Northern Ireland – Belfast & Newcastle

Northern Ireland – Belfast & Newcastle is a short golf blog post that looks at the best golf and accommodations in the area.

Only last week I found myself in Belfast, for the first time, on a familiarization trip for Premier Golf.

Belfast is a great place to base yourself at the start of a golf tour to Northern Ireland.
The George Best City Airport is a small place and very easy to navigate.
From Edinburgh Airport it is only a short flight of 50 minutes to Belfast.

Let me take you on a whirlwind tour of Belfast first and then on to Newcastle.

Golf in Belfast

Royal Belfast Golf Club

The first course is well located only a few minutes from Belfast City Airport.
It is a typical Parkland / Resort course. The course bunkers look a little rough around the edges with enough weeds to kill too.
The course offers excellent views across the water/bay.
It isn’t a long course, but very playable. This is ideal for the first game of a tour.
A great resort for couples golf too, especially if they are staying at the Culloden Hotel.

Malone Golf Club

Another great course to start off a tour. The course was founded in 1895 and is still going strong.
This club has 27 holes of wonderful Parkland / Lakeland golf that suits all golfers.
The courses surround a 25-acre lake that offers great fishing too.
The Championship course is made up of the Drumridge and the Ballydrain courses and is a pleasure to play.

Hotels in Belfast

Culloden Estate & Spa

Just a short drive from Belfast Airport and a 2-minute drive to Royal Belfast Golf Club, this place is a great base for golfers.
This is a large 5-star hotel and spa resort that also has its very own pub on the grounds.
The rooms are spacious and well-appointed with lovely bathrooms. This is ideal for married couples.
In the hotel’s gardens, artwork is scattered around, and there is a fantastic champagne bar.
Breakfast is a buffet with cooked orders served directly to your table.

The Merchant Hotel

Located in the centre of the city, The Merchant is everything that you could wish for in a hotel.
Superb decor around the public areas and the bars and restaurants have an intimate feel about them.
The rooms are beautifully presented and super clean. The en-suite bathrooms are huge with great attention to detail.
There are Art Deco-style rooms or Victorian-style rooms.
Breakfast is table service with a breakfast menu. There is no buffet available.

The Grand Central Hotel

Another great option is in the heart of the city of Belfast.
The rooms are excellent and the bathrooms are very spacious. The hotel is spotlessly clean from top to bottom.
I can recommend the Suites as they do offer value for money.
Breakfast is served on the first floor and has everything that you could imagine.
The cooked breakfast is buffet style with other cooked options served to your table.
There is also a modern-looking restaurant on the ground floor that offers dishes for every palate.

Golf in Newcastle

Royal County Down Golf Club

This golf club blew me away, it is no wonder that it is top of, just about, every list of best golf courses.
There is only one disadvantage to this course and that is you have to book well in advance.
I have never seen a more stunning golf course in my life. The use of the natural sand dunes is incredible.
Even though it is awesome, they are still making improvements to the golf course.
Bunker enhancements as well as other investments are designed to future-proof the course.
This was, by far, the highlight of my tour. It is definitely on my bucket list of courses to play.

Paradise aka RCD

Ardglass Golf Club

You often hear about people finding ‘Hidden Gems’ whilst on holiday, well this is it.
The club is home to the ‘Oldest Clubhouse in the World’ established in 1405 and has a very friendly atmosphere.
Paul Vaughn showed us the golf course which is in great shape.
The course hugs the rocks and cliffs for the first 5 or 6 holes. and then changes direction.
There is a wonderful halfway house offering everything that a golfer needs.
A new monster Par 5 16th hole is being built and will be a real test of golf, especially dealing with the dry stone wall.
On top of that, they have rebuilt the 17th hole Par 3 to have that infinite look about it from the tee.

Hotels in Newcastle

Slieve Donard

A lovely-looking building from the outside and a typical Marine & Lawn look on the inside. Like it or leave it, it is what it is.
This hotel is all about location, and that is why Marine & Lawn Hotels will always do well, they invest in the golf business.
The rooms are quite cosy with a mish-mash decor, but they are clean, tidy and well-appointed.
En-suite facilities are of a good standard and clean. (Shame about the image of Rory McIlroy in every bathroom)
The restaurant and bar areas are very nice with an Art Deco look about them.
With a path, at the rear of the hotel, which leads directly to the Royal County Down clubhouse, it’s ideal for golfers.

To recap my findings on the golf courses…

1. Royal County Down – Stunning view and fantastic layout! This should be on everyone’s bucket list
2. Ardglass – Great welcome, super golf course that is also on my wish list
3. Royal Belfast – A solid start to any trip based in Belfast.
4. Malone Golf Club – A lovely gentle course that is perfect for couples.

Have you been to Belfast or Newcastle in Northern Ireland before?
If you are interested in going on a golf trip, then contact Premier Golf now.

What are your thoughts about Northern Ireland – Belfast & Newcastle?

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