Galgorm Castle Golf Club
Ballymena, Co. Antrim
Galgorm Castle has hosted the Irish Open on the European Tour and is widely regarded as the finest public-access parkland course in Northern Ireland. The layout runs through a 220-acre castle estate on the banks of the River Maine, which creates water features on multiple holes and adds genuine drama to the back nine. The resort hotel and practice facilities are exceptional — this is championship-standard golf without the exclusivity of a members-only club. About thirty minutes from Belfast International, it makes a natural anchor for anyone exploring the Antrim coast and works well paired with a day at the north coast links.
Highlights
- European Tour Irish Open host
- Castle estate setting
- River Maine water features
Visitor Information
Getting There
Common questions
What professional tournaments has Galgorm Castle hosted?
Galgorm Castle has hosted nineteen professional tour events — more than almost any other parkland course in Ireland. It was the home of the Northern Ireland Open on the European Challenge Tour from 2013 to 2018, then hosted the 2020 Irish Open on the DP World Tour. Most recently it hosted the ISPS Handa World Invitational — the first event in Europe where men and women compete simultaneously on the same course for equal prize money.
Who designed Galgorm Castle Golf Club?
The course was designed by Simon Gidman and opened in 1997. It is set within the historic Galgorm Castle estate in Co. Antrim, with the River Maine running through the course creating the water features that define several of the most challenging holes.
Is Galgorm Castle a good base for the Causeway Coast?
It is well placed for golfers splitting time between the Causeway Coast links and Belfast. The course is thirty minutes from Belfast International Airport and forty-five minutes from Royal Portrush. The Galgorm Resort hotel on site is one of the finest resort hotels in Northern Ireland — the spa complex in particular is exceptional.
How does Galgorm Castle compare to the famous links nearby?
Galgorm is parkland, not links — so the comparison is different. As a championship parkland venue it is one of the strongest in Ireland and has proved that repeatedly on the European Tour. Golfers who want variety on a Northern Ireland trip — links on the Causeway Coast, parkland at Galgorm — will find it a strong complement to Royal Portrush or Royal County Down.
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