The North East coast of Ireland has some of the best scenery in Europe. This coastline is of outstanding natural beauty where breathtaking and rugged coastline merge into the romantic landscape of deep silent glens and lush forest parks. There are also spectacular waterfalls, dramatic castles and mysterious ruins. The world famous Giant's Causeway (Northern Irelands only UNESCO World Heritage site), and 'Old Bushmills', the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery, are just two attractions. The area is also a haven for marvellous links courses bordering the Irish Sea - that continue from Ardglass, all the way up to the North coast and the stunning links at Castlerock & Portstewart. But two destinations in particular stand out and as the province’s top professional, Darren Clarke, speaks for many people at home and abroad when he says: “One of my favourite courses of all is the championship links at Royal Portrush. This is very close to home for me and I was fortunate to develop my game on such a superb layout. We are also blessed to have Royal County Down, another golfing masterpiece.”
 
         
 
HOTELS
  
         
 

Bushmills Inn

In the village that is home to the world’s oldest distillery, between the Giant’s Causeway and Royal Portrush Golf Club, this multi-award-winning hotel & restaurant has been outstandingly successful in recreating its origins as an old Coaching Inn and Mill House. The hotel excels in providing a relaxing environment for couples, a small group of friends - very often a golfing party. Apart from luncheon groups (often overseas guests visiting the Giant’s Causeway) the hotel declines large parties and weddings as they can take over, rather than absorb, the inherently warm, welcoming and relaxed atmosphere of the hotel. Since its re-opening in 1987, the Bushmills Inn has come to epitomise the true spirit of Ulster hospitality and is regularly featured by travel writers and television presenters from all over the world.
  

 
         
 

Burrendale Hotel and Country Club

Just outside the traditional seaside holiday town of Newcastle, and close to the championship links of the Royal County Down golf course, this area on the edge of the Mourne mountains has a remote atmosphere yet it is just an hour’s drive from Belfast. Public areas in this friendly hotel are spacious and include the Cottage Bar with an open log fire, welcome on chilly days. Well-appointed accommodation includes family rooms and all rooms are well-equipped with phone, writing desk, TV with video, tea/coffee making facilities and trouser press; new superior rooms are furnished to a higher standard, and have air conditioning. The Vine Restaurant has an unrivalled A La Carte Menu. A gentle ambience, excellant fresh food and a fine wine cellar conspire to make your dining experience a memorable one. After a great day's golf, you can unwind in their state of the art Leisure Club, which boasts a heated indoor swimming pool, steam room, sauna and spa bath or for the more energetic, a gentle work out in the gym/fitness suite.

  

 
         
 

Ballyliffin Lodge and Spa

The first thing that will strike you about Ballyliffin Lodge & Spa is the spectacular panoramic view of Malin Head and the Inishowen coastline taking in the world famous Ballyliffin Golf Club, the golden sands of Pollan Bay and the Atlantic ocean. Private and intimate, set in its own 2.5 acre site in the heart of Ballyliffin village, the drama of its views is continued as you enter its beautifully designed interior where traditional charm and luxury is woven into the very fabric of the exquisite décor. Ballyliffin Lodge spa and leisure complex is unique in this area of Donegal and along with neighbouring Ballyliffin Golf Club's two links courses is proving to be an attraction with an international reputation. The old links course has been designed by Nick Faldo and is amongst the elite few courses that always make the 'A' list of discerning golfers from Europe and America. Designed and built to four star standard, Ballyliffin Lodge with its fabulous spa and leisure facilities brings an unrivalled blend of attributes at competitive prices. All in all, a compelling combination.

  

 

  
         
         
 
GOLF
  
         
 
 

Ardglass

Situated on the south-east coast of County Down, Ardglass is unquestionably one of the most spectacular courses in Ireland. Essentially the course meanders its way out to a headland and then meanders its way back. The first five holes are truly memorable and run right alongside the sea while all 18 holes have a view of the Irish Sea. The par three 2nd (Howd's Hole) is many people's favourite - with the tee shot needing to be fired across a rocky inlet, it is a real all or nothing hole and somewhat reminiscent of the 3rd at Tralee. "At only 158 yards it may not be as damaging to the score card as 'Calamity' at Portrush but it nevertheless comes with a health warning" (Golf World). A second magnificent par three is the downhill 12th where the Irish Sea can provide a daunting diversion. The final hole however, offers a good chance of a closing birdie and then its off to the 19th which being Ardglass is a converted ancient castle.
  
