Top Rated: Belfast Courses
Tourism in Northern Ireland is at an all-time high. In truth, it comes as no surprise! The iconic Titanic Belfast experience, the city’s proximity to the mesmerising North coast and of course, the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Tyrion Lannister & co. along the many GOT filming locations. To be honest, when it comes to listing reasons why you shouldn’t visit Belfast, just like Tyrion’s mate, we know nothing!
From Belfast, you can reach every corner of Northern Ireland within 2hours. When you consider this tiny speck on the world map has raised three major champions in the last decade, you’d be right to assume you’re set to be surrounded by some wonderful golf! So here’s some local knowledge ahead of your trip. 5 Belfast golf courses our golfers love.
Shandon Park Golf Club
Looking to squeeze in a round on your trip to the city, without venturing too far? Shandon Park Golf Club is right up your street – literally. Less than 4 miles out from the City Hall (the centrepiece of Belfast) you’ll stumble across one of the finest parkland challenges on the Emerald Isle. Did You Know: Shandon Park hosted the Blaxnit Championship in 1964? Among the field that week – Tony Jacklin and Christy O’Connor! The course record currently sits at 6-under-par, go get it!
Dunmurry Golf Club
South of the city and ever so slightly further out than Shandon in the East, you’ll find Dunmurry GC. When strolling through the calm at Dunmurry it can be easy to forget how close you are to the hustle and bustle of city centre Belfast – approx. 5miles away. This beautiful parkland measures up at 6156yards and plays at a par of 70. The neighbouring Lady Dixon Park provides a beautiful backdrop along the 19th! A member of the Golfing Union of Ireland, this fantastic club steeped in history should make it on to your Belfast to-do-list.
Holywood Golf Club
If making the Tour, becoming a multi-major winner and one of the most recognisable names in sport is a part of your 10-year plan, we probably don’t have much advice for you. However, one thing we do know, Holywood Golf Club has helped transform a young lad, great at chipping golf balls into household appliances into exactly that – one of THE biggest names in sport! Yes, tee it up where Rory learned his trade. A course and a club that means so much to the 2019 PGA Tour Player of the Year. Just less than 6 miles from the city centre, Holywood GC won’t upset your trip to Belfast with long drives out of town….leave them for the teebox.
Carnalea Golf Club
A parkland track right along the sea…wait, what? Yes, you’ve read correct. Despite it’s seaside location, take in the pristine parkland at Carnalea GC. Don’t be fooled by the measurements on the scorecard. At just over 5,700yards you may feel you could be in with a shot to shoot some seriously low scores. Problem is, yardages don’t tell the full story when it comes to golf! Tricky doglegs and clever bunkers are on hand to destroy a scorecard. If you’re making the trip to BT19, brace yourself for some fantastic views of the Belfast Lough, Antrim Hills and if you’re really lucky you can even take in the Scottish coast on a clear day!
Galgorm Castle Golf Club
Consistently ranked among the top parkland’s in Northern Ireland, Galgorm Golf Club is a beautiful, testing course. Set among 220 acres of the Galgorm Castle Estate, you’ll be teeing it up at the home of the European Tour’s Northern Ireland Open. This track is slightly further outside Belfast and neighbours the Co.Antrim town of Ballymena, but our golfers love it and we simply couldn’t leave it out!
Top tip, the stunning estate provides a phenomenal restaurant, hotel and spa. So don’t rule this one out if you’re looking for a romantic weekend away….while finding time to hit the course!
Visiting Ireland? Read our blog on 2013 Irish Open Host, Carton House.
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