Belvoir Park
Harry Colt laid out Belvoir Park in 1927 on rolling, wooded ground on the southern edge of Belfast, and it has changed remarkably little since. A par 71 of about 6,500 yards cut as avenues through mature trees, it is widely regarded as one of the finest inland courses in all of Ireland.
Photo: Belvoir Park Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Belvoir Park is a Harry Colt parkland classic, opened in 1927 just south of Belfast and largely untouched in the century since. Colt routed the holes through rich woodland on gently moving ground, framing fairways as avenues between magnificent trees and protecting the greens with the elegant, natural bunkering that is his signature.
It is a par 71 of about 6,500 yards, and its reputation rests on the quality of the green complexes and the purity of the design rather than on length. Harry Bradshaw, who won the Irish Open here in 1949, called it the best inland course he had ever played, and that verdict still holds among those who know Irish golf. For a visitor whose itinerary is built around the links of the Causeway Coast and County Down, Belvoir Park is the parkland round that proves Northern Ireland is about far more than its dunes.
Belvoir Park at a glance
- Opened
- 1927
- Designer
- Harry Colt
- Type
- Parkland, woodland
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- About 6,500 yds
- Green fee
- Visitors welcome
Designer, opening year and par verified June 2026 from Belvoir Park Golf Club and leading course databases; the course is a par 71 and back tee yardage is cited from about 6,460 to 6,664 yards depending on the source, so around 6,500 yards is a fair guide. Belvoir Park is a members club that welcomes visitors; green fees vary by day and season, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Belvoir Park is a driving and approach test of the classic Colt kind. The fairways are generous enough to encourage a confident swing, but the trees stand close enough that the wrong angle leaves a compromised shot, and the premium is on shaping the ball into the correct side of the green. There is no tricked up defence here, just sound, strategic architecture that rewards good golf.
The greens are the heart of the course, among the best putting surfaces in Ireland, subtly contoured and beautifully maintained. Colt's bunkering frames the targets without strangling them, and the routing uses the gentle slopes of the parkland to give variety of stance and shot. It is the kind of course that gets better the more you play it, revealing its strategy in layers.
The closing holes run back through the heaviest of the timber toward the clubhouse, demanding accuracy when the card is on the line. Belvoir Park never overwhelms with drama, and that is the point: it is a quiet masterclass in inland design, the perfect change of pace between days on the great Ulster links.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Members club that welcomes visitors and societies; weekday access is easiest, with restrictions around member competitions |
| Green fee | Visitor green fees vary by day and season (indicative, 2026); confirm the current rate when booking |
| Booking | Reserve a tee time in advance through the golf shop or office, particularly for weekend play |
| On the day | Parkland walking course; smart golf dress; carts are limited, so request one ahead if needed |
| Getting there | Newtownbreda on the south side of Belfast, about 15 minutes from the city centre and close to the motorway |
| Best months | May to September for the driest turf and longest evenings; the parkland holds up well in shoulder season |
Access and fees verified June 2026 from Belvoir Park Golf Club; visitor rates change by day and season, so always confirm directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers base themselves in central Belfast, a short drive from the course and full of hotels, restaurants and the revived waterfront around the Titanic Quarter. A Belfast base puts Belvoir Park, the city and the road to both coasts within easy reach.
For a golf focused trip, Belfast sits almost exactly between the County Down links to the south and the Causeway Coast to the north, making it the natural hub for an Ulster tour. Pair Belvoir Park with Royal County Down and Royal Portrush and you have the spine of one of the best golf weeks in the world.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Belvoir Park.
Build a Northern Ireland golf trip
We pair a parkland round at Belvoir Park with the great links of the Antrim and Down coasts, secure the tee times and book the lodging and logistics around it. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Belvoir Park questions
Who designed Belvoir Park and when did it open?
Belvoir Park was designed by Harry Colt and opened in 1927, and it remains largely unaltered, one of the best preserved Colt parkland courses in Ireland.
What is the par and length of Belvoir Park?
Belvoir Park is a par 71 of about 6,500 yards, with back tee yardage cited from roughly 6,460 to 6,664 yards depending on the source, played through mature woodland.
Can visitors play Belvoir Park?
Yes. Belvoir Park is a members club that welcomes visitors and societies, with weekday access easiest. Green fees vary by day and season, so confirm the current rate and availability directly before booking.
Is Belvoir Park worth playing on a links trip?
Very much so. It is widely rated among the finest inland courses in Ireland and makes an ideal change of pace between rounds on the County Down and Causeway Coast links, with Belfast as the hub.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.