering everything from full meals and cocktails to fires, views and plenty of local character. Five Halfway Houses Chosen by the Top100 Community Sunningdale Golf Club (England) There is a reason the halfway hut at Sunningdale has become one of the most famous refreshment stops in golf. The small Swiss-chalet-style building has been in place since 1903, sitting where the ninth holes of both the Old and New Courses meet their respective 10th holes. But the building itself isn't the main attraction. That would be the sausage sandwich. Sunningdale's legendary hut serves a simple sausage on buttered bread, with other food and refreshments available alongside it. The hut has become such an established part of the experience that the club's own tradition says everybody stops, but does so speedily. It's not fancy, and that's rather the point. After nine holes of heather-lined fairways, a hot sausage sandwich and a cup of tea can feel like exactly what golf ordered. Nairn Golf Club - The Bothy at Nairn (Scotland) The Bothy at Nairn has a history that goes well beyond golf. Built in 1877, the stone building and neighbouring icehouse formed part of the Easter Delnies Fishing Station, one of five salmon fisheries operating along the coast between Nairn and the mouth of the Findhorn. In a good season, the fishery could catch up to 5,000 salmon, with ice collected from local rivers and a specially made pond and stored in the icehouse to keep the catch fresh. The buildings have since been given a new lease of life, with the Bothy converted into a halfway house where golfers can stop for snacks and refreshments at the turn. On a cold day beside the Moray Firth, there's also a fireplace to warm up beside. The historic stone building, Highland setting and views across the course provide plenty of atmosphere. One of our community members put it rather simply: a dram of whisky and a fire are hard to beat. Hard to argue with that. Turnberry Ailsa (Scotland) Turnberry's halfway house is about as far removed from the traditional golf hut as you can get. The Ailsa's ninth hole now finishes beside the famous Turnberry Lighthouse, which doubles as a halfway house for golfers. The lighthouse itself dates back to 1873, while the golf course's dramatic ninth was redesigned as part of the Ailsa's major renovation. Inside, golfers can stop for food and drink before heading to the 10th, but the real attraction is outside. From the lighthouse, there are views across the Firth of Clyde towards the Isle of Arran and Ailsa Craig. It's a halfway stop that feels more like a destination than a quick pit stop. When your halfway house is a historic lighthouse overlooking one of Scotland's most spectacular stretches of coastline, you've got a pretty good excuse to take your time. Ardglass Golf Club (Northern Ireland) At Ardglass, the halfway-house experience is wonderfully straightforward: have a Guinness and enjoy the view. The course's old cottage halfway house at the back of the 7th green has become one of its most memorable features, with golfers able to stop for a pint before continuing their round. A recent visitor described it as a gorgeous cottage with Guinness, while another praised the combination of a Guinness, sausage roll and views over the Irish Sea. It fits Ardglass perfectly. The County Down links is already one of the most dramatic places to play golf in Northern Ireland, with the Irish Sea never far away. Add a pint of Guinness just before the turn and you've got a halfway house that feels distinctly of its surroundings. Sometimes you don't need to reinvent the wheel. Blair Atholl Golf Estate (South Africa) Blair Atholl might have been one of the less obvious names to appear among the community recommendations, but the descriptions made it impossible to leave out. The halfway stop sounds less like a quick break and more like an event. One golfer highlighted the chicken burger, a chef cooking a barbecue beneath the trees and a deck sitting beneath a stream. Another mentioned silver-service high tea. That's quite the halfway-house menu. It's also a good example of why the best stops aren't necessarily the most famous. A halfway house can become memorable because of the food, the setting or simply the feeling that you're being looked after rather than rushed back onto the course. Five More Renowned Halfway Houses St Andrews Links - The Old Course (Scotland) If we're talking about halfway houses, it makes sense to visit the place that has a claim to starting the tradition. In the 19th century, David "Old Da" Anderson sold ginger beer and other refreshments from a cart on the Old Course at St Andrews. It has been described as golf's first refreshment stand. The modern version sits behind the ninth green and keeps the tradition going, albeit with a rather more substantial menu. The pork and haggis sausage roll is a popular choice, while the club's own Tom Morris 1821 Lager provides a suitably Scottish accompaniment. It's difficult to think of a more fitting place for a halfway stop. The Old Course is steeped in golfing history, and even the break between nines has a story of its own. Pine Valley Golf Club (New Jersey, United States) Pine Valley's halfway house is memorable before you've even ordered anything. Rather than a conventional hut, it is built into the base of an old water tower, which golfers encounter around the eighth hole and again near the 12th tee. It's an appropriately unusual feature for one of the world's most unconventional golf courses. The tower doubles as a stop for drinks and snacks, giving golfers a chance to take a breather before continuing around Pine Valley. It even boasts an impressive collection of golf balls from around the world. There aren't many halfway houses that can claim to be built inside a water tower. Quivira Golf Club (Baja California Sur, Mexico) Quivira has taken the halfway-house concept and spread it across the entire round. The Jack Nicklaus-designed course has multiple all-inclusive comfort stations, each offering golfers food and drinks as they make their way around the Cabo San Lucas layout. The most spectacular is The Cliffs, perched almost 300 feet above the Pacific, where golfers can stop for a breakfast burrito and take in the views over the ocean. Then there's The Oasis, the main halfway house near the ninth green. Here, the emphasis is on the food, with freshly prepared Baja cuisine including tacos and tostadas, alongside a full tequila bar. A final stop, Cañada, sits near the 16th tee, while another comfort station beside the oceanfront practice facility offers snacks and cold drinks before golfers even reach the first tee. The food and refreshments are included in the green fee, making Quivira's comfort stations much more than somewhere to grab a quick drink. Tacos, tequila and spectacular Pacific Ocean views make the breaks almost as memorable as the golf. Whistling Rock Country Club (South Korea) At Whistling Rock, there isn't just one halfway house to look forward to. The South Korean club is made up of three nine-hole loops, each with its own themed tea house: Cocoon, Temple and Cloud. The three buildings are each distinctly different. One is a rounded structure between a lake and forest, another is a formal wood-and-glass building, while the Cloud tea house sits high among the trees. The result is a halfway-house experience that feels distinctly different depending on which nine you're playing, with each tea house adding another layer to the Whistling Rock experience. Royal Dornoch Golf Club (Scotland) Royal Dornoch's halfway house is proof that sometimes the best idea is a simple one. The stop sits behind the ninth green of the Championship Course, with views back across the links towards the Dornoch Firth. And then there's the traditional order: hot chocolate with Bailey's Irish Cream, a combination that makes considerably more sense when you're standing on a Scottish links in a North Sea wind. It's a small detail, but one that has become part of the Royal Dornoch experience and exactly the sort of halfway-house tradition golfers remember.
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.
