golf down

Without doubt the jewel in our crown is the Royal Co. Down, one of the world's best courses. Indeed, it is virtually impossible to say anything new about these famous links. Its virtues have been extolled in every golf playing country in the world. Not least among the aesthetic glories of Newcastle is the remoteness, the feeling enjoyed by golfers that they are the only people on earth.

It is common for golfers never to find equivalent challenge after playing this course. Many of...

The course has recently been extended to eighteen holes, including the dogleg 'pond' hole - the 6th. The redesigned par 5 14th requires a tricky shot over a ravine. The par 3 10th is also tough: 201 metres, with the green very close to the boundary hedge. The course is located one mile from the town centre on Huntly Road....

18 Holes. A parkland course which is regarded as one of the finest par 3 courses in Northern Ireland....

Although Downpatrick is an inland course it has many of the characteristics of links golf - fast greens, tricky undulations and quite often a testing breeze. In many ways it is an ideal course for the amateur golfer to play; it is short enough to be enjoyable but great accuracy and a silky touch are required for good scoring.

Holes to watch out for are the 5th, 7th, 13th and 14th, all classic par 4s which require long straight hitting. Incidentally the view from the 5th fairway is...

Part links and part inland open course. There is little rough but several water hazards and the 18th, without of bounds both left and right can be problematical. Views over the Copeland Islands to the Scottish coast are spectacular, particularly from the 16th tee....

The North Down Club lies above Conlig village off the A21 between Bangor and Newtownards. The clubhouse and Dufferin course overlook the mouth of Belfast Lough and Strangford Lough can be viewed from the Ava course.

Acceptable casual dress should be worn but not denim wear. Gentlemen require jacket, collar and tie after 6.30 p.m. in dining room....

Established 1929 Carnalea Golf Club is beautifully situated on the south shore of Belfast Lough about three miles west of the holiday resort of Bangor. The course occupies high ground on the rocky coastline between Stricklands Glen to the east and the clubhouse itself. It is therefore ideally placed to enjoy perfect views of Helen's Bay, Greypoint, the Antrim Hills, Scotland on a clear day and round through 180 degrees to the Copeland Islands. Carnalea is an eighteen-hole course divided in...

Established 1903 Bangor Golf Club is located about one mile from Bangor town centre and the railway and bus stations. An extensive tree-planting programme means the course places great emphasis on accuracy. There are fine views over Belfast Lough to Scotland from the centre of the course. Bangor was the venue for the 1993 Irish Amateur Seniors Championship....

This is quite a tough and physically demanding course, with five par 5s....