Northern Ireland
Two of the worlds top 5 links courses sit within 90 minutes of each other — Royal County Down and Royal Portrush. Add Castlerock, Portstewart, and Ardglass, and you have one of the most concentrated and dramatic links golf trips on Earth, capped by the Giants Causeway, Bushmills Distillery, and some of the best Guinness pours outside Dublin.
Number one on my own list, and it's not close. Royal County Down is routinely ranked the best course on the planet, Royal Portrush just hosted the Open again, and the whole Causeway Coast is stacked with links you'd build a trip around anywhere else. I haven't made it yet — but when the group finally commits to a links trip, this is where I'm pushing for. If you've played it, I'm a little jealous; leave a review so I can live vicariously.
Best time to visit: May – September
Top 3 in the world. The Mountains of Mourne loom over the back nine, and the bunkering is some of the most photographed in golf. The crown jewel of Northern Irish links — and arguably of links golf anywhere.
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Top 10 in the world, host of the 2019 Open Championship. Calamity Corner (the par-3 16th) is one of the most famous holes in golf. A must-play.
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The opening seven holes thread through monumental dunes — one of the most dramatic starts in all of golf. The rest of the course is excellent too. Often paired with Royal Portrush for a perfect Antrim Coast double-header.
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Classic links 10 minutes from Royal Portrush. Less internationally famous than its neighbors but consistently top-rated by visitors — a must-add for any Antrim Coast trip.
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Cliffside links south of Belfast — closer to Royal County Down than to Royal Portrush. The clubhouse is the oldest in the world (a 12th-century castle), and the sea views from nearly every hole are spectacular.
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Sister course to the Dunluce. Often available when the Dunluce is fully booked, and a serious links course in its own right at a lower price. Excellent companion round.
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European Tour host venue and a parkland course — a welcome change of pace from the links onslaught. Pairs naturally with a stay at the Galgorm Resort & Spa, one of the best resort properties in Northern Ireland.
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Historic 9-hole track in Portballintrae, right next to Royal Portrush. Compact, walkable, and a perfect warm-up round before the championship gauntlet — or a relaxed final round if you're not up for another links day. Budget-friendly green fees by Antrim Coast standards.
Visit website →Pick any two locations to see drive time, route, and traffic. Includes the nearest airport so you can plan fly-in / fly-out rounds.
Pick two different courses to see the route.
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Where golfers actually eat, drink, and hang after the round — the dive bar, the post-round brewery, the coffee spot before an early tee time. Submitted by people who've been, not the food-critic picks.
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Concerts, games, festivals — see what's on during your trip.
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