Malone
Northern Ireland is famous for its links, but its best parkland deserves a place on the itinerary too. Malone, founded in 1895 and laid out at Ballydrain by CK Cotton, spreads across more than 300 acres of mature parkland in the lower Lagan Valley just south of Belfast, a par 71 of about 6,689 yards built around a 27 acre trout lake. It is welcoming to visitors and an ideal change of pace between rounds on the coast.
Photo: Kevin Markham Golf via Google.
The verdict
A golf trip to Northern Ireland is usually written around the great links of the Causeway Coast and the Mourne shore, and rightly so, but the visitor who plays only links is missing the country's finest inland golf. Malone Golf Club, founded in 1895 and settled since the 1960s at Ballydrain in the lower Lagan Valley, is a parkland course of real quality, laid out by the respected English architect CK Cotton across more than 300 acres of mature trees and rolling ground about five miles south of Belfast.
The championship eighteen, the Drumbridge and Ballydrain nines, plays to a par 71 of about 6,689 yards, with a third nine, Edenderry, alongside. The defining feature is a natural lake of some 27 acres, long fished for trout, that frames a run of the most memorable holes. It is mature, peaceful and beautifully kept, an easy course to enjoy and a welcome change of pace and weather refuge in a coastal links trip built around Royal County Down and Royal Portrush.
Malone at a glance
- Founded
- 1895
- Designer
- CK Cotton and Associates
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- About 6,689 yds
- Green fee
- From about 75 pounds
Founding year, designer, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Malone Golf Club and leading course databases. The club was founded in 1895 and moved to Ballydrain, where the course was laid out by CK Cotton and Associates; the championship eighteen (Drumbridge and Ballydrain) plays to a par 71 of about 6,689 yards, with the nine hole Edenderry course alongside. Recent visitor rounds were indicatively from around 75 pounds midweek and 85 pounds at weekends; fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Malone is the kind of mature parkland that takes a generation of growth to achieve, the fairways framed by tall, established trees and the ground rolling just enough to keep the lies interesting. CK Cotton routed the course to use the natural fall of the land in the Lagan Valley, and the result is a layout that feels both grand and gentle, demanding accuracy off the tee without ever resorting to tricks.
The trout lake is the heart of the round. Around 27 acres of water, it comes into play on the most photographed holes, asking for a committed carry or a clear head over an approach where bailing out is the smart play. It is the feature visitors remember and the reason Malone photographs as beautifully as it plays.
Through the rest of the property the test is steady and fair: well bunkered greens, true surfaces, and a balance of holes that gives the better player room to score while keeping the higher handicapper in the game. With three nines on site there is flexibility in how a day is arranged, and the parkland setting offers shelter and a softer challenge when the coastal wind is up. It is a thoroughly satisfying inland round.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Members club that welcomes visitors and societies on the championship course, subject to member tee times; the Edenderry nine offers easier access |
| Green fee | Recent visitor rounds from around 75 pounds midweek and 85 pounds at weekends on the championship course (indicative, 2026); society and group rates on request |
| Booking | Book through the club in advance, especially for weekend and society play; confirm any member competition closures |
| On the day | Parkland walking; buggies and trolleys available; smart golf dress expected; full clubhouse and catering |
| Getting there | Ballydrain, Dunmurry, about five miles south of Belfast city centre and around 25 minutes from Belfast City Airport |
| Best months | May to September for the driest parkland conditions; the course holds up well thanks to its free draining valley setting |
Access and fees verified June 2026 from Malone Golf Club and recent visitor information; policies and prices change, so always confirm directly before planning a visit.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers base themselves in Belfast, which is within easy reach of Malone and offers a strong range of city hotels, dining and culture, and sits in the middle of Northern Ireland's golf geography. From the city you can play Malone on an arrival or rest day and reach both coasts comfortably for the headline links.
For a full tour, a Belfast or coastal base lets you pair Malone with the country's great links: Royal County Down down toward Newcastle, and Royal Portrush and Portstewart on the Causeway Coast.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Malone.
Build a Northern Ireland golf trip
We book the Malone tee times, pair them with the great links of the Causeway and Mourne coasts and arrange the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Malone questions
When was Malone Golf Club founded and who designed the course?
Malone Golf Club was founded in 1895 and moved to its present home at Ballydrain in the lower Lagan Valley in the 1960s, where the course was laid out by CK Cotton and Associates across more than 300 acres of mature parkland.
What is the par and length of Malone?
The championship course at Malone, made up of the Drumbridge and Ballydrain nines, plays to a par 71 of about 6,689 yards. A third nine, Edenderry, runs to a par 36 of about 3,200 yards.
Can visitors play Malone?
Yes. Malone welcomes visitors and societies on its championship course, subject to member tee times. Recent visitor rounds were indicatively from around 75 pounds midweek and 85 pounds at weekends; always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
What is the trout lake at Malone?
The centerpiece of the property is a natural lake of around 27 acres, long used for trout fishing, that frames several of the most memorable holes and gives the parkland its distinctive setting.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Founding year, designer, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.