Photo: Wikimedia CommonsArdglass Golf Club
Ardglass, Co. Down · Designed by Founded 1896
Ardglass Golf Club was founded in 1896, but its clubhouse predates the game of golf by nearly five centuries. The building was constructed around 1405 as a fortified merchant warehouse — part of a chain of tower houses that once guarded the harbour — and is widely regarded as the oldest building in continuous use as a golf clubhouse anywhere in the world. Step inside and you are stepping into medieval Down.
The golf lives up to the setting. The opening holes run along the clifftops directly above the Irish Sea, and the 2nd — a par-3 of 167 yards played over Howd's Hole, a dramatic ravine of black rock that cuts down to the water — is one of the most memorable short holes in Ulster. The sea is visible from all 18 holes; on a clear day you can see across to the Isle of Man and the Scottish coast.
The course grows more conventional as it turns inland, but the clifftop stretch stays with you long after. At around £80 a round it is exceptional value, and the contrast with Royal County Down — twenty minutes north, one of the world's great links — makes a paired day on the Down coast one of the best itineraries in Ireland.
Holes worth knowing
- 12nd (par-3, 167 yards) — Howd's Hole: tee shot carried over a dramatic ravine of black rock that drops straight to the sea. One of the finest short holes in Ulster.
- 21st (par-4) — the opener runs right along the cliff edge, with the Irish Sea immediately to your right and Jordan's Castle watching from behind. Sets the tone perfectly.
Highlights
- 1405 medieval clubhouse
- Clifftop Irish Sea holes
- Exceptional value
Good to know
- →Pair it with Royal County Down 20 minutes north — the contrast between Ardglass's rough-hewn character and RCD's grandeur makes for an unbeatable Down coast day.
- →The Old Commercial Bar, directly across from the club, is the local's choice for a post-round pint — unpretentious and friendly.
- →Aldo's Restaurant in Ardglass village is the best sit-down option nearby; ask for the local caught fish.
- →Book directly through the club if you want a specific time — GolfNow availability can differ from what's actually on the sheet.
Visitor Information
Getting There
Common questions
What makes the opening holes at Ardglass so famous?
Ardglass opens with what many consider the finest sequence of opening holes in Irish golf. The first tee shot is played with the sea directly below and a medieval castle at your back — converted from 15th-century fortified warehouses by the FitzGerald family and now believed to be one of the oldest golf clubhouses in the world. The second hole, named Howd's Hole, is a par three across a rocky coastal inlet to a small green perched above the sea. The first five holes run along the clifftops with the Irish Sea on one side throughout.
Is Ardglass just for the opening holes or is the full course worth it?
The full course is worth it. The inland holes on the back nine are less dramatic than the clifftop sequence but the routing is sound and the views return on several holes. At the price Ardglass charges, the combination of the spectacular opening and the solid back nine makes it one of the best-value rounds on the Down coast.
How do I get to Ardglass from Belfast?
Ardglass is about forty-five minutes south of Belfast on the Down coast road through Downpatrick. It is a natural stopping point on the way to Newcastle and Royal County Down. The combination of Ardglass in the morning and Royal County Down in the afternoon is ambitious but achievable for golfers with energy, though Royal County Down alone is a full day's experience.
How do I book Ardglass Golf Club?
Ardglass books through GolfNow with consistent online availability. It is one of the more accessible quality links courses on the Down coast and does not require the advance planning that Royal County Down demands.
Where to Stay
Books directly via Book tee time — no agent wait
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