Golf holidays in Portrush & Portstewart
The north of Ireland has some great golf holiday destinations; one of the finest is about as far north as you can go on the coast directly above Belfast, where two of Ireland's best golf courses lie side-by-side: Portrush and Portstewart. In addition to these two golfing gems, some wonderful seascapes along a rocky coastline, two cheerful little seaside towns and a distillery, there are a few very enjoyable golf courses too: all the main ingredients of a wonderful golf holiday!
Portrush is easily accessed from Belfast airport or across the North Sea by ferry and can be combined with a visit to Belfast (see our Belfast and County Down pages).
Golf Clubs - Portrush & Portstewart
The best golf course in the very north of Ireland is undoubtedly Royal Portrush (who can forget the Shane Lowry's momentous Open victory in 2019?), but the Strand course at Portstewart gives it a good run for its money! Portrush and Portstewart Golf Clubs are set closely together making it easy to get from one to another: ideal for your golfbreak. (Don't forget they both have second courses too: The Valley at Portrush and the River at Portstewart).
If Portstewart Golf Club was anywhere else in the world it would be reason alone for visiting the area: geography dictates it has to play second fiddle to Portrush. Make sure you venture around the cove to play though - or you'll regret it!
Nearby, is the smaller Golf Club of Castlerock - another great Irish links (and-a-half), making a North Coast Triumvirate to rival any links cluster, anywhere.
Elsewhere there is the quirky clifftop course at Ballycastle, an inland course at Gracehill and the Radisson resort course at Limavaddy (if you are heading west towards Donegal).
Portrush & Portstewart - where to stay
There is not a lot to choose between the towns of Portrush and Portstewart: both make ideal places to stay for golf holidays in Northern Ireland. Portrush is the smaller of the two, with a pleasant, slightly jaded, feel although it received a major spruce-up for the 2019 Open! It's main attraction is the small harbour with a cluster of bars and restaurants, lively and tasty every evening.
Portstewart is the next stop along the coast and a larger town than Portrush, but again one that makes most of its living from tourism although there are some more commercial activities too, such as fishing. Generally speaking, the best holiday hotels are to be found in Portrush so we concentrate our golf holidays here rather than Portstewart. However, if you would like to stay in Portstewart please let us know as there are one or two good places to stay here too.
Getting to Portrush & Portstewart
It is very easy to to get to Portrush for your golf holiday with with so many flights to Belfast every day. From Belfast airport it is about hour's drive up to Portrush and Portstewart. Of course, you can also travel over with your own vehicle via the Stenaline or P&O ferries and fastcraft (very impressive) to Larne from Stranraer. We can of course include these crossings in your golf holiday at our reduced rates.
And if you have your own car with you, a nip to the Bushmills Distillery may provide booty for your boot?
