Our final stop on this unforgettable golfing tour of Ireland was Ardglass Golf Club—an authentic links experience located less than two hours from Dublin and under an hour from Belfast. Just a short drive from the world-famous Royal County Down, Ardglass deserves recognition in its own right as one of the most scenic and historic links courses in the country.
A True Test of Links Golf
Ardglass is a proper links course—hard-running fairways, compact firm greens, and the ever-present Irish Sea influencing shot decisions on no fewer than eight holes. Yardage alone will not help you conquer this layout; it demands imagination, precision, and thoughtful course management.
One of Ardglass’s most unique features is its iconic clubhouse, widely considered the oldest building in the world still used for this purpose. Originally a fortified 15th-century warehouse, it sets the tone for a round steeped in history and heritage.
A Storied Past
The roots of Ardglass Golf Club stretch back to 1896 when the Rev. Thomas MacAfee introduced a modest 7-hole layout. By 1907, it had grown to 9 holes, maintaining that configuration for 60 years until new land acquisitions in the late 1960s allowed expansion to a full 18-hole links. Today’s course wraps around the dramatic coastal landscape of Coney Island Bay, offering golfers a challenging and visually stunning experience.
Despite a modest length of 5,305 to 6,216 yards, Ardglass doesn’t rely on brute force to test your game. It rewards strategy, shaping, and intelligent play—qualities we quickly needed as we tackled the course from the tips.
Standing on the first tee at Ardglass is one of those life-affirming moments, where you are glad to be given the opportunity to play and can’t quite believe you are here.
The Links
Approach to Lambs Lough
The opening hole, Lambs Lough, is only 338 yards. However, it’s an intimidating tee shot over a rock face to a wide fairway. We went with a 3 wood and found the fairway. This left us with under 115 yards to a green that you can’t see and that has a bunker at the front. Our wedge finished on the green, and we opened with a par.
Howd’s Hole
The second hole, Howd’s Hole, is a 168-yard par 3. If you can ignore the deep gully in front of the tee and focus on the green, it’s a straightforward 7-iron. In poor weather and on a windy day, this hole must be a nightmare. We hit the green and walked off with our par.
Longest Drive Ever
The Warren
The fourth hole, The Warren, is stunning-looking. At 371 yards, four bunkers narrow the fairway down to 20 yards in the landing area. We decided to hit the driver in an attempt to get past them. Our drive sailed down the middle, and we saw it land, but we didn’t know where it finished. We looked in all the bunkers, including the one further up the right, and it was nowhere to be seen. We eventually found it in the green side bunker, a distance of 350 yards off the tee!! It ran at least 110 yards to get there. That drive didn’t lead to a birdie; however, another par.
The Cottage
Two further pars at 5th and 6th meant we reached the 7th, The Cottage, at level par. From the back tee, it’s 217 yards. A breeze had suddenly freshened, and it was blowing left to right, which suited our shape. We hit our 3 hybrid down the left, and the breeze and the slope took it into the middle of the green. We missed our birdie putt.
First Bogey
Red Braes
The 8th hole, Red Braes, was our first bogey of the round. At 441 yards, it’s a tough hole. A decent drive, and we were left with just under 190 yards to the pin. We went with a 5 iron, but it came up just short. A poor pitch and two putts, and it was an easy bogey. We parred the par-5 ninth and made the turn at one over par.
The Back Nine
The Island
The journey home starts with a par 3, The Island. It plays downhill and is 203 yards. The vista is wonderful, and as the sun was lower in the sky, it was glistening on the water. Just beautiful. We went with 7 iron as the pin was tucked away on the right, and the breeze was left to right. It landed short of the green between the bunkers and finished pin high but 30 feet away. A two-putt par.
St John’s
The 11th hole, St John’s, has Royal Dornoch vibes. It’s a 485-yard par 5. The tee shot needs to be kept to the left of the fairway as there is trouble all the way down the right. Our tee shot finished in the rough on the left, and we laid up with a 6-iron. A pitch into the middle of the green and another par followed. We then walked up to the top of the hill and were met with the view below.
Cathlin
The 13th hole, Cathlin, is the last par 3. It’s another downhill hole at 191 yards with a stunning backdrop. Again, we went with a 7 iron and finished in the left back bunker. A good bunker shot and a 5-foot putt, and we escaped with a par.
A Birdie at Last
Ringfad
The 13th hole, Ringfad, is stroke index 1, and at 407 yards, is the hardest hole on the course. The tee shot is back across the 12th green and over a hill. We missed the fairway on the right side but managed to hit the green with a 7 iron, thanks to a good bounce. Our good luck continued as we sank the putt for a birdie. We were back to level par with five holes to go.
The Home Stretch
The Orchard
Two more pars followed at 14 and 15. The 16th, The Orchard, was where it started to go wrong. At 419 yards, it plays uphill. We hit our tee shot up the right and felt a twinge in our back. It got worse as we hit our 6-iron second, and we came up short. We bogeyed the hole, and as we made our way to the 17th tee, the back pain got worse. I suppose carrying our bag for ten of the twelve rounds on this trip, in your sixties, was asking for trouble. Although we tried to play the last two holes, we couldn’t. It was a sad end to a wonderful trip.
Photo Opportunity at the 15th tee
Final Thoughts
Ardglass was the perfect finale to our mini tour of Ireland. Dramatic views, authentic links golf, welcoming locals, and a rich history made for an unforgettable experience. Sincere thanks to Head Professional Paul Vaughan and his team, the clubhouse staff, the gracious members, and Ciara and Kelsey for making our visit so memorable.
From both Sandra and me, thank you to every club and resort that hosted us during this journey around Ireland. Almost 1,000 miles travelled, countless memories made—and who knows, we might come back to Ireland again soon.
Hospitality and Local Charm
Great food in the Clubhouse
The service in the clubhouse was first class—warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. The Seafood Chowder was rich and hearty, and the Cajun Chicken wrap was both generous and delicious. The members, too, were eager to chat and hear our thoughts on the course, waving us through with smiles. You won’t find this kind of hospitality at every club.
Where to Stay: Margaret’s Cottage
Our B&B
For our final night, we stayed just across the road at Margaret’s Cottage, a boutique B&B that felt like a home away from home. Hosts Ciara and her daughter Kelsey welcomed us like family, sharing stories of Ardglass’ history going back generations. The rooms were comfortable and charming, and Ciara’s homemade Irish breakfast was a highlight of the trip—hands down the best fry of the tour.
The perfect Irish Fry
Ciara’s extended family even owns the local pub just 50 yards away. Between the welcome, the baking, and the storytelling, it was a magical way to close our adventure.
Jim Callaghan CCM is a former Club Manager with experience overseeing several top Scottish Golf Clubs.
Now, as European Editor of Golf Operator Magazine and World’s Best Golf Destinations, he shares insights into club operations and his golfing adventures across Europe.
Jim is also an Ambassador for premium clothing brand Fenix Xcell Clothing and also for the Spanish local DMC, Costa Verde Golf.
If your club/resort or brand wants to reach over 400,000 golfers, contact Jim at [email protected] or call 0044 (0) 78522 88732.
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