Golf at Royal County Down (Day 2) 4 hours

Northern Ireland is without doubt one of the world's most underrated golf destinations. A stunning collection of links courses share what is arguably the finest golfing coastline to be found in the British Isles. The array of inland layouts are equally as challenging and no less beautiful -- the entire country is awash with quality golf. This is a golfer's heaven on earth; yet even among such distinguished company, Royal County Down Golf Club stands out.

The "Royal" moniker is the first indication this is no ordinary layout, and a very special experience is in store for any with the good fortune to be playing it. This Royal not only lives up to its regal designation, it exceeds it. Outstandingly handsome, it's ranked among the top 10 in the world and has been designated as Ireland's best for each of the past 12 years. Royal County Down is the crown Prince of Irish golf.

 

Dating from 1889, the original design for the Championship Course was laid out by Old Tom Morris, perhaps the master of all golf course architects. Paid the princely sum of 4 guineas (about $6) for his efforts, Old Tom was quite content with the modest fee as he had little work to do, considering this to be the most natural links site of all.

 

Against the magnificent backdrop of the Mountains of Mourne, County Down Championship stretches along the shores of Dundrum Bay and the Irish Sea. As the course zigzags back and forth, a different vista is provided from virtually every hole. Don't be fooled by the glorious scenery -- it only distracts from what is an extremely challenging layout, more than worthy of its top world-class ranking.

 

The narrowest ribbons of fairways thread their way through as impressive a set of sand dunes as could be imagined. The fairways are surrounded by purple heather and golden gorse, beautiful to look at but so punishing for any who stray off the narrow path.

 

Innumerable bunkers are scattered throughout -- deep, cavernous and topped with fringes of sea grasses. The greens are fast and many are domed, immediately rejecting any approach shot lacking in conviction. This is a true test of the player's command of the game, and proficiency in every aspect is demanded from start to finish.

 

It is seldom one finds a course lacking in any poor holes, but County Down Championship is on the very short list of such layouts. Tom Watson ranks the first 15 at the top of his list of favorite consecutive holes and it is difficult to disagree -- this is a layout composed only of strengths.

 

If you have the confidence to pit your abilities against the very best, Royal County Down has to be at the top of your must-play list.

Take an Eco Day Tour (Day 3) Full Day

We invite you to choose from a variety of 1 day tours that explore the hidden corners of Ireland.  What sets our Ireland Eco Tours apart is the ‘Leave No Trace’ policy we employ in everything we do.  Knowledgeable Bord Failte approved Guides lead you on a fun-filled, informative tour, all from the comfort of the veggie-oil fuelled Eco Bus. All tours have been certified according to the Greenbox Ecotourism Standard, which means that all the key elements of ecotourism are met as part of the experience. There are 6 Eco Day tours to choose from. More info>>

Golf at Royal Portrush (Day 5) 4 hours

One of Ireland's most famous of links courses, Royal Portrush Dunluce course is laid out in a marvelous stretch of golfing country. Through a tangle of sandhills the course threads its way, with the sweeping contours of dunes, lending infinite variety to your game. This course has been portrayed by many golfers to be one of the most challenging in the world.

There is probably no greater honor that can be bestowed on a golf club than to host the British Open Championship. Started in 1860, the Open is not only the oldest of all golf tournaments; it is arguably also the most prestigious. From the exclusive group of clubs so honored, only one has been located outside Scotland or England. Northern Ireland's Royal Portrush Golf Club hosted the major championship in 1951.

This fact alone puts Royal Portrush in a class of its own, but this is a club that is far from ordinary anyway. From its inception in 1888, the distinguished Royal Portrush Golf Club has always been a little different from the rest.

Portrush received its Royal moniker just a short four years after its opening. Others have typically waited for a quarter century or longer, proving their pedigree before being accepted into the elite circle of only 37 clubs in the British Isles permitted to carry the proud title.

Northern Ireland is one of the most scenic regions of the Emerald Isle and the coastline surrounding Portrush is perhaps the most stunningly beautiful part of all. This is the Antrim Coast, home to Northern Ireland's spectacular natural wonder, The Giant's Causeway. There are views across the Irish Sea to Scotland in one direction and to the distant hills of Donegal in the other. A more breathtaking setting for a golf course would be difficult to find.

Royal Portrush boasts two championship layouts, but when people speak of the championship links, they are usually referring to the Dunluce Course, where the 1951 Open was staged. If it was in any other location, the Valley Course would deservedly take more of the glory but this is Portrush, an area of golfing superlatives -- and it is the Dunluce that takes the winner's circle.

The current layout bears little resemblance to the original, thanks to a creative redesign undertaken by the renowned English architect Harry Colt between 1929 and 1932.

The course is laid out in and among giant sand dunes, along the tops of cliffs and through valleys. Constant changes of direction make the wind blowing in from the Irish Sea an ever-varying challenge. This is a course where accuracy is key and wayward shots are penalized to the extreme with rough that can only be termed as cruel and punishing.

There are plenty of reasons to linger a little longer around Portrush. Virtually abutting Royal Portrush Golf Club is another gem of a links, Portstewart. with what some say is the best opening hole in Irish golf.

Don't miss the opportunity to visit the Bushmills whiskey distillery and for one of the friendliest and most accommodating hostelries, you can't go wrong by staying at The Bushmills Inn.

Combining charm and quality, The Bushmills Inn is one of the most delightful small hotels in Northern Ireland with a staff that really cares and knows exactly how to cater to golfers. The award-winning restaurant is just a bonus.

Golf at Ballyliffin (Day 7) 4 hours

It was christened ‘The Dornoch of Ireland’ and for years golfers in the know regarded Ballyliffin as the ultimate hidden gem. Not only is this one of the friendliest clubs in the country but the setting is unsurpassed and the quality of the terrain so perfect for golf that those who accidentally stumbled across Ballyliffin felt compelled to speak of it in whispers. Thus it was enchanted as well as enchanting and Ballyliffin seemed destined to dwell in splendid isolation.

Then two things happened. In June 1993, on a glorious day when ‘seals basked on Glashedy Rock and the sea off Pollan Strand was as blue as the Bay of Naples’, a helicopter landed adjacent to the clubhouse and out jumped Nick Faldo. The World’s number one and reigning Irish and British Open Champion immediately fell under the spell, but then he hadn’t encountered anything quite like Ballyliffin before.

With its amazing contoured fairways, this was a course that added new meaning to the phrase ‘a natural golf links'. Suffice to say that Faldo was bowled over by the experience and word of his visit soon filtered down the golfing grapevine. The visit was, in fact, extremely timely for only a few months earlier the club had taken the ambitious decision to begin construction of a second 18 hole links course.

The architects were to be Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock who promised the club that they would build one of the worlds finest golf courses. Within two years they had honoured that pledge.

So now Ballyliffin has 36 holes to savour – two outstanding and contrasting links courses: the classic Old Links and the magnificent new Glashedy Links.

The ‘Old Links’ described by Nick Faldo as ‘the most natural course I have ever played’ measures a mere 6612 yards. However length on this course is not an issue – you’ll understand when you get here – the fairway ripples are so pronounced leading a gobsmacked Faldo to ask on the first tee – “Do you play bump and run here or do you just run and bump?” It is a treat to behold such a natural links course!

The ‘Glashedy Links’ named after Ballyliffin’s own “Ailsa Craig”, that rises from Pollan Bay, was designed by Tom Craddock and Pat Ruddy (European Club and Druids Glen). From the 7,250 yard tips, Glashedy is a terrific challenge.