Castlerock Golf Club sits on Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast, where the River Bann meets the Atlantic, a short drive from Royal Portrush and Portstewart. It’s home to two links: the 18-hole Mussenden Course, named after the clifftop Mussenden Temple, and the 9-hole Bann Course.
Less famous than its neighbours, Castlerock is a firm favourite with golfers who’ve played it. The Mussenden is a demanding links that never plays the same way twice in the wind, and the club has hosted many of Ireland‘s important amateur and professional events. It’s an easy addition to any Northern Ireland golf trip, and the club is twinned with Niagara Golf Club in Canada, North America’s oldest golf club (founded 1875).
Unless it’s a dead calm day, there are no easy holes on the Mussenden, and even then, the lightning-fast greens make scoring a challenge.
The signature 4th hole is descriptively named “Leg O’Mutton”: a 200-yard par 3 with an elevated green and the railway running the entire length of the hole on the right. A watery grave awaits anyone whose shot strays into the burn that cuts diagonally right to left in front of the green.
Make time to also play the second course at Castlerock Golf Club, the 9-hole Bann Course, named after the River Bann, which empties into the Atlantic at Castlerock. It’s known for its scenic beauty, and on a clear day you can see the Isle of Islay in Scotland. The par-5 5th is considered one of the most scenic holes in Irish golf.
Few links in Northern Ireland have a better setting. The Mussenden Course runs through the dunes at the mouth of the River Bann, under the clifftop Mussenden Temple, with views across to Islay and the hills of Donegal on a clear day.
The course has been shaped by some of golf’s great names. It began as nine holes in 1901 and was extended to 18 by Scottish clubmaker Ben Sayers, refined by Harry Colt in the 1920s, and updated by Dr Martin Hawtree in 2017/18. The result is one of the finest courses in Northern Ireland, and with the wind always a factor, a true test of links golf.
Castlerock Golf Club offers two stunning courses: the Championship Mussenden Links and the scenic Bann Course. In 2017/18, Mussenden underwent a transformation under the guidance of renowned architect Dr. Martin Hawtree, with six holes artfully redesigned to enhance both challenge and playability.
Highlights include the signature 4th, Leg O’ Mutton, a dramatic 200-yard par 3 flanked by railway lines and a winding burn, and the 15th, Homewards, a blind par 5 that rewards precision off the tee.
The Bann Course is a charming 9-hole layout stretching 2,446 yards through towering dunes beside the Atlantic. This par-34 course is a visual feast, with unforgettable holes like the par-5 5th, Bannview, offering sweeping views across the River Bann to the distant Isle of Islay. For those seeking variety and coastal beauty, playing both courses is a must.
Castlerock welcomes visitors throughout the year. Visitor tee times are limited in peak season (May to September), when many golfers combine the course with Royal Portrush and Portstewart, so it pays to book early.
Green fees: Current peak season rates are £250, with shoulder and winter rates ranging from £66 to £175.
Handicap: A valid handicap certificate is required for golfers playing the Mussenden Course, while the Bann Course does not require one.
Practice: There’s no dedicated driving range, but there is a practice tee and a short-game area.
When you book a Northern Ireland golf tour with Premier Golf, we arrange your Castlerock tee time alongside the rest of your itinerary.
Allan O’Connor, Ireland Operations Manager
If you’re looking for a more intimate, cozy place to stay while exploring Castlerock, Dunluce Lodge is a hidden gem that I always recommend. The lodge offers a cozy, homely atmosphere with spacious, comfortable rooms perfect for unwinding after a round. What sets Dunluce Lodge apart is the personalized touch. The owners are incredibly knowledgeable and always happy to share insider tips on local courses and hidden gems for food or drinks after your round.
Castlerock pairs naturally with the other great links of Northern Ireland’s north coast and beyond:
Northern Ireland is a golfing utopia. With breathtaking views, rolling countryside, and around 100 courses across the small country, it is often considered the go-to destination for a luxury golf vacation.
6 nights accommodation and 6 rounds of golf
Prices starting from $6,343 per golfer
Please fill out the form and we’ll be in touch.
"*" indicates required fields
Mussenden Course; Bann Course
Castlerock, Co. Londonderry / Derry, Northern Ireland
1901
Course open in daylight hours. Bar / clubhouse hours typically Mon–Thu 11:30–21:30, Fri–Sat 11:30–23:00, Sun 12:00–21:30; wider facility access 08:00–23:30 most days (seasonal).
Mussenden Course (18 holes; Length: n/a; Par: typical links par 72; Type: links; Opening: early 1900s; Designers: Ben Sayers, Harry Colt and later architects); Bann Course (9-hole links; Number of holes: 9; Length/Par: n/a; Type: links)
Clubhouse with food and drink, practice area, pro shop
Recognised UK & Ireland Top 100 links and part of the Causeway Coast cluster
Nearby Northern Ireland courses include Portstewart, Royal Portrush and Royal County Down
To book a tee time at Castlerock Golf Club, you can conveniently arrange it through Premier Golf as part of a Northwest Ireland golf tour.
The green fees at Castlerock Golf Club in 2026/27 vary depending on the season and day of the week. During high season, you will pay £250, with fees for the rest of the year ranging from £66 to £175.
Castlerock has 27 holes across two links courses: the 18-hole Mussenden Course and the 9-hole Bann Course.
Yes. Both the Mussenden and Bann courses are true links, running through the dunes where the River Bann meets the Atlantic on Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast.
Portstewart and Royal Portrush are close by on the Causeway Coast, and Royal County Down and Ardglass are easily combined on a Northern Ireland golf trip.
Yes. You should always wear golf attire, meaning no mock neck golf shirts or denim of any kind on the course. As for shoes, they have to be dry and spikeless when in the clubhouse.
While Castlerock Golf Club does not have a dedicated driving range, golfers will still find ample practice facilities to sharpen their skills. The club offers a practice tee where players can warm up their long-game. An excellent short-game practice area is also available, allowing golfers to focus on honing their pitching, chipping, and putting before a round.
Yes, Castlerock welcomes visitors. Tee times are limited in peak season, so we recommend booking ahead, ideally as part of a Northern Ireland golf tour.
Castlerock is a short drive west of Portstewart and Royal Portrush, which makes it easy to play all three on the same trip.
