Royal Belfast Golf Club — Golf Near Belfast for German Visitors
Founded in 1881, The Royal Belfast Golf Club is Ireland’s oldest golf club — a Harry Colt-designed course on the shores of Belfast Lough, and one of only three Royal-designated clubs in Northern Ireland. A precise, characterful test of golf, and a natural addition to a longer golfing tour of Ireland.
Discover the oldest golf club in Ireland – celebrating 100 years at our Craigavad home in 2026.
From the moment you arrive at Craigavad House, Royal Belfast offers a sense of place that is quiet, traditional and warmly welcoming.
The Perfect golfing holiday
One of five Royal courses in Ireland
18 challenging HOLEs
Why German Golfers Choose Royal Belfast
A Genuine Harry Colt Course
6,309 yards, largely unchanged since the 1920s. A course that rewards accuracy and course management over length.
Ireland’s Oldest Club
Founded 1881, with over a century of unbroken golfing tradition at Craigavad.
Part of a Complete Irish Golf Itinerary
Easily combined with other first-class courses across Northern Ireland, for golfers building a longer golfing tour.
A Historic Clubhouse Setting
Victorian clubhouse at Craigavad House, with dining at Bistro 1881 and views over Belfast Lough.
Straightforward to Reach
Direct and connecting flights from major German cities to Belfast or Dublin.
Getting Here
Belfast is well connected from Germany, with direct and connecting flights available from Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin and other major German cities to Belfast International (BFS) or George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD), as well as via Dublin. Royal Belfast is just 20 minutes from Belfast city centre — easily incorporated into a wider golf tour of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Common Questions
Do visitors need a handicap certificate to play?
No handicap certificate is required. Visitors should be competent golfers, familiar with course etiquette and able to maintain a reasonable pace of play.
How do I book — individually or as part of a group?
Individual visitors can book tee times in advance through our online booking system or by contacting the Pro Shop directly. For groups, golf societies, or tour operators arranging a multi-course itinerary, please enquire directly with our team, who can arrange group tee times and clubhouse dining – E: admin@roaylbelfast.com
When is the best time of year to play, and what is the weather like?
Royal Belfast is playable year-round. The course is at its busiest and driest from May to September, with long daylight hours through the summer months well suited to a full day’s golf. Northern Ireland has a mild, temperate climate — expect cooler temperatures and a greater chance of rain than in continental Europe, even in summer, so appropriate waterproof clothing is recommended whatever the season.
What should I pack for a golf trip to Northern Ireland?
Given Northern Ireland’s changeable coastal weather, we recommend layered clothing, a good waterproof jacket, and golf shoes suited to variable course conditions. Please also note our clubhouse dress code, in keeping with the traditional standards of Irish golf.
Make Belfast Part of Your Trip
Belfast hosts Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann — the world’s largest celebration of Irish traditional music, song, dance and culture — in August 2026, and it returns to the city again in August 2027. It’s only the second time in the festival’s history that it has come to Northern Ireland, and a rare chance to time a golf trip around one of Ireland’s great cultural events. If you’re planning ahead, 2027 is the year to build a Belfast visit — and a round at Royal Belfast — around it.
Beyond the Fleadh, the city rewards visitors year-round: from Titanic Belfast to a slow morning browsing the city’s shops and cafés, there is history and culture at every turn — historic attractions, traditional pubs, acclaimed restaurants, museums, guided tours and walks through the maritime and cultural quarters, all within easy reach of the course.
Whether you’re planning a short golf break, a longer trip through Northern Ireland, or working Royal Belfast into a wider Irish itinerary, Belfast is close enough to add without adding days, and rich enough to justify staying longer.
For dates, events and visitor information.
Make It More Than A Round
Enjoy lunch in our historic clubhouse, a drink on the terrace overlooking the course, and a look through vintage photographs, trophies and memorabilia spanning our history since 1881 — including our centenary year at Craigavad in 2026. Beyond the course, Belfast rewards a longer stay: from Titanic Belfast to the city’s Cathedral Quarter, there is history and culture within easy reach of the Club
