Northern Ireland
While Royal County Down and Royal Portrush deservedly get all the kudos for a Northern Ireland golf trip, many of our golfing tourists are simply blown away by the beauty of Ardglass, Portstewart, and Castlerock. Any trip to this part of the world would not be complete without a trip to the Giants Causeway, while there is also an option to visit Bushmills distillery, The Titanic experience or various Game of Thrones locations. See a sample Northern Ireland Tour below. We customize all tours for our clients so feel free to contact us with any specific requests.
Day 1: Ardglass
Arrive at Belfast or Dublin airports and be greeted by a Lyons Links guide. Transfer to Ardglass Golf Club and play what some locals refer to as “the best course in County Down.” There is no doubt it is majestic, however this is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the nearby Royal County Down, which has been voted No. 1 course in the world by Golf Digest multiple times. After golf at Ardglass transfer and check in at the luxurious Slieve Donard.
Day 2: Royal County Down
Voted the No. 1 golf course in the world by Golf Digest over multiple years, Royal County Down is top of most people’s list wishing to come to Northern Ireland. Tee times at Royal County Down are in high demand, but nonetheless, please contact us and we will see if we can secure tee times for you on your preferred travel dates. And, as a bonus, after golf spend another night in the Slieve Donard.
Day 3: Galgorm
After spending two nights in the Slieve Donard, transfer north to the magnificent Galgorm Resort and Spa. A beautiful hotel with award-winning spa facilities to keep you limbered up for the challenges ahead. There is an exceptional parkland course onsite that is a regular on the European Challenge Tour and hosts the Northern Irish Amateur Open. With Portrush and Portstewart a little less than an hour away, it’s the perfect base for the tour.
Day 4: Portstewart
With a facelift completed in 2018, Castlerock has become a must-visit on any Northern Ireland itinerary. The Mussenden course has completely altered six holes under the watchful eye of renowned golf course architect Martin Hawtree, which have been met with rave reviews. T0 those who have not played here before, the holes look and feel like they have been there for centuries.
Day 5: Castlerock
With a facelift completed in 2018, Castlerock has become a must-visit on any Northern Ireland itinerary. The Mussenden course has completely altered six holes under the watchful eye of renowned golf course architect Martin Hawtree, which have been met with rave reviews. T0 those who have not played here before, the holes look and feel like they have been there for centuries.
Day 6: Royal Portrush
What a way to finish your dream golf trip to Northern Ireland. A simple, superb golf course that receives unanimous applause from all our guests. Little wonder the golfing world is licking its collective lips looking forward to the club’s second hosting of The Open Championship in 2025. The Dunluce course at Royal Portrush is still the only club on the island of Ireland to be selected to host an Open Championship.
Day 7: Departure day
The option here is to depart from Dublin or Belfast. While Belfast will mean a very short commute from your hotel, departing from Dublin Airport is particularly convenient for our North American clients as guests can “pre-clear” customs, thereby ensuring ease of passage when you touch down home. With this option it may be best to transfer to a Dublin hotel on Day 6 of your dream trip.
Hotel choices
There are several options here. Most definitely the preferred option for Newcastle when playing Ardglass and Royal County Down is the Slieve Donard (pictured at left). If full, there are some really nice local guesthouses. Galgorm Resort and Spa is what can only be described as a four-star-plus facility. In fact we can’t believe it’s not five-star. The alternative to Galgorm is to stay closer to Portrush in the highly rated Bushmills Inn.