Giants Causeway
themselves by creating four new holes at the end which in 2018, this area of the world has been basking in golf’s
has added intrigue and a finishing stretch that takes golfers global spotlight.
almost to the sea.
Golf clubs are not alone as hives of activity:
For visitors travelling to this northern haven of golf there accommodation providers, infrastructure networks and
are rich pickings to be had. Three clubs squeeze together tourism authorities are at full throttle as the Open looms
along this coastline, offering six 18-hole courses and one into view. A new rail translink is being constructed to
9-hole course. There are three courses at Portstewart, five enhance access, £500,000 has been invested to smarten
miles to the west of Portrush, while Castlerock – with its up the shopfronts around the town, hotels are planned
recent substantial upgrades by Martin Hawtree – is only a (but have yet to make it through the planning process) and
couple of miles in the same direction… although that’s as TourismNI has been busy selling the beauty and charm
the crow flies. It will require an 11 mile detour via Coleraine of Northern Ireland. At a lavish launch at Belfast’s Titanic
to cross the River Bann, and reach this unsung hero of a Centre, on January 31st, TourismNI presented a bespoke
links. short film entitled “We’ve Come A Long Way” (https://
All of these golf clubs have been busy making upgrades.
Even Roe Park, a four star parkland golf resort 13 miles
from Castlerock, and a popular destination for golfers, has
been upgrading its course in recent years. Portstewart, long
youtu.be/KPPKRrsR-js), welcoming the world to Northern
Ireland in 2019, and introducing the golfing options
available. And lest we forget, Northern Ireland has also
been named the World’s Best Food Destination.
regarded as having both the best opening hole in Irish golf A trip to Portrush and one of Ramore’s many restaurants
and the best opening nine holes too, hosted the Irish Open – Neptune and Prawn, on this occasion – reveals just how
in 2017, and, with nearby Ballyliffin hosting the tournament good the food is, and in a warm and friendly setting too.
Volume 4 • Issue 47
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