New Golf Courses Opening in Northern Ireland, 2026
Northern Ireland is not opening a new course in 2026, but the biggest announcement in over a century has landed. Bellarena Golf Links, a 30 million pound project on the northwest coast, would be the country's first new championship links course in more than 100 years.
Photo via Google.
A generational announcement
For a region with two of the greatest links courses on earth, Northern Ireland builds new ones remarkably rarely. So the standout golf news of 2026 is not an opening but a commitment: a major new championship links has been announced for the Causeway coast, the first of its kind here in over a century. It will not be ready in 2026, but it reframes the next decade of Northern Irish golf.
Below we cover that headline project, the continuing evolution of Royal Portrush, and what it all means for a trip now, with the honest note that the brand new course you can actually play in 2026 does not yet exist. The strength here remains a roster of mature links that needs no introduction.
Northern Irish golf developments at a glance
| Project | Where | Status in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Bellarena Golf Links | Near Limavady, County Londonderry | Announced 30 million pound championship links by the Galgorm Collection, a long term build rather than a 2026 opening |
| Royal Portrush, Dunluce Links | Portrush, County Antrim | Continues to play with the two newer holes added by Mackenzie and Ebert, the 7th and 8th, used for The Open |
What is actually new
Bellarena, the headline project
The big story is Bellarena Golf Links, a planned championship links on the spectacular northwest coast between Portrush and Limavady, around 30 minutes from the city of Derry. Announced by the luxury hospitality group the Galgorm Collection as a roughly 30 million pound investment, it would be the first new championship links course built in Northern Ireland in more than 100 years. It is a multi year project rather than a 2026 opening, but it is the most significant development in Northern Irish golf for a generation.
Royal Portrush keeps evolving
The other genuine change is at Royal Portrush, where Mackenzie and Ebert reimagined the Dunluce Links ahead of recent Open Championships, introducing two newer holes, the par 5 seventh, Curran Point, and the par 4 eighth, Dunluce. They are now an established part of one of the world's finest links, and a reminder that even the classics here are still being refined.
The wider picture
Beyond these, Northern Ireland's pipeline of new courses is otherwise quiet in 2026. That is no weakness: the region's appeal rests on a tight cluster of world class links, from Royal County Down to Royal Portrush and Portstewart, and a 2026 trip is built on those rather than on anything newly opened.
Our take
For the traveling golfer, the Bellarena announcement is a reason to keep Northern Ireland on a long term list, not a 2026 itinerary item. What you can play now is as good as links golf gets, and the smart move is to enjoy the established giants while the new project takes shape.
Our advice is to build a 2026 trip around Royal County Down, Royal Portrush and Portstewart, then watch Bellarena as a future addition to a return visit. Our Northern Ireland destination hub and the best courses in Northern Ireland list are the places to anchor the plan, and our team will fold Bellarena in as it nears completion.
Plan a Northern Ireland golf trip
Want a 2026 trip built around Royal County Down, Royal Portrush and the Causeway coast links? Tell us your dates and group and one concierge will shape the route, tee times and lodging, costed to the head, with no obligation.
New Northern Irish courses, your questions
Is a new golf course being built in Northern Ireland?
Yes. Bellarena Golf Links has been announced on the northwest coast near Limavady, a roughly 30 million pound championship links from the Galgorm Collection. It would be the first new championship links course built in Northern Ireland in over 100 years, but it is a multi year project rather than a 2026 opening.
Where will Bellarena Golf Links be?
Bellarena is planned for the northwest coast between Portrush and Limavady, in County Londonderry, around 30 minutes from the city of Derry. It sits within easy reach of the existing Causeway coast links.
What has changed at Royal Portrush?
Mackenzie and Ebert reimagined the Dunluce Links ahead of recent Open Championships, adding two newer holes, the par 5 seventh known as Curran Point and the par 4 eighth named Dunluce. They are now a settled part of the championship layout.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Northern Irish course developments, including the Bellarena announcement, compiled June 2026 from UK and Irish golf media; the project is a long term build and timelines may change. Last reviewed June 2026.