Northern Ireland fits more than 90 golf courses into one compact region, and two of them, Royal County Down and Royal Portrush, rank among the top 20 in the world. Add historic neighbors Portstewart, Castlerock, and Ardglass, plus a night or two in Belfast, and you can play five great links in a single week.
Premier Golf plans custom Northern Ireland golf trips for US golfers. We take care of the tee times, hotels, and transport, so all you have to do is play. Below is our recommended tour, followed by answers on courses, costs, and when to go.
Touring Northern Island combines culture, coastlines, and world-class golf, all within an easily accessible and compact region, ensuring your trip is filled with non-stop experiences.
Combine golf days with iconic sights such as the Giants Causeway, and embrace the culture of industrial Belfast.
Drive/Transfer from Dublin Airport, golf at Portmarnock, and after your round transfer to Newcastle for dinner at the hotel, overlooking Royal County Down Golf Club.
Play golf at the iconic Royal County Down, consistently ranked in the top 5 courses in the world, enjoy an afternoon by the sea before dining at Percy French restaurant or Mourne Seafood Bar.
Drive/Transfer from Newcastle to Ardglass, this challenging links is one of the world’s oldest golf courses, dramatically hugging the Irish sea on the opening 5 holes. Post round, continue on to Belfast, and dine at Michelin star OX restaurant.
Drive/Transfer to Royal Portrush, play golf at the Open rota course, which last hosted the event in 2025. Return to Belfast and explore the Titanic Belfast museum before dinner.
Drive/Transfer to golf at Castlerock’s Mussenden course, which will not disappoint. After your round visit Giant’s Causeway, and explore the unique rock formations which create a surreal cliff-top experience. Return to Belfast and enjoy dinner at James St restaurant grill.
Your final round will be the perfect way to finish, Portstewart is a relatively hidden gem, perched right on the beach, with one of the most dramatic opening holes in golf. In the evening take a tour at the Old Bushmills Distillery, try a tipple before returning to Belfast for your final evening.
Breakfast at hotel, transfer/drive to Airport
6 nights’ accommodation based on twin/double share, including daily breakfast
6 rounds of golf
Welcome dinner
Self-Drive automatic rental car or transfers or chauffeur driven van
On-site assistance of a Premier Golf representative
All taxes and fees included
From $6,343 per golfer
From $2,840 per non-golfer
Based on travel in mid-season (Spring & Fall), group of 8 golfers sharing twin/double, 4-star hotels, transport in a luxury coach with driver.
This tour does not include flights, dinner reservations (these can be arranged by our concierge team) caddies or carts unless stated (these can be arranged by your sales agent)
Try a Distillery Tour
Arrange a tour at the iconic Bushmills Distillery, the oldest Whisky Distillery in the world located about 10 mins from Portrush.
Allan O’Connor is Premier Golf’s Ireland Operations Manager and Ireland travel expert, with over 30 years experience in the industry.
If you travel to play golf in Northern Ireland, there’s a good chance you might spend a little time in Belfast. The city of 340,000 is the largest metropolis in Northern Ireland.
Most Americans know it as the place where the Titanic ship was built in the early twentieth century. While shipbuilding is its undeniable legacy, Belfast has evolved into a cosmopolitan commercial center with artistic and university influences.
Most golf trips to Northern Ireland include time in Belfast. The capital is where the Titanic was built in the early twentieth century, and the Titanic Belfast museum tells that story. Shipbuilding is its best-known legacy, but Belfast today is a cosmopolitan commercial center with artistic and university influences, and a restaurant scene that includes Michelin-starred dining.
On the north coast, the Giant’s Causeway and the Old Bushmills Distillery are both close to Royal Portrush, so they fit easily around a round of golf. Traveling with partners who don’t play? Non-golfers can join the tour from $2,840.
Championship Links
Celebrated for its natural beauty and challenging layout, this course offers a unique blend of dunes, heathland, and stunning Mourne Mountains views, testing golfers of all levels.
Dunluce Course
A legendary Open Championship venue, known for its demanding holes, spectacular coastal scenery, and the infamous ‘Calamity Corner,’ providing a thrilling golfing experience.
Strand Course
Famous for its towering dunes and panoramic Atlantic vistas, this course combines natural landscapes with challenging links play, offering a memorable round for every golfer.
Read the rest of our top Northern Ireland golf trip destinations.
Our sample tour starts at $6,343 per golfer for 6 nights and 6 rounds, or $2,840 per non-golfer. This is based on mid-season travel, 8 golfers sharing 4-star accommodation, and luxury coach transport. Prices vary by season, group size and transport choice. Flights, caddies and carts are excluded, although we can arrange the latter two. Every trip is tailored, so speak to our Northern Ireland specialists for a quote.
