The Royal County Down Golf Club course was opened on 23rd March 1889, and almost immediately the newly-formed council of the club, in a mixture of enthusiasm and parsimony, commissioned Old Tom Morris to travel over from St. Andrews to inspect what existed and advise on a second nine. The outcome of this munificence was that Old Tom spent two days at Royal County Down in July 1889; three new holes were added immediately and a further six between the autumn of 1889 and the spring of 1890.

The fact that the full course was ready for play in July 1890 is proof that golf course design in those days was most unlike the modern methodology and that, like most great links courses, Royal County Down was created from the wonderful natural dune-land which was already there, without the need to indulge in any major earth-moving.

Royal Portrush Golf Club is home to one of the best and most challenging links golf courses in the world, the Dunluce Links, and the hidden gem, the Valley Links. The only club in Ireland to have hosted The Open Championship.

The Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club ranks amongst the world’s greatest courses. Voted Number 12 in the world by Golf Magazine, it is a masterpiece of golf course architecture. Unimaginable rough and testing greens, combined with the unpredictable weather of the roaring North Atlantic make this course an admirable test for even the most seasoned golf aficionado. Described as Harry Colt’s Masterpiece.

Founded in 1894 and redesigned by Willie Park jnr in the 1920’s this championship links course received its greatest makeover with the purchase of land known as “Thistly Hollow” in 1986. This enabled the club to build a stunning new seven holes through towering dunes and fabulous and natural links land. Designed by Des Giffin the Strand Course is the jewel in the Portstewart portfolio.

Portstewart has played host to many major Amateur and Professional Championships over the years including most recently The Amateur Championship in 2014. Portstewart Golf Club will host the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open this year.

Ballyliffin Golf Club consists of two outstanding, contrasting links courses and 36 wonderful holes, making up one of the finest golf resorts to be found anywhere in the world. The expansive panoramic views of countryside, coastline and ocean savoured by these magnificent links courses will not easily be forgotten.

The Old Links undulates in the glory of its natural terrain, presenting an immensely enjoyable challenge to every golfer. Work recently undertaken by Nick Faldo has strengthened The Old Links and brought much acclaim from members and visitors.

The new Glashedy Links is a Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock masterpiece fashioned around the incredible dunes, and is rated amongst the best links tracks in the world. Ruddy cherishes Glashedy as his own and has returned in recent years to fine tune the stunning bunkering of this magnificient links. Craddock and Ruddy are also credited with much of the improvement carried out to The Old Links in the course of constructing The Glashedy Links.

Ardglass Golf Course is a true test of golf. With the almost ever-present wind capable of wreaking havoc from any quarter; the hard fairways and the small firm greens, it is just about impossible to play “yardage based” golf on this links.

The Irish Sea, which can be seen from all 18 tees and greens, comes into play on no fewer than 8 holes. This is just one of the memorable and unique features of the links at Ardglass Golf Club.