4 Day County Down and Portrush Golf Itinerary
Four days, four links, two of the greatest courses on earth. This is the Northern Ireland golf pilgrimage in its tightest, richest form: Royal County Down under the Mourne Mountains and Royal Portrush on the Causeway Coast, each paired with a brilliant clifftop neighbour. One short transfer between the coasts ties it together. Here is the route, day by day, with indicative 2026 green fees and drive times.
Photograph: Royal County Down Golf Club, via Google
Who this trip suits
This is the bucket list Northern Ireland trip stripped to its essentials, built for the golfer who wants both major links without a wasted day. In four rounds you play Royal County Down, rated the finest course in the world by many panels, and the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush, the 2019 and 2025 Open venue, and you bracket each with a superb, better value neighbour: the clifftop Ardglass beside County Down and the Strand at Portstewart beside Portrush. It suits a focused group or a couple who want the headline names and the drama of the two coasts in a long weekend or a short break, and it leaves room to add a day on the Causeway Coast or in Belfast.
The one logistical decision that shapes the trip is when to make the transfer north. County Down and Portrush sit at opposite ends of the country, about two hours apart, so base near Newcastle for the first half, drive north on the middle day, and base near Portrush for the second, and you do the long hop only once. Travel May to September for the firmest turf and longest light, and book the two majors as far ahead as you can, because their summer tee sheets fill early.
The 4 day plan
Royal County Down, Championship Links
Begin with the course many rate the best in the world, laid out by Old Tom Morris in 1889 and refined by Harry Colt and others over the following century, a par 71 of about 7,186 yards running through towering dunes beneath the Mourne Mountains. Blind drives, bearded bunkers and one of the great opening stretches in golf make it a stern, beautiful test. At an indicative £450 it is the most expensive round of the trip and worth every pound. Base in or near Newcastle.
Ardglass Golf Club
A spellbinding clifftop links a short drive down the County Down coast from Newcastle, where the opening holes dance along rocky cliff tops above the Irish Sea and twelve holes deliver knockout ocean views. The club plays from the oldest clubhouse in golf, parts of which date to 1405. Raw, exhilarating and superb value at an indicative £120, it is the perfect foil to Royal County Down. Play it in the morning, then make the two hour transfer north to the Causeway Coast in the afternoon.
Royal Portrush, Dunluce Links
The Open venue, redesigned by Harry Colt in 1932 and host of the Championship in 2019 and again in 2025, a thrilling links of swooping fairways and exacting greens with the famous Calamity Corner par 3 and the dunes of the Antrim coast all around. At an indicative £420 it is the second of the trip's two giants and arguably its most complete examination. Base near Portrush for the final two nights.
Portstewart Golf Club, Strand Course
Finish a short hop from Portrush on the Strand, host of the 2017 Irish Open, whose opening holes through giant dunes are among the most spectacular in Ireland and whose back nine has been freshened by a recent redesign. At an indicative £210 it is a fitting, slightly gentler close to a demanding four days, and only fifteen minutes from Royal Portrush so the last morning stays relaxed before the flight home.
Green fees, drive times and logistics
| Round | Indicative 2026 fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Royal County Down | Around £450 | About 50 minutes from Belfast; base in Newcastle |
| Ardglass | Around £120 | About 25 minutes south of Newcastle, then transfer north |
| Royal Portrush, Dunluce | Around £420 | About 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours from County Down |
| Portstewart, Strand | Around £210 | About 15 minutes from Royal Portrush |
Green fees and drive times verified indicatively in June 2026 from course and ranking listings; they vary by season and change without notice, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking. Find bases along the route.
When to go and where to stay
Play the trip between May and September for the firmest links turf, the longest daylight and the best odds of dry weather, accepting peak fees and busier tee sheets at the two majors, with June often among the driest months. Late April and late September are strong shoulder value, with quieter courses and lower rates, at the cost of a higher chance of weather off the Irish Sea and the Atlantic. Base in or near Newcastle for the first two nights, close to Royal County Down and Ardglass, then move to Portrush or Portstewart for the final two, within minutes of both Causeway Coast rounds. A hire car makes the single transfer simple, both airports at Belfast are central, and a driver lets the group enjoy the evenings. Always confirm rates and availability before booking.
Plan your Northern Ireland golf trip
We secure the tee times at both majors, sequence the rounds around a single transfer between the coasts, match your bases to each leg and arrange caddies and travel so the four days flow. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
County Down and Portrush itinerary questions
What is the best 4 day golf itinerary in Northern Ireland?
Four days lets you play both of Northern Ireland's major links and a strong supporting round at each end. Open at Royal County Down in Newcastle, under the Mourne Mountains and rated the best course in the world by many panels, add the clifftop Ardglass nearby, then drive north to the Causeway Coast for Royal Portrush, the 2019 and 2025 Open venue, and finish on the Portstewart Strand, host of the 2017 Irish Open. Two world top courses, two excellent neighbours, one short drive between the coasts. Always confirm current tee times and fees directly before booking.
How far is Royal County Down from Royal Portrush?
Royal County Down in Newcastle and Royal Portrush on the Causeway Coast sit at opposite ends of Northern Ireland, about a one hour and forty five minute to two hour drive apart, much of it past or around Belfast. The clean way to plan it is to base in the County Down area for the first half of the trip, make the transfer north on the middle day, and base near Portrush for the second half, so you only do the long drive once. A planner can time the transfer around a round at Ardglass or a stop in Belfast.
How much does this Northern Ireland golf trip cost in green fees?
The two majors carry the weight: Royal County Down is an indicative £450 for visitors in summer 2026 and the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush around £420, while the supporting rounds at Ardglass and Portstewart are a fraction of that and bring the four round average down sharply. Reckon on roughly £1,100 to £1,200 per golfer in peak green fees across the four days, less in the shoulder season. These are indicative figures that move with season and demand, so always confirm current fees directly before booking.
When is the best time to play golf in Northern Ireland?
May to September gives the firmest links turf, the warmest days and the longest daylight, with June often among the driest months, and this is also peak price and the busiest tee sheets at the two majors. Late April and late September are good shoulder value, with quieter courses and lower rates, at the cost of a higher chance of weather. Whenever you travel, pack for wind and rain off the Irish Sea and the Atlantic. Always confirm current rates and tee times before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Indicative green fees and drive times verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.