Great escapes:
Northern Ireland 3 |
| Get on course |
| The Causeway Coast is dotted with professional-style golf courses
set in wonderful scenery. What better distraction for a clear day? |
Golfing enthusiasts on holiday in this north-eastern corner of Northern Ireland are spoilt for choice when it comes to satisfying their sporting passion. Golf is a very popular sport in these parts and so we decided to seek out courses that would challenge any standard of player and which were within easy driving distance from our starting point at the Coleraine Safeway car park.
1. Ballycastle Golf Club
Zero the car's trip meter and exit the car park onto the A29. At the roundabout at 0.6 miles take the third exit to join the B67 for Ballycastle. At 4.3 miles turn right onto the B62. Continue for another 4.5 miles then turn left to rejoin the B67. At 16.5 miles bear left onto the A44 and follow it through Ballycastle's main street to the seafront roundabout at 18.4 miles. Here take the second exit onto the A2 Cushendun/Cushendall road. At 18.6 miles go left over the bridge onto the B92, and left into Ballycastle Golf Club car park.
Ballycastle golf club lies at the foot of Glenshesk, one of the nine Glens of Antrim. It was founded in 1890 and enjoys one of the most glorious stretches of links land in Ireland. It is also one of four courses played annually in Ireland's well-known Causeway Coast Tournament.
The 18-hole course is excellently maintained and offers a variety of terrain combining parkland and links. The opening five holes cover parkland with natural hazards provided by the Margy and Carey rivers. Following the fifth hole there is a stretch of links alongside the beach as far as the ninth, a challenging par 4 with a narrow approach to an elevated green.
The tenth hole is a memorable par 3 pitch across a chasm affording unsurpassed views over the sea to Rathlin Island.
After a challenging game the clubhouse offers a welcome rest with catering facilities.
• Green fees: Mon-Fri £20; weekends and bank holidays £30.
2. Bushfoot Golf Club
Zero the trip meter and turn left out of the Safeway car park following the A29 to the first roundabout, at 0.6 miles. Take the second exit and continue to the second roundabout, at 1.5 miles. Again, take the second exit, staying on the A29 to the third roundabout at 2.5 miles where you take the third exit, signed Portrush. Stay on the A29 to the mini roundabout in Portrush at 5.7 miles and take the third exit, turning right into Crocknamack Road. Go straight on and turn right again at 6.1 miles onto the A2, signed Bushmills. Follow the A2 coast road and turn left at 10.2 miles onto the B145 for Portballintrae. Turning right at 11 miles and left at 11.2 miles into a local road, following signs for the Golf Club, which is at 11.4 miles.
The pretty seaside village of Portballintrae nestles mid-way along the Causeway Coast. One of its attractions is Bushfoot Golf Course, taking its name no doubt from its position at the mouth of the Bush salmon river. This
18-hole course with its undulating fairways commands magnificent views over Portballintrae harbour. It is part links and part parkland with 12 par-4 holes, four par-3 holes and two par-5 holes, the longest being 499 yards. The par for the course is 70. Younger visitors can enjoy a game of Pitch and Putt on the adjacent small course.
Clubhouse facilities at Bushfoot include a snooker table and a good bar-restaurant.
• Green fees: Mon-Fri £14; weekends and Bank holidays £18.
3. Royal Portrush Golf Club
Zero the car's trip meter, turn left out of the Safeway car park and follow the A29 to the first roundabout (0.6 miles). Take the second exit and continue on the A29 to the next roundabout, at 1.5 miles. Take the second exit and
continue on the A29 to the third roundabout (2.5 miles) taking the third exit, signed Portrush. Stay on the A29 to the mini roundabout in Portrush at 5.7 miles and take the third exit, turning right into Crocknamack Road. Go straight on and turn right again at 6.1 miles onto the A2, signed Bushmills. Turn left into the Golf Club car park at 6.5 miles.
Founded in 1888, the The Royal Portrush Golf Club changed its name three times before settling with its current title, in 1895.