May to September offers the best weather and longer days, but we recommend April, May and September for mid-season pricing. July and August are busiest, and tee times at Royal County Down and Royal Portrush are limited, so early booking is essential.
Six nights is ideal for most groups, allowing six rounds across courses including Royal County Down, Ardglass, Royal Portrush, Castlerock and Portstewart. For shorter golf breaks in Northern Ireland, three or four nights can cover the highlights. Longer trips can include Dublin and the East or North West Ireland.
Most US visitors fly into Dublin Airport, which offers direct flights from several US cities. Our recommended tour begins at Portmarnock before heading north to Newcastle. Choose from self-drive rental cars, private transfers or chauffeur-driven transport, with on-site support from Premier Golf throughout.
Ann Mabry, Managing Director
“The Merchant Hotel is also an amazing place to stay when visiting Northern Ireland. Three of my other favorites are set in a great location with amazing atmospheres: The Bushmills Inn, the Belfast Grand Central Hotel, and the Curran Gate Apartments.”
Premier Golf has arranged Irish golf vacations since 1988, with a full-time local office and expertise in securing sought-after tee times. Our tours include golf, accommodation, daily breakfast, a welcome dinner and transport, with concierge support throughout. Ireland Operations Manager Allan O’Connor brings over 30 years of experience to planning your trip.
Most itineraries use two bases: Newcastle for the County Down courses, then Belfast or the north coast for Royal Portrush, Portstewart, and Castlerock. Our Managing Director, Ann Mabry, shares her personal favorite below:
“The Merchant Hotel is also an amazing place to stay when visiting Northern Ireland. Three of my other favorites are set in a great location with amazing atmospheres: The Bushmills Inn, the Belfast Grand Central Hotel, and the Curran Gate Apartments.”
Everyone in my group loved Belfast and really loved RCD, PortRush and PortStewart. Our trip to Derry and the other courses were fun too.
I want to express my thanks and compliments for a fantastic golf trip to Ireland this past week. We all had a great time – the golf was perfect, the dinner reservations excellent, and the hotels were terrific. Martin Woulfe, our driver, was a wonderful guy that went above and beyond to make sure everyone was happy. I give him my highest recommendation for future trips. Thanks again for Premier’s work with Jeff to put together the trip. Much appreciated.
I just wanted to say that we all had a fantastic trip through Premier Golf! You really did a fabulous job on putting together the trip!
The golf courses were outstanding. And the accommodations of the Europa Hotel and Bushmills were first class. We enjoyed all of the restaurants that Allan selected.
And we even got great weather.
I also want to say that driver Martin Woulfe of O’ Callaghan & Sons made the trip! He really took great care of us. His quick wit and sense of humor made the trip fun for all of us. He is a terrific guy and great asset to the company.
Thank you again for a great trip!
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There are more than 90 golf courses in Northern Ireland. The most prestigious are Royal County Down and Royal Portrush, two of the top 20 golf courses in the world.
The most prestigious golf tournament held in Northern Ireland is The Open Championship, one of the four major championships in men’s professional golf. Royal Portrush has hosted it three times, most recently the 153rd Open in 2025.
For amateur golfers, the Causeway Coast Golf Tournament is the biggest amateur golf tournament in Europe, played every summer on the north coast of Northern Ireland.
Many courses welcome golfers of all abilities, but some championship venues may require proof of handicap. Requirements vary by club, so it’s worth checking before booking your Northern Ireland golf tour.
Yes, many of Northern Ireland’s leading golf clubs offer equipment hire, including golf clubs and trolleys. Availability varies by course, so we recommend arranging rentals before your trip.
Most courses require traditional golf attire, including collared shirts, tailored trousers or shorts, and golf shoes. Waterproofs and extra layers are also recommended, as coastal weather can change quickly.
Tour packages, such as Premier Golf Northern Ireland Golf Tours, always include accommodation and sometimes include meals too as part of their offerings. These comprehensive packages aim to provide a hassle-free and enjoyable experience for golfers.
Absolutely! If you’re planning a golf tour in Northern Ireland, you’ll be glad to know that customization options are available so your itinerary suits your specific preferences.
Northern Ireland’s links courses feature coastal dunes, firm fairways and challenging winds. Unlike parkland golf, links play often rewards lower shots, careful positioning and using the natural contours of the ground.
There’s plenty to enjoy beyond the fairways, from exploring the Giant’s Causeway and Mourne Mountains to visiting Titanic Belfast. Coastal walks, historic sites and local restaurants make Northern Ireland a great destination for non-golfers too.
We recommend planning 12 months or more in advance, particularly if you want to play Royal County Down or Royal Portrush. Visitor tee times are limited, and booking early gives you the best choice of courses, hotels and travel dates.
