Ardglass Golf Club

About Ardglass Golf Club

This is a course you won't want to leave off your Northern Irish golf itinerary. In the words of Matt Adams from The Golf Channel, "Ardglass is the perfect combination of subtlety, severity and consummate golfing experience". We couldn't agree more.

Play Ardglass links golf course and you'll meet a true test of the game. The ever-present winds roar in off the sea, capable of wreaking havoc from every angle. And that's exactly what they do. Add hard fairways and small, firm greens and you'll find it nigh on impossible to play yardage based games here. Then there's the beautiful Irish Sea, constantly in the background and visible from all 18 tees and greens. What a location, and what a challenge.

A Brief History

• Created in 1896 by the Reverend Thomas MacAfee as a 7-hole, 1000 yard course that sat between today's 1st and 18th fairways
• Grew to 9 holes in 1907 then remained unchanged for six decades
• Extended to 18 holes in the late 1960s
• Known for its tricky pot bunkers and fast, true greens

Featured hole – Holes 1-5

We usually feature just one hole. But at Ardglass, the first five deserve a mention, in part thanks to their utterly spectacular route around the dizzying edge of the cliff tops. The signature second hole is a 167 yard Par-3 called Howd's Hole. You have to play your tee shot over a rugged, rock-filled inlet over to a horribly small-looking putting surface, with the water to your left, glorious views and a green totally exposed to the elements. Survive the first five unscathed and you deserve a pat on the back.

Known For: A Truly Remarkable Setting

The wind can be fierce at Ardglass, as the first tee is just feet away from the Irish Sea’s dramatic swell. It's a little bit like Pebble Beach with the 11th hole skirting the bay for wet sliced shots every time. The 13th hole features waves lapping at the edges, so close you're not far short of underwater. And ever single Par-3 is a legend in its own right, especially the infamous second hole with its craggy ravine between the tee and the green, and its steep 200ft drop to the waves below.