The magnificent Dunluce Course at Royal Portrush (pictured, right) has played host to many prestigious competitions, including the British Open. If you are prepared to pay £80-£90 for a round of golf you will be able to enjoy one of the most challenging courses in the world. Standard scratch for this course is 73 from the medal tees.
The nearby Valley Course is laid out in a sheltered dip and is a full length course of 6273 yards from the championship tees or 6054 yards from the medal tees, with a par of 68/70. It is worth noting that there are only 20 bunkers in the whole course but with other natural hazards it is still a stiff test, even for the low-handicap golfer.
Each course has a separate club house with catering facilities.
• Green fees for the Valley Course are £30 per round on week-days and £35 at weekends.
4. Portstewart Golf Courses
Zero the trip meter, leave the Coleraine Safeway car park, turn left onto the A29 and at the first roundabout (0.6 miles) take the second exit. Still on the A29 proceed to the next roundabout, at 1.5 miles, again taking the second exit, and continue to the next roundabout (2.5 miles). Here, take the second exit to join the B185 signed Portstewart. Turn right at 2.8 miles onto the B185 and carry on until the junction with the A2 coast road at 5.8 miles. Now turn left onto the A2, pass the harbour and promenade, then turn right at 6.5 miles into Strand Road. At 7.3 miles turn right and immediately left into the Golf Club car park.
Overlooking Portstewart Strand and its beach is the Strand Championship Course. Opened in 1992, this links course is a true test for the enthusiastic golfer. It consists of 18 holes (6779 yards) with a par 72 and is set amid towering sandhills with superb views at every turn. The clubhouse here boasts the view immortalised in the song 'Red Sails in the Sunset'.
• Green fees: Mon-Fri £55; weekends and bank holidays £75.
To get to Portstewart Old Course leave the Strand car park and return to the A2 via Strand Road. Turn left and follow the coast road for about a mile to the Club House and car park on the left.
Situated at the eastern end of the town, Portstewart Old Course is an 18-hole par 64 course of 4730 yards. It is set out partly along the rocky shoreline before climbing inland to command panoramic views of the coastline.
Portstewart's adjacent Riverside Course is a par 64, 9-hole course of 5324 yards. It mainly comprises the old back nine of the pre-1992 course and more inland in character, offering something a little easier, suitable for all the family.
• Green fees. Old Course: Mon-Fri £10; weekends and bank holidays £14; weekly ticket £50. Riverside Course: Mon-Fri £12; weekends and bank holidays £17.
5. Castlerock Golf Course
From the Safeway car park, zero the trip meter and turn right (A29). At the roundabout at 0.1 miles take the middle lane and follow signs for Castlerock. Cross the bridge to the roundabout (0.8 miles), continue to the next roundabout (1.3 miles) and take the second exit B201. Stay on this road to the roundabout at 2.4 miles and here take the second exit. Continue to the A2/A20 junction at 2.9 miles, signed Castlerock. Turn left onto the A2/A20, through Articlave and right at 7.1 miles into Sea Rd. After the level crossing (7.7 miles) turn right. The Club car park is on the left.
Set amid the grandeur of the western stretch of the Causeway Coast, this course is a tough test of skill. It offers four par 3 holes, nine par 4 holes and five par 5 holes. The longest is the third hole, at 493 yards.
• Green fees: Mon-Fri £35; weekends £60. |
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Ballymacrea Touring Caravan Park
220 Ballybogy Road, Portrush, BT56 8NE.
Tel 02870 824507.
This family-run park is still growing but the enthusiasm of the owners has already made it a popular venue. It is conveniently situated just two miles from the resort of Portrush and within minutes of the White Rocks.
Ballymacrea is for tourers only. All 45 pitches are hardstanding and fully serviced, and most are divided by maturing shrubs.
Its sanitary facilities, which are clean and well maintained, are housed in a single block to the left of the entrance, which also incorporates the reception.
Fresh flower arrangements make an attractive touch in the utility block. Also on site are a play area and games room
for children.
Open All year
Charges Outfit + 2 adults + 2 children incl. hook-up £12.00-£13.50
OS Ref 289439
NITB grading **** |
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