STAY & PLAY
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Q
uick geography lesson: al-
though Northern Ireland is
part of the United Kingdom,
it's actually not part of Great Britain,
which includes England, Scotland and
Wales. As a result, only once has a
Northern Irish course been included
in the venerable British Open.
But that doesn't mean that the six
counties of Northern Ireland don't
have courses that rival the legendary
properties that are part of the British
Open rotation. From Golfbreaks.com,
here are the top 10 courses in the
northeastern part of the Emerald Isle:
1. royal County down. Blind tee
shots, imposing bunkers and an idyl-
lic setting on the coast and in the
shadows of the Mourne Mountains
makes this quintessential links course
one of the most challenging and iconic
on the planet.
2. royal portrush (dunluce course).
The only non-British Isle course to
host the British Open (it gets it again
in 2019), this course's original nine
opened in 1888. It has changed over
the years, but the natural hazards,
ever-present wind, and stunning loca-
tion on the edge of the Atlantic hasn't.
3. portstewart (strand course). A
mix of the old and new, this London-
derry course opened more than 100
years ago, but was updated in the late
1980s with the creation of seven new
holes that blend seamlessly into the
original layout, which features tower-
ing dunes and panoramic views.
4. lough erne. One of the newest
courses on this list, this Nick Faldo-
designed track opened in 2009. It is
part of a five-star resort and wetlands
continually come into play.
5. Castlerock (mussenden course).
Located on the northern coast, this
venerable course opened in 1901. It in-
cludes a nine-hole track, as well as the
Mussenden, which lies between a river
and the sea. Wind is always a factor.
6. malone. Twenty-seven holes
greet golfers at this course, located on
the outskirts of Belfast. Matching
those 27 holes is a 27-acre lake that the
course winds around.
7. belvoir park. This course, located
five miles from the center of Belfast,
opened in the 1920s. Unlike the links
courses that dominate this list, it's set
on 330 lush acres of rolling parkland.
8. ardglass. Located 20 miles east of
Royal County Down on the Irish Sea,
this track includes clifftop holes and
carries over chasms, as well gentler
coastal holes near the ocean.
9. royal portrush (valley course).
Though it doesn't get the accolades of
its sister course, this Harry Colt design
winds across much different terrain.
It's a twisting, turning track with wild
rose bushes flanking most greens.
10. royal County down (annesley
course.) A more sedate alternative to
Royal County Down's masterpiece
track, this par-66 course places a pre-
mium on shot-making.
luCk of the irish!
Here's a look at Northern Ireland's top 10 golf courses
1. Royal County Down
5. Castle Rock
9. Royal Portrush (Valley)
CliCk here to visit Golfbreaks.com and
learn more about custom golf vacations.
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