Dublin and Northern Ireland

Royal County Down is ranked among the greatest courses in the world and it’s easy to see why. Sitting beneath the Mountains of Mourne, it is a dramatic links shaped by towering dunes, colourful gorse and heather, with fairways that ripple through extraordinary natural terrain.

The opening stretch is simply magnificent. The fourth, a long par three played across gorse, is a true standout, and the walk up the ninth reveals one of the most celebrated views in golf. Blind tee shots at RCD are part of the challenge and add to the sense of adventure. Royal County Down feels timeless, inspiring and completely majestic.

The Dunluce Course at Royal Portrush is a remarkable place, blending sweeping views with thoughtful, exhilarating golf. Long admired by those who knew it well, it has stepped firmly onto the world stage after hosting The Open in 2019 and again in 2025. The approach into Portrush hints at what awaits, with the coastline unfolding and the dunes rising around the town.

The course moves through this natural terrain with real harmony. Fairways twist between dunes, and greens sit comfortably in their settings, as if the land was always meant for golf. Portrush is challenging but fair, offering clear questions without feeling punishing.

Portstewart’s Strand Course delivers a coastline setting that is unforgettable from the very first tee. The opener looks out over the Strand Beach and the River Bann, with huge dunes framing a demanding downhill drive that sets the tone for the round. The front nine is the star attraction, carving its way through some of the largest dunes in Irish golf and creating holes that feel both dramatic and beautifully natural.

The inward nine offers a change of pace, with rolling terrain, well judged bunkering and glimpses of the North Atlantic adding to the experience. Portstewart is a striking and memorable links, full of character and challenge.

The Valley Course at Royal Portrush offers a nicely balanced links experience and is an excellent counterpart to the Dunluce. Recently refined by Mackenzie and Ebert, it moves confidently through lower dune land with firm fairways, well placed bunkering and greens that reward thoughtful approach play.

The setting between the larger Dunluce dunes and the coastline gives the course a distinctive feel, while several holes open up wide views across the links. The Valley is enjoyable, fair and quietly demanding, delivering a round that showcases the quality and character that define Royal Portrush.

Ardglass blends striking history with a rugged, exhilarating links test. The course circles a dramatic headland with sea views from every tee and green, shaped by constant wind, firm fairways, and quick, compact greens. It rewards instinct, creativity, and control over pure yardage.

Before or after your round, step inside one of the world’s oldest clubhouses, a fortified warehouse dating to 1405 that adds real character to the day. With distinctive challenges, a spectacular clifftop setting, and a warm welcome, you’ll remember Ardglass for a long time to come.

Castlerock delivers everything you’d want from classic links golf: towering dunes, blind shots, and firm, running turf. The course weaves natural features and man-made boundaries into a setting full of character, from the railway line skirting the property to the burn that threads through key holes. Its most famous test is the par 3 fourth, Double Trouble, played beside the tracks with out-of-bounds down the right and a creek pressing in from the left, demanding absolute precision.

Castlerock is one of Ireland’s great hidden gems, offering thoughtful, traditional links golf in a wonderfully natural landscape.

County Louth, known to most golfers as Baltray, is a classic Irish links with real pedigree. Consistently ranked among Ireland’s finest courses, it delivers a fair, engaging test that captures the essence of traditional links golf. Founded in 1892 and later shaped by Tom Simpson, the course carries strong championship credentials, including Shane Lowry’s famous Irish Open win as an amateur.

The fairways run across open coastal ground with wide views toward the Cooley and Mourne mountains, a reminder of the landscape that frames the round. Add the genuine welcome and excellent food in the clubhouse, and it becomes clear why Baltray is held in such fond regard.

Portmarnock is a classic among classics, set on a slender ribbon of duneland just north of Dublin. It is celebrated as one of the fairest and purest tests of links golf, offering clarity from the tee with only a single blind shot on the entire course. The challenge comes not from trickery but from precision, thoughtful strategy, and the natural demands of the land. Its reputation has been earned over generations, hosting major events including the Irish Open on nineteen occasions.

Walking these fairways is to follow in the footsteps of champions on a magnificent links that continues to command deep respect throughout the golfing world.

Druid’s Glen, often called the Augusta of Europe, is a polished parkland course by Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock. It has hosted four Irish Opens won by players such as Colin Montgomerie and Sergio Garcia, and a recent multi-million Euro restoration has brought new life to the layout. Immaculately kept and a clear contrast to the coastal links, it builds toward a memorable finish.

The 17th is a 203 yard par three to an island green that demands full commitment, followed by a 450 yard par four where water guards the closing approach. It all adds up to a course that is an enjoyable, and scenic, challenge.

The K Club sits in the heart of County Kildare, offering a refined parkland challenge shaped by manicured fairways, contoured greens, and water that defines both beauty and strategy. Steeped in history, it hosted the 2006 Ryder Cup and twice crowned Rory McIlroy as Irish Open champion, most recently in 2025.

The closing holes are especially dramatic, built for tension and excitement, and deliver a fitting finale to a course where you truly follow in the footsteps of great players.