The Royal Belfast Golf Club

The Royal Belfast Golf Club is the oldest golf club in Ireland.  When the Club was founded on 9 November 1881 it marked the birth of the game of golf in Ireland and in 1891 the Club became one of only nine founder member clubs of the Golfing Union of Ireland.

Back in 1926 Harry Colt, who was without doubt one of the greatest golf course architects of the early twentieth century, produced a parkland course of great charm.  It remains much the same today as it was then, a tribute to the enduring excellence of its original design.

The course is meticulously maintained with established trees, lush fairways, impeccable greens and gorse providing a colourful backdrop in spring, always providing a true test of golfing skill in one of the loveliest settings in Ireland, with unrivalled views over Belfast Lough and the Antrim plateau beyond.

Royal Belfast provides a stern golfing challenge. At the heart of its varied challenges is the constant requirement for accuracy rather than length, providing all levels of golfer with a fair test of golf. The numerous bunkers and subtly sloped greens ensure that posting a low score is indeed a difficult feat.

Among the more memorable holes on the front nine are the short Par 3 4th, which measures only 142 yards but requires a very accurate shot to a green literally surrounded by bunkers. The Par 4 8th has out of bounds all along the left hand side and the 408 yard Par 4 9th, rated the most difficult on the course, plays directly alongside the shores of Belfast Lough. The homeward journey will not disappoint either, from the beautiful short par four 10th playing alongside the water's edge, the signature par 3 11th, right through to the long Par 5 18th, each hole is a real pleasure to play.

The many major events hosted at Royal Belfast over the years include the Irish Professional Championship, won by Christy O'Connor Sr., and more recently, the Ulster Professional Championship, won by Darren Clarke.