Having spent much of my early golfing career at Kirkistown Castle, Golf Royalty knew what to expect – a great links half located only half an hour outside of Belfast. It is most defiantly one of the best Par 69 courses you are likely to encounter.

The close proximity to the sea means that wind is usually a significant feature in your round. Keeping the ball low can be crucial, as well as the ability to shape your ball flight to the left and right. Each of our visits here over the last few years has seen a different wind direction, making the course play in new and challenging ways.

Although some of the holes are quite long in yardage, the course can play quite short for the straight hitter during the summer season. The dry nature of Kirkistown Castle grants players with a lot of run and enables players to land approach shots short and still have a chance of par. It also makes the course playable all year round – no matter how much rain there has been, Kirkistown Castle never seems to close!

There are some fantastic pot bunkers, elevated tee shots, elevated greens and the most amazing sights from Kirkistown’s high points. The main coast road separates the golf course from the Irish Sea and outstanding views of the course include the Mountain of Mournes to the south, the Isle of Man to the east and Scrabo Tower, Newtownards to the North West.

Kirkistown Castle celebrated its Centenary in 2002 and extended and refurbished the clubhouse to prepare the club for its second Century. Our after golf meal was superb and very well priced. When combined with the fantastic green fee rates, the whole day was very inexpensive, but very very enjoyable.

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Featured Hole – 3

The signature hole at Kirkistown Castle is the Par 4 10th with an elevated, pulpit green. If you can par this hole you can really regard yourself as a golfer! With out of bounds running the entire left hand side of the hole, any pulls will be punished heavily. The green is raised around 60 feet in the air, with an almost vertical hill leading up to it. With nothing to stop the ball at the back of the green, you approach shot needs to be perfect.

A true test of your skill and ability, the 10th hole at Kirkistown Castle must be one of the toughest holes in all of Ireland.

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Filed under: Courses and written by Lee Evans