Two Traditions, One Golf Trip

Links golf — seaside turf, dunes, changing winds — is often the first image of golf in Ireland, but it’s only one part of the story. Parkland golf offers a different experience, and the best itineraries often include both. Royal Belfast, set on Belfast Lough at Craigavad, is a fine example of why parkland golf belongs in an Irish golf trip.

Links vs Parkland

Links golf is played on sandy coastal land shaped by dunes and wind, asking for imagination and adaptability. Parkland golf, by contrast, is shaped by trees, contours and defined fairways, rewarding precision and course management over raw distance and ground game. At Royal Belfast, that style is expressed through the 1925 Harry S. Colt design — strategic rather than overpowering, with narrow landing areas, well-positioned bunkers and subtly contoured greens.

Why Combine Both

A trip with variety is often the most memorable one. After the drama of the links, Royal Belfast offers a calmer contrast: heritage, shelter and strategy, while staying close to the sea, the city and the wider landscape of Irish golf. The short 4th, demanding 8th and Lough-side 9th all reward thought over force.

The Royal Belfast Difference

Established in 1881 with Royal status dating to 1885, Royal Belfast isn’t simply a parkland course near the city — it’s Ireland’s oldest golf club, giving visitors a deep connection to the roots of the game alongside a distinctive style of play.

We look forward to welcoming you to Craigavad.