Despite the fact that Northern Ireland is home to the two top ranked layouts in the entire Emerald Isle with another 90 quality courses besides, this tiny country has somehow managed to fly under the radar of most visiting golfers until very recently. It’s only during the past couple of years that Northern Ireland has begun to garner the international golf attention it so richly deserves.

Smaller than the state of Connecticut, it takes a little more than two hours to drive from Royal County Down, situated in the southernmost part of the country, to reach Royal Portrush in the northwest corner. Only a few miles further and you will be in the historic Northern Ireland city of Londonderry and shortly after, back in the Republic of Ireland once again.

Finding so many world-class layouts concentrated into such a compact area is a treat not found in many other parts of this world, but that’s only the beginning of a story that should be every golfer’s dream.

Northern Ireland is geographically situated at a golfing cross-roads – it occupies a central point, which because of the minimal travel distances involved, makes it easily combined with other golf hot-spots. Continental Airlines non-stop service from Newark into Belfast, started last year, has really opened up a new world of possibilities, allowing the golf traveler to fly into Belfast and out of Dublin, Glasgow or Edinburgh. For the first time a two-country golf adventure not only fits very conveniently into a trip of just 7 or 8 days, but it can also include your choice of either a selection of the world’s top ranked courses or, some of the very best hidden gems, only now being discovered.

Fly into Dublin for a few days and enjoy the pleasures of Europe’s liveliest capital, with a sampling of the city’s best golf. Portmarnock is ranked No. 4 in all Ireland and this years Ryder Cup venue, The K-Club, shouldn’t be missed. If you’re looking for a special challenge, the links course at The Island Golf Club is guaranteed to deliver it.

From Dublin it’s only a two hour drive to Northern Ireland’s seaside resort of Newcastle, where the King of Ireland’s courses, Royal County Down makes its home. Stay here for a couple of nights and you can play Ireland’s very best course twice, or for a change of pace, include County Down with the excellent neighboring links at Ardglass.

A final two or three nights stay in Portrush, gives you the opportunity to play Royal Portrush, Ireland’s No. 2 ranked layout and the only course outside of England or Scotland to ever host The British Open. Not to be missed is Northern Ireland’s No. 3 ranked layout at Portstewart, located just a few miles away and only a little further, Castlerock, a gem of a links, little known beyond Ireland’s shores. It’s only an hour’s drive from Portrush to Belfast and your flight home.

Royal County Down

The new Belfast air service also opens up the wonderfully isolated links courses located in the Republic of Ireland’s northernmost reaches. Ballyliffin, Rosapenna and Portsalon all sit in the Irish outback and although the latter two have been around since the 1890’s, the arduous journey required to reach them from either Shannon or Dublin, previously Ireland’s only two gateways for flights from North America, has always been just too much for most visitors.

Fly into Belfast and these stunning jewels combine extremely well with the treasures surrounding Portrush. For the links connoisseur eager to experience the unique, age old qualities of these majestic layouts, there will still be a fair amount of driving involved, best tackled on the day of arrival in Belfast. Rid yourself of the better part of the 4 hour drive required to reach Rosapenna and the very comfortable, hotel located on the links on this first day and the rest of the trip will be plain sailing.

View of Castlerock

Spend a couple of days here playing Rosapenna and Portsalon, then move to Ballyliffin for another two nights where both Ballyliffin layouts must be played. Move on to Portrush taking in Castlerock and Portstewart, leaving Royal Portrush as the grand finale and you have the makings of a weeklong golf trip that outshines any you may have taken before.

Yet another combination easily done in a one-week trip is Northern Ireland and the west coast of Scotland. Fly into Belfast, driving down to Newcastle for one night. Play Royal County Down next morning then move to Portrush in the afternoon for two nights taking in both Portstewart and Royal Portrush. Next day, take the one and a half hour ferry crossing from Belfast to Western Scotland for a 3 or 4 night stay and you have a smorgasbord of golf to choose from. Turnberry, Royal Troon, Prestwick, Western Gailes and a dozen more, the selection boggles the mind. They can all be played from a single hotel stay, with the homeward flight leaving from Glasgow, only a 45 minute drive away.

But Northern Ireland has so much quality golf within its own borders, there’s every reason to spend a full week here, taking in as much of the entire golf banquet as your appetite (or stamina) will allow.

For more ideas on how Northern Ireland's treasure trove of golf can be included in your golf trip, click here.

© 2006 David Brice / Golf International Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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