Ardglass
Clandeboye (Dufferin)
Thirteen miles east of Belfast, on the outskirts of Newtownards,
lies one of Northern Ireland’s top golf clubs. There are two very
different courses here and the Dufferin is the main event. It is a
quality course routed over heathland-like bumpy terrain at the
top before slipping down into more classic parkland mode. This is
where the big trees dominate and holes curve graciously between
them. Fairways are often generous but the trees need to be avoided
constantly. It is not long so be straight. The par four 4th is Dufferin’s
best and hardest hole, curling left, tightly through the trees. The
green is completely surrounded by trees and gorse, so a precise
approach is required. The second course, the Ava, is short, quirky
and has lots of spirit.
Belvoir Park
The design pedigree of Belvoir Park speaks for itself. Harry Colt
created this timeless parkland in the late 1920s. Even back then, Colt
was revered and over the following decades the club embraced his
work and changed little. Tucked away in 21st century Belfast suburbia
it means you can step back in time and experience a classic. Your
starting point should be the clubhouse balcony. It sits high above
the back nine and shows off the colourful setting below and the
distant Belfast Hills. This is a sedate, flowing course and one that
enjoys tremendous rhythm thanks to Colt’s layout… but the pace is
enhanced by the magnificent and dense trees which enshroud the
course. Expect lightning fast, perfect and heavily bunkered greens.
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Ardglass
With two sides embraced by ocean, with Van Morrison’s Coney Island
a backdrop to a stunning par three and with canons behind t