         
 
 

Ballyliffin

In keeping with the tradition and reputation of its sister courses, the Glashedy Links at Ballyliffin provide a wonderful setting for traditional links golf. In the early summer of 1992 members of the committee met with Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock, both course architects from Dublin. Ruddy and Cradock, in that meeting, stated that the land next to the Old Links was probably the finest piece of links golfing terrain that they had ever seen, and the possibilities for developing it as a golf links were mind-boggling.The instruction to the designers was to develop a world-class championship standard links courses-something they duly delivered. At over 7,000 yards from the Championship tees, Glashedy Links stands today as a supremely testing and stunningly beautiful links course. Glashedy is destined for recognition as one of the world's finest links. It is difficult to pick any signature hole at Glashedy as each has its own charms but the par 3, 7th playing from a height to a green some 100 feet below, does catch the eye.

 
         
 
 

Castlerock

Castlerock Golf Club is situated in the seaside village of Castlerock, which lies approximately 5 miles due West of the town of Coleraine on the North Coast of Northern Ireland. Castlerock is a fabulous links course set among rolling sand dunes. Its scenic qualities embrace the river Bann flowing out to the Atlantic, and also eye-catching views of Donegal and on a clear day towards Scotland and the Isle of Islay. An ideal retreat in which to play golf. The Championship Mussenden Course is a par 73 with five par-5’s, four par-3’s, and nine par-4’s. The best-known hole is the fourth, called the Leg o ‘ Mutton, a 200 yard par-3 with a railway line to the right, a burn to the left and a raised green. Graced with the natural beauty of its peaceful setting and the views that surround it is the Club’s underlying pursuit of excellence that keeps this place a sacred retreat for the truly ardent follower of golf.

  
         
 
 

Royal Belfast

Founded on November 9th 1881, the Royal Belfast Golf Club is the oldest club in Ireland and has a delightful, parkland setting on the shores of Belfast Lough. Its formation proved to be the inspiration for the growth of the game in Ireland. The Royal Belfast Golf Club is one of only four golf clubs in Ireland that have been honoured with the title "Royal", having been visited in 1885 by the Prince of Wales who became the club's first patron. In 1925 the responsibility of course design and layout at the present location was given to H.C. Colt the eminent English course architect of the day, who also laid out the Royal Portrush course. With the assistance of Walker Cup player W.A. Murray, Colt produced a course of great charm which provides a true test of golfing skill and which has one of the loveliest settings of any in Britain with its unrivalled views of Belfast Lough and the Antrim plateau beyond. The course remains much the same today as it was then.
  
         
 
 

Royal County Down

Royal County Down is regarded by many as THE most beautiful golf course in the world. Tom Watson calls the front nine the best nine holes he has ever played. The course hugs the sea and is in the small, Irish Sea-side village of Newcastle, located about 30 miles south of Belfast. The legendary Tom Morris laid out this course in 1889 and was paid four golden guineas for his work ! The course offers an exhilarating challenge to even the most experienced golfers. The setting of this links course is continually remarked upon for its outstanding beauty. The fact that the course has five blind tee shots and several partially obscured approach shots makes it all the more formidable a challenge to play. This is in addition to its bunkers which have caught many a wayward shot. Professional golfers from all over the world rate Royal County Down as one of the best. After playing it you will realise why! 

  
         
 
 

Royal Portrush

Royal Portrush golf course in Northern Ireland is one of the best and most challenging links golf courses in the world. In 2004, Royal Portrush Golf Club hosted the Senior British Open Championship and is due to do so again in 2006 and 2008. Situated on the beautiful North Antrim Causeway coast, Royal Portrush Golf Club occupies a triangle of giant sandhills which present magnificent views in all directions. The hills of Donegal in the west, the Isle of Islay and Southern Hebrides in the north, with the Giant's Causeway and the Skerries in the east. The course is overlooked by the ruins of 13th century Dunluce Castle and this gives its name to Royal Portrush's famous Dunluce course. Royal Portrush is the only golf course outside Great Britain to host the British Open Championship in 1951, won by Max Faulkner. Royal Portrush Golf Club is on everyone's list of top golf courses in Ireland and is often included in lists of the top golf courses in the world. As Ryder Cup star Darren Clarke recently said "Royal Portrush is now rated to be in the top 12 golf courses in the world and should, indeed, be number one".

  
         
 
 

Portstewart

Situated on Ulster's magnificent Causeway Coast Portstewart Golf Club presents a difficult but fair game. The Strand Course, redesigned in 1992, is indisputably the jewel in Portstewarts crown for both quality of game and scenery. The course is set in classic links country amid towering sand dunes with views at every turn of the blue Donegal Hills, the rolling Atlantic and the tranquil estuary of the River Bann. The opening hole with its elevated tee, dog-leg right to the green and sandy strip on the right, was always a particularly good and memorable opening hole and it is now immediately followed by seven new holes which are a joy to play. And then there is the Old Course situated at the eastern end of Portstewart along the rocky shore, where golf was first played as far back as 1889. Portstewart is definitely a Championship course and has played host to the Irish Amateur Championship in 1992, held qualifying round of 'The Open' in 1951 and has hosted other events such as the Irish Professional and Irish Amateur.