DESTINATION GOLF 2026
Portsalon
Narin & Portnoo
Stand on the 8th tee and prepare to experience the beauty of Narin & Portnoo, and Ireland’ s splendour. No other tee box in Ireland comes this close to the sea. It is inches away and when you play the enchanting, short and downhill par four 7th there appears to be no room behind the green for the next tee box … but it’ s there. The 9th promises something similar. Fresh and inspiring, raw and beautiful, this is the essence of Irish links golf. The entire stretch of holes at the farthest end of the course, from the 5th to the 11th, is absolutely astounding. The‘ new’ Gil Hanse course opened in 2020 with new routing and three new par threes.
Portsalon
Portsalon still embraces the mantle of hidden gem. Perhaps that is a result of its north Donegal location but, for those prepared to make the journey, they will discover a natural links of beauty and quality, rippling through a captivating setting of mountains, beach and sea. Not only does the acclaimed Ballymastocker Strand press right up to the dunes through which Portsalon rumbles, but it comes in to play on the 2nd hole. You’ ll also have to cross a river … twice. There are many more classic links holes here, streaking alongside the beach and over strong, swinging dunes. The back nine may slip inland but, if anything, fairways and holes become more shapely and show off more of the views. There is one final special flourish to note … the superb and natural greens, two of which are doubles.
Clandeboye( Dufferin)
Thirteen miles east of Belfast, on the outskirts of Newtownards, lies one of Northern Ireland’ s top golf clubs. There are two very different courses here and the Dufferin is the main event. It is a quality course routed over heathland-like bumpy terrain at the top before slipping down into more classic parkland mode. This is where the big trees dominate and holes curve graciously between them. Fairways are often generous but the trees need to be avoided constantly. It is not long so be straight. The par four 4th is Dufferin’ s best and hardest hole, curling left, tightly through the trees. The green is completely surrounded by trees and gorse, so a precise approach is required. The second course, the Ava, is short, quirky and has lots of spirit.
Royal Portrush( Valley)
The Valley has always played second fiddle to its Dunluce Championship sibling, but many regard it as the best‘ second course on the island. Designed by Harry Colt, and routed over the lower land between the gargantuan dune that defends it from the sea and the Dunluce that rises above it on the other border, this is a terrific, tumbling links. The fairways are beautifully unpredictable, the greens sit over humps and hollows and you’ ll be tested all day long. It may start out looking straightforward but it only takes a few holes for you to appreciate the shapes of the land( especially the end of both nines) and the challenges of the greens. The course experienced a major renovation by Martin Ebert, in 2024, including three exciting new holes, on 7, 8 and 9, and two pairs of holes which have been combined to create two daunting par 5s. An excellent upgrade.
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