Northern Ireland's champion courses

You can’t escape the McIlroy buzz that surrounds his home club of Holywood. McIlroy’s legacy is everywhere – not just on the walls, but on the greens too. After becoming Holywood’s youngest ever member at the age of seven, the four-time major champion developed a real love for the club and returns to play here whenever he can. Along with its 18 holes, sweeping views out over Belfast Lough and the promise of a full game in under three hours, Holywood also remains a lovely course for younger golfers, hosting the Irish Junior Open Ulster Series. If you’re seeking to inspire your kids, this is the course for a family trip.

A little less known than some, but no less lovely, Belvoir is highly rated by McIlroy as a “great parkland course...ideally located”: somewhere he’ll play a round in the morning with his friends, before relaxing in the beautiful surrounds over a bite to eat. Coming up on a century old, Belvoir was designed by legendary course designer, Harry Colt – who also designed courses at Royal Portrush and Royal County Down – and his expertise certainly shows in the club’s selection of challenging par 4s. Set on 163 acres, Belvoir has already hosted the Irish Open, Irish PGA and Irish Close to date. Will it host you next?

No trip to Northern Ireland is complete without a bit of Belfast: loud, proud and buzzing with energy. Bedecked in colourful street art and history-laden murals, it’s equal parts arty and honest. A Black Taxi Tour is one of the best ways to get to know Belfast’s storied past, as told by the local drivers who know it best. But it’s not all heavy-hitting stuff – the people here are dry-witted and fun loving, with an enthusiasm that spills into everything from their food to their comedy. Don’t believe us? Catch a gig at The Black Box, before trying the Michelin-rated eats of OX or The Muddlers Club; or spend an early morning digging into the great local grub at St George’s Market.

If you have more time:

You just can’t miss Titanic Belfast, the museum set in the exact spot where the ship of dreams was built. Previously named the World’s Leading Tourist Attraction at the World Travel Awards, this is an experience that will stay with you long after you head back to the golf course.

There are no two ways about it: Dungannon is the home of Darren Clarke, the town where he was born and raised and the club where he honed his natural skill. Established in 1890, it is one of the island’s oldest courses and has undergone many a change since then, namely expanding from a 9-hole to an 18-hole course. Most recently redesigned with help of Clarke himself, after whom the par 3 9th hole is named, the course has his fingerprints all over it. Friendly, welcoming and great fun, this 72 par course is the perfect spot for a relaxing round.

For an up-close-and-personal interaction with Northern Ireland’s indigenous flora and fauna, you won’t get much better than Oxford Island Nature Reserve. Nestled on the shores of Lough Neagh, the reserve is home to countless rare birds and animals, including buzzards, ospreys, pygmy shrews and otters, as well as enchanting wildflower meadows and dense woodland. If you want to keep up your energy levels, there’s so much more to do here than simply admire nature: from walking trails and angling trips to art workshops and star-gazing nights, you’ll see a whole new side to Northern Ireland. A little farther northwest, you’ll find the Beaghmore Stone Circles. These megalithic cairns are definitely worth a trip if you’re a history buff. There’s something mind boggling about the realisation that these perfect stone circles were put in place by Bronze Age hands, up to 5,000 years ago.

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There’s nothing better after a day’s golfing than a good meal – and Northern Ireland is nothing if not a foodie’s paradise. Pop into Wee Paddy’s, less than 10 minutes’ drive from Oxford Island, for some good, honest bistro eats.

Fans will know Clarke loves a good links course – after all, he hails links as “the purest form of the game” – and once you lay eyes on Royal Portrush, you’ll understand why. For a lot of people, it’s a toss-up between Royal Portrush and nearby Portstewart for the most beautiful course on the island – but when it comes to Clarke, there’s no denying his favourite (he even has his own labelled parking spot right outside the front entrance). And it’s not just Clarke; Rory McIlroy calls this the “best 18-hole layout in the world”, while Golf.com ranks it as #16 in its Top 100 Golf Courses in the World. With 7,337 sweeping yards of course, taking in 36 holes and 62 bunkers, this 71 par course is a dream to play. In 2025, it will host The 153rd Open, hailed by Clarke as “the biggest and best tournament in the world”. Make sure to book your tee time before then...

This small, perfectly formed course sits within the the mighty Royal Portrush’s Valley Links on the County Antrim coast. Rathmore was the first club McDowell ever joined and a round here will leave your heart singing: 6,304 yards of par 70 bliss, surrounded by some of the most beautiful natural landscapes anywhere on the planet. Though he spends far less time at Rathmore these days, McDowell still returns to buy a round of drinks for everyone in the clubhouse after each tour win. So if you time your visit right, you could nab a tipple with a US Open Champion!

There’s no doubt about it: Portstewart is worth the trip even if you’ve never played a round in your life. For those with a real love of the game, they won’t be disappointed either: three unique 18-hole courses, breathtaking links views and a history of excellence make this an unforgettable spot. Host to the Irish Open in 2017, it’s a tricky, exhilarating course, with one of the most famously challenging front 9 holes around. It’s no wonder McDowell has called Portstewart “a serious test of your game” – high praise from a one-time world #4!

The Causeway Coastal Route is one of those drives that simply puts others to shame. Cruising along the stunning northern coast with mere minutes between world-class attractions like fairytale Dunluce Castle, heart-stopping Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and pretty Ballintoy Harbour (of Game of Thrones® fame), you’ll wonder how this road isn’t a constant traffic jam of slack-jawed sightseers! Even the sleepy, postcard-perfect village of Cushendun is a treat to visit and a rare nod to a time and style long since passed. But it’s the Giant’s Causeway that is the stuff of legends. Debate surrounds its origins – purists say it’s a 60-million-year-old volcanic rock formation, while the locals know the 40,000 hexagonal stone columns were built by a giant – but once you set foot on this impossibly perfect landscape, all you feel is wonder.