DESTINATION GOLF 2022
Portstewart
Portstewart
When the opening nine holes of a course tumble over a violent dunescape known locally as ‘ God ’ s Own Country ’, you know you ’ re playing somewhere special . That ’ s what Portstewart throws at you as its opening salvo . Every hole is stunning in its shape and size , but golfing memories of the course often come down to one hole … the 1st , which is widely regarded as the best opening hole in Irish golf . Views spill away over the sea to Inishowen , and Mussenden Temple sits on the cliff tops in the distance . There is no drive quite like it : soak it up before you take that first swing . The front nine all follow suit and , despite the gigantic dunes , you will be able to see what lies ahead . Home to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in 2017 .
Royal Portrush ( Dunluce )
Royal Portrush and Royal County Down are two links mentioned in the same breath . They are two giants of the game … and yet so very different . This is a course that tests the very heart of your links abilities . The subtlety of Harry Colt ’ s design defines Dunluce , with an endless series of challenges . Each is different to the last as holes constantly sweep left or right along natural fairways . He is also responsible for the smallish greens which melt into the dunes and prove hard to hit if you are offline . Bunkers are scarce … evidence perhaps of the many other challenges . The infamous 200 yard par three ‘ Calamity ’ is the perfect example . Updated with two magnificent new holes for the 2019 Open Championship , the success of that event sees golf ’ s oldest Major returning in 2025 .
Royal County Down
There is no experience in the world – let alone Ireland – to compare with Royal County Down . Revered and feared in equal measure the course sits under the gaze of the Mourne Mountains and alongside Dundrum Bay . It boasts several terrifying blind shots , heather and gorse strewn dunes , bearded bunkers , greens like velvet , and a terrain of ever shifting surprises . It is magical and it is monstrous . The hands of many of the greatest names in golf have left their imprint here . Old Tom Morris , Harry Vardon and Harry Colt have influenced how this course has come to be known as the world ’ s greatest links and , while the course has evolved slowly , it still feels as if nothing has changed at all . It is timeless .
Lough Erne
The lakes of Co . Fermanagh make this entire region dazzle like diamonds . And , around one such diamond , Nick Faldo created a glorious parkland course with water always in view and often in play . Lough Erne boasts five star quality every inch of the way – in the hotel , the spa and on the golf course , where no expense has been spared . It ’ s the full package and even the walk over the bridge to reach the 1st tee oozes quality . The course starts beside Castle Hume Lough , before sliding into forest where you ’ ll fully appreciate the scale of the greens and green complexes . When the course reaches the par five 6th , high up between hotel and water , you will discover the biggest charms of Lough Erne : generous , languid fairways flowing over ever moving terrain .
130