Travel, Leisure and Recreation

Some people come to Northern Ireland to take a tour of its castle ruins and stately homes. Others are attracted by its beautiful beaches. Others, still, come to spend golf holidays in Northern Ireland. After all, there are many golf courses in Northern Ireland that are surrounded by spectacular scenery.

Founded in 1881, the Royal Belfast Golf Club is the oldest golf club in Northern Ireland, which is also one of the reasons for its popularity. Designed by H.S. Colt, the course presents various challenges for golfers, while at the same time providing relaxing views of the Antrim Plateau and the Belfast Lough just beyond.

Although not as old, the Royal County Down Golf Club has been around for a long time, too. If you are an expert spending golf holidays in Northern Ireland, you’ll want to try out the Championship Link. On the other hand, if you’re a beginner or want to play a relaxing game of golf, you can play at the Annesley Links, which is the easier course.

The Castlerock Golf Club has two links courses, as well – the more challenging 18-hole Mussenden Course and the easier but equally enjoyable 9-hole Bann Course. Designed by Ben Sayers, both courses offer breathtaking views, since they are both surrounded by streams, sand hills and other amazing natural landscapes.

The most popular of all the golf courses in Northern Ireland, though, is the Royal Portrush Golf Club, which is also one of the main reasons why golfers spend their holidays in Northern Ireland. Indeed, the Royal Portrush Golf Club is consistently listed among the world’s top golf courses, particularly because of its breathtaking scenery and the challenges it presents to even the most experienced golfers.

The Ballycastle Golf Club is quite impressive, too, with a newly renovated clubhouse and a course which consists of both parkland and links. The clubhouse offers luxurious lounge bars and function rooms, while the course offers a diversity of challenges because of its diverse terrain.

You can play golf at the Radisson Roe Park, as well. Although one of the most recent golf courses in Northern Ireland, the 18-hole parkland course is already a popular one and is well known for its challenging water features. There are excellent golfing facilities around the course, too, such as a driving range and a putting green, as well as an excellent hotel right nearby where you can spend the night after spending a day on the course.

There are several other excellent golf courses, too, such as the Clandeboye Golf Club in Bangor and the Ardglass Golf Club in Downpatrick. And if you want to take a break from golf, there are also many other interesting things to do and see. This way, you’ll surely enjoy your holidays in Northern Ireland.

Isabella Olsen is a writer for various travel magazines who has toured global tourist destinations by car. To book your car hire Northern Ireland, or learn more about cheap hire cars worldwide, visit Zencarhire.com.