Group selfie at Castlerock Castlerock GC
But back to those beastly links courses that
Northern Ireland is famous for. Back up the
Causeway Coast towards Portstewart and
Portrush you’ll discover a third course to
complete that particular set: Castlerock Golf
Club. And the friendly welcome from the members in
the clubhouse after our game deserves a special
mention. It was almost as if they were just as
delighted as we were that we took the time to
play their spectacular course. The privilege was,
indeed, ours.
Castlerock may be less well known than it’s two
illustrious neighbours but that won’t be the case
for too much longer. The tall grasses flowing back
and forward on the imposing, muscular dunes
frame nearly every fairway and bad shots on this
superb layout can be punished. Severely. Nothing can take away from sheer excitement of
taking on a raw, pulsating links such as Castlerock
– this, after all, is golf as it was meant to be
played when the ancient game was first devised.
Put it on the list.
Nevertheless, that bizarre occurrence wasn’t
mentioned when I marked down my bogey (or
was it a double? Let’s not quibble, eh?). even a little thirsty – so you have to know where
to lay your head down too. There are some
fantastically quirky hotels you should check out
There are also plenty of courses that may not
The 200-yard par three signature hole ‘Leg o’
have the pulling power of the above venues,
Mutton’ requires a shot struck over a burn, with a but offer plenty to attract you: Warrenpoint,
railway track lurking to the right. I’m quite sure my Dungannon, Roe Park and Holywood, where the
ball hit a passing choo-choo train and bounced
maestro Rory McIlroy learnt his trade so well,
back in, but I’m equally sure that’s within the
spring immediately to mind.
rules!
But all this golf can make you tired – and perhaps
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