Galgorm Castle Golf Club is one of Northern Ireland's finest championship parkland courses and a seriously well known tournament venue. It's still the only parkland in Northern Ireland to have hosted the Irish Open on the DP World Tour and it's also the long-time home of the Northern Ireland Open and the ISPS Handa World Invitational, a tri-sanctioned DP World Tour, LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour event.
"This golf course is magnificent, it really is. If you haven't been here, it's a must. If you come to this part of the world to play the great links courses of Northern Ireland, you've got to come to Galgorm too," (Wayne 'Radar' Riley, Sky Sports Golf).
Designed by Simon Gidman, the par 72 layout opened in 1997 and sits right in the heart of the 220-acre Galgorm Castle Estate. It's mature, tree-lined and immaculately presented, with smart bunkering and greens that can be properly quick when they want to be. The routing flows naturally through the estate, with enough variety to keep everyone interested, especially through the middle stretch.
The setting is a big part of the appeal too. The 17th-century castle comes into view around the 10th and it's one of the finest Jacobean buildings on the island.
"The long drive into the Estate shows off one of the best holes, the 10th, wild, spacious and enthralling…the course undulates gently so it feels like a pleasant walk, which makes golf all the more enjoyable" (Kevin Markham, Golf Photographer and Writer).
It's a proper test from the back tees, but still enjoyable for mixed-ability groups if you pick the right set. There are a couple of spots where water can punish a loose swing, so course management matters.
Staying on site at Galgorm Resort and Spa turns it into a very easy luxury golf break. If you're mixing inland golf with the coast, Galgorm is a cracking counterpoint to Northern Ireland's famous parkland tests.
Who is this for? Golfers looking to play a genuine tour-standard parkland course in Northern Ireland, groups wanting to combine links golf with a championship inland test and anyone seeking a mature, well-conditioned course in a historic estate setting.
Who is it best for? Mid-to-low handicappers who want to experience a DP World Tour venue, societies looking for a high-quality parkland alternative to the coast and golfers staying at Galgorm Resort and Spa who want a complete luxury golf break in one stunning location.
