The Best Golf Courses to Play in Northern Ireland

By: Golfshake Editor | Tue 07 Feb 2023

Northern Ireland undisputedly boasts some truly wonderful golf courses, including several of the world's absolute best. The 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush was a perfect showcase for this destination, which provides a rich variety of venues to experience.

But just where should you choose to play? Well, with only 77 golf courses listed on Golfshake for Northern Ireland throughout the six regions; we decided to round-up the finest of what Northern Ireland has to offer in a slightly different way.

We take a closer look at 15 of the greatest golf courses to play in Northern Ireland.

Top 100 Listed Courses

Widely considered to be among the most celebrated layouts on the planet, this masterful trio would enhance any bucket list that you may have.

Royal Portrush Golf Club

Location: Bushmills Road, Portrush, County Antrim

Golfshake Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "It was in excellent condition in late October. The greens were fabulous. The Open Championship feel to the place. The starter was such an entertaining guy. Sense of history in the clubhouse. The view as you walk onto the 5th green!"

Royal County Down Golf Club

Location: Golf Links Road, Newcastle, County Down

Golfshake Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "One of the greats in the world. Design, condition, layout, challenge. It's simply amazing."

Portstewart Golf Club

Location: Strand Road, Portstewart, County Londonderry

Golfshake Rating: 4.84

Review Comment: "Amazing golf course, front 9 best in Europe, very enjoyable. Should have played better!"

Top Rated on Golfshake

Looking beyond those most universally acclaimed jewels and studying reviews submitted by the Golfshake Community of passionate golfers, we have deferred to their ratings to see just which courses they would recommend above the rest.

Belvoir Park Golf Club

Location: Church Rd, Newtownbreda, Belfast, County Antrim

Golfshake Rating: 5.00

Review Comment: "I’ve had the privilege to play Belvoir a few times recently, playing with friends who are members and getting introduced to other members. The golf course is an excellent but fair test of golf with beautiful, tree lined fairways, and fast and true greens. Several new tee boxes only enhance the course, especially the 8th pitch hole. Always a friendly welcome and a pleasure to play."

Castlerock Golf Club

Location: Circular Road, Castlerock, County Londonderry

Golfshake Rating: 4.82

Review Comment: "Great links course, often forgotten as it's next to Portrush and Portstewart, but worth a visit too. We got soaked and the rough was juicy but had a wonderful time."

Lough Erne Golf Resort

Location: Belleek Road, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh

Golfshake Rating: 4.80

Review Comment: "An absolute gem of a course with magnificent views, great holes and in great condition. I'd play again in a heartbeat."

Rockmount Golf Club

Location: Drumalig Road, Carryduff, Belfast, County Down

Golfshake Rating: 4.68

Review Comment: Course was in excellent condition. Very quiet and enjoyable.

Kirkistown Castle Golf Club

Location: Main Rd, Cloughey, Newtownards, County Down

Golfshake Rating: 4.64

Review Comment: "Great condition course with superb views and friendly staff."

Newtownstewart Golf Club

Location: Golf Course Road, Newtownstewart, Omagh, County Tyrone

Golfshake Rating: 4.64

Review Comment: "Lovely parkland course set within Baronscourt Estate. Plenty of wildlife to be seen as you play this well set up course. Well worth a visit."

Temple Golf Club

Location: Church Road, Boardmills, Lisburn, County Down

Golfshake Rating: 4.60

Review Comment: "Good course in good condition. No hold ups and great value. Food was good and a very friendly atmosphere in the clubhouse."

Tandragee Golf Club

Location: Markethill Road, Tandragee, County Armagh

Golfshake Rating: 4.40

Review Comment: "I have played this course a number of times and it's one of my favourites. Good views of the surrounding countryside and the undulating, well maintained golf course results in a very relaxing environment and a reasonable challenge for all."

Popular Courses

Finally, there just some courses that draw greater traffic than others - with the number of independent reviews for these places submitted into the Golfshake Course Section testament to that.

Galgorm Castle Golf Club

Location: Galgorm Road, Ballymena, County Antrim

Golfshake Rating: 4.49

Review Comment: "Considering this course is only 25 years old, it is already one of the top 5 parklands in Northern Ireland. The greens are absolutely magnificent."

Clandeboye Golf Club

Location: Tower Road, Conlig, Bangor, County Down

Golfshake Rating: 4.47

Review Comment: "A gem of a course which is in great condition. It can be played all year round and is a very good challenge to all levels of golfers. I would recommend that you should give it a try and you will not be disappointed."