Photo: Wikimedia CommonsCastlerock Golf Club (Mussenden Links)
Castlerock, Co. Derry · Designed by Ben Sayers / Harry Colt · Est. 1901
Castlerock's Mussenden Links is the quiet alternative on a stretch of the north coast dominated by Royal Portrush. Founded in 1901, the course took its championship shape when Ben Sayers, the North Berwick professional, laid out eighteen holes that opened in 1909; Harry Colt, busy nearby at Royal Portrush, refined the links around 1930. It runs between the River Bann estuary and the Atlantic, beneath the headland where Mussenden Temple stands on its cliff edge.
The course plays to par 73 over 6,700 yards through classic tumbling links land. The signature hole is the par-3 4th, "Leg o' Mutton," squeezed between a railway line and a burn with out-of-bounds on both sides — a genuinely nervy short hole. A second nine-hole course, the Bann, offers a relaxed extra loop.
Castlerock sits on the Causeway Coast a short drive west of Portrush and Portstewart, which makes it a natural third or fourth round on a North Coast trip — a championship links at a fraction of the marquee green fees, and far quieter.
Holes worth knowing
- 14th "Leg o' Mutton" (par-3) — squeezed between a railway line and a burn, with out-of-bounds tight on both sides. One of the most demanding short holes on the Causeway Coast, and the hole everyone remembers.
Highlights
- Ben Sayers links refined by Harry Colt
- Par-3 4th "Leg o' Mutton" between railway and burn
- Causeway Coast — quieter and better value than Portrush
Good to know
- →Castlerock is a short drive from Portrush and Portstewart — slot it in as a third or fourth round on a Causeway Coast trip for a championship links at a fraction of the marquee green fees.
- →Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne (National Trust) sit on the headland just west — one of the most photographed spots in Ireland, worth an hour before or after the round.
- →The Bann nine is a good warm-up or a relaxed option for mixed groups, with the estuary and beach right there.
- →City of Derry Airport is about 40 minutes; the Causeway Coastal Route runs right past the door.
Visitor Information
Getting There
Common questions
What makes Castlerock worth playing on the Causeway Coast?
It is the quiet, great-value alternative on a coast dominated by Royal Portrush. The Mussenden Links runs between the River Bann estuary and the Atlantic, beneath the cliff-top Mussenden Temple, and gives you a genuine championship links at a fraction of the marquee green fees — and far fewer crowds.
Who designed Castlerock Golf Club?
The club was founded in 1901, and Ben Sayers, the North Berwick professional, laid out the eighteen-hole links that opened in 1909. Harry Colt — busy nearby at Royal Portrush — refined the course around 1930. It plays to par 73 over about 6,700 yards, and there is also a 9-hole course, the Bann.
What is the signature hole at Castlerock?
The par-3 4th, "Leg o' Mutton," squeezed between a railway line and a burn with out-of-bounds tight on both sides. It is one of the most nerve-wracking short holes on the Causeway Coast and the hole everyone remembers.
What should I combine with Castlerock?
Royal Portrush and Portstewart are a short drive east, so Castlerock makes a natural third or fourth round on a Causeway Coast trip. Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne (National Trust) are right beside the course, and City of Derry Airport is about 40 minutes away.
Book directly with the club — no agent, no waiting
Plan your full Ireland itinerary
Course Facts
Destination guide
Golf in Northern Ireland
Courses, hotels, restaurants and things to do beyond the fairways.
Read the guide →
← All Ireland courses