DESTINATION GOLF 2022 2026
Royal Portrush
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.
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 was repeated in 2025.
Lough Erne
It boasts several terrifying blind shots, heather and gorse strewn dunes, bearded bunkers, greens like velvet, and a terrain of ever shifting surprises.
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.
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