The continued effort to find a lasting solution to the "Troubles" in Northern Ireland is good and bad news for golfers. Good news for those who not sampled the glorious links of this province, but bad news for those who have been coming here for years, despite the threat imposed by militiants on either-side of the border.

In all honesty, the "Troubles" haven't really affected the pace of play that much. The golf course has been one place to escape the sectarian extra-curricular activities. And what safe haven they are. You'll struggle to find better links golf than that to be found in the province of Ulster. Just an hour's drive north of Belfast and you'll find link courses to satisfy the avid golfer. Royal Portrush, Portstewart, Castlerock, Ballycastle, they offer all the fun of seaside golf. Of course Portrush is the jewel of this coastline. Still the only course outside the mainland of Britain to have staged the Open Champiobnship. Huge sand dunes, tight fairways, pot bunkers, undalating greens-in short everything you can expect of seaside golf. If traveling along the coastline to the Giant's Causeway-dubbed as such because of the strange geological rock formation where land meets sea, rocks which look like steps down into the cold waters of the Irish sea-needs to make a proper job to visit. To that you must play Porterstewart, Castlerock and Ballycastle.     

The Northern Coast

7 days//6 nights in first class hotels/5 rounds of golf.

      Golf at Royal County Down ( picture on right)

            Royal Portrush, Portstewart, Catlerock,  Ardglass & Royal County Down

Hotels

Bayview Hotel, Co. Antrim for 4 nights

Glassdrumman Lodge, Co. Down for 2 nights      

                    May to September                                                               

Self-Drive* $2429                       

* self-drive is 4 golfers in a automatic Minivan