Portstewart Golf Club
Portstewart
Portstewart Golf Club is one of the standout stops on a Northern Ireland golf holiday, especially for UK golfers looking for proper links golf, dramatic scenery and easy access to the Causeway Coast. Founded in 1894, the club is home to three true links courses, with the Strand Course as the headline attraction. Very few clubs can offer three full links layouts in one place, which makes Portstewart a strong option for groups wanting variety without constant transfers.
The Strand Course is the main event. Set among towering dunes between the Atlantic and the River Bann, it is a par-71 links known for rolling fairways, run-off bunkers, tricky greens and some of the most memorable opening holes in Irish golf. The layout was shaped by Willie Park Jr and Des Giffin, with the natural dune landscape doing a lot of the heavy lifting. It also hosted the 2017 Irish Open, giving the course serious championship pedigree.
For a golf break, Portstewart works brilliantly as part of a wider Causeway Coast itinerary. Royal Portrush, Castlerock and Ballyliffin are all realistic additions, while Portstewart itself offers beaches, sea views, cafés and a relaxed seaside atmosphere after golf.
The Old Course and Riverside Course add extra options for arrival-day golf or a second round, but the Strand is the one golfers will remember most. For a Northern Ireland golf holiday with scenery, history and proper links character, Portstewart Golf Club is a must-play.
Belfast International Airport
66km
England’s best golf tour operator 2026 winner
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Time Zone:
GMT+0
Currency:
€ (Euro)
Temperature:
1°C - 19°C
Cost of a Beer:
£6.20
Cost of a 3-Course Meal:
£85
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About The Area
Antrim places golfers at the heart of one of the world’s most revered links regions. Located on the shores of Lough Neagh and within easy reach of Northern Ireland’s dramatic north coast, it offers a strategic base for exploring championship courses that consistently rank among the finest in the world.
The undisputed centrepiece of the region is Royal Portrush Golf Club, host of The Open Championship and home to the world-renowned Dunluce Links. With towering dunes, dramatic elevation changes and firm-running turf shaped by Atlantic winds, it provides a stern but unforgettable test. Nearby, Portstewart Golf Club offers one of the most visually spectacular front nines in links golf, with expansive dunes and panoramic ocean views. Closer to Antrim itself, Massereene Golf Club provides a scenic parkland alternative set beside Lough Neagh.
Golf along this coastline is pure links in its most authentic form — firm underfoot, wind-influenced and demanding creativity from tee to green. The terrain is natural and often dramatic, rewarding controlled ball flight and thoughtful strategy.
Off the course, the Causeway Coast offers unforgettable scenery. The Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, provides a striking geological backdrop for rest days, while the ruins of Dunluce Castle sit dramatically above the Atlantic. Bushmills Distillery offers whisky tastings nearby, and Belfast is within easy reach for dining, nightlife and Titanic Quarter tours.
The prime golf season runs from May to September, when daylight stretches long into the evening and the links play at their firm-running best. For golfers seeking Open Championship pedigree, breathtaking coastal scenery and genuine Irish hospitality, Antrim offers access to one of the world’s most iconic golf regions.
