all tastes and budgets and is home to world class
golf courses.
Whether you are visiting for a day or week there
is plenty to do – from visiting the Game of
Thrones, iconic sites, the World’s largest Titanic
visitor experience to walking in the hallowed
ground of golfing giants such as Rory McIlroy,
Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell.
One such golf course to put on the ‘to do list’, is
Malone Golf Club. From the moment you drive
up the tree line d entrance you know you are in
a special place and what lies beyond the gates
will definitely not disappoint. It is ranked as one
of the best parkland courses in Ireland with its
breathtaking 27 holes positioned around it’s own
trout lake just on the outskirts of the city.
From its first location at Stranmillis to the
current site at Ballydrain, the club has welcomed
many golfers from all levels including those that
simply want to enjoy the surroundings and social
facilities or, as it’s called in Ulster, the ’craic’, since
it was founded back in 1895.
Designed by CK Cotton & Associates, the course
is set in the lower Lagan Valley at Ballydrain.
The course gently rolls through 330 acres of
immaculately maintained parkland along the River
Lagan.
The facilities include 27 holes of golf, three
practice areas, a short game area, putting green
and a lawn bowling green.
The main course comprises the Drumbridge and
Ballydrain nines - named after the local area.
Measuring almost 6,700 yards, Malone is a solid
test of Golf. Accuracy from the tee is demanded
due to the many mature trees that await a
wayward tee shot.
After finding the fairway, golfers must negotiate
the championship greens which, in conjunction
with the grounds are maintained to the highest
standards.
The character changes with the seasons, as the
bounce of the ball is affected by the moisture
in the ground. Watch out for the seventh –
renowned for being the hardest hole on the
course.
Dating back over six centuries, the estate is
steeped in history, the original Ballydrain estate
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