Discover a Golfing Oasis!

Enjoy the very best the region has to offer

A GOLFING oasis if ever there was one, a region of peerless links and majestic parkland courses and a part of Ireland where golfers from all over the planet are flocking in ever greater numbers.

That, in part, is the north west of Ireland but as we shall see there is a lot more to do once the clubs have been put away for the day and it is time to turn one's mind to other things. During daylight hours, the majority will prefer to tackle mighty links courses like Royal Portrush, Castlerock, Ballyliffen and Murvagh but they will also relish the prospect of enjoying a round at a whole host of inland venues to be found all over the north west of Ireland. Then there's the beauty spots, the rich variety of things to do and not forgetting the pubs and restaurants. A mouth watering prospect to be sure!

It helps, too, that it is getting easier to get to the region because of the increasing number of flights into Derry and Sligo airports and the vast improvement in road conditions. For the purpose of this exercise, we are proposing to start our visit at Rosses Point, the mighty links of the Co Sligo club and one that has played host to national and international tournaments for many years. This is true links land on a scenically delightful site in the shadow of Ben Bulben and looking out over the broad Atlantic. Your first instinct may be to imagine you won't find better than "the Point" as it is commonly known but that isn't necessarily the case. Indeed, little more than a half hour's drive away is another marvellous links at Enniscrone where the respected English archited Donald Steel developed seven or eight new holes in previously unused dunes that are now the equal of anything to be found throughout the country.

As you head north out of Sligo, you could take in 18 holes over the course at the popular Bundoran holiday spot or travel on to Murvagh on the main road to Donegal Town. This is one of more than a hundred courses designed by Eddie Hackett, a great Irish architect of the latter part of the last century. Murvagh is for serious golfers, especially if the wind is blowing, and if you prefer something less demanding it might be wiser to move on and pick up on what's available at Ballybofey & Stranorlar or Narin & Portnoo and most especially the exquisite nine holer at Cruit Island at Kincasslagh, where you might also be fortunate enough to bump into singing star Daniel O'Donnell.

Now that you've had a bit of a breather, it is time to take on the he-man's stuff again and make your way to the beautiful Inishowen Peninsulaand Ballyliffin, a magnificent 36 hole complex boasting courses designed by six times "major" champion Nick Faldo and the prolific Irishman and journalist Pat Ruddy. Faldo once described the complex as "a hidden gem" but that's before he got to work on the original "Old" course and Ruddy created the Glashedy with former amateur star Tom Craddock. And before departing Donegal, there's a strong recommendation to try the venerabe Portsalon and Rosapenna links which have been most stylished refurbished in recent years. The golf in these parts is second to none but so, too, is the scenery. It's nothing short of majestic.

Once you cross the border, there are two obvious destinations in Co Derry, the fine links at Castlerock near Coleraine and the seaside resort of Portstewart of which even more would be known were it not for the presence a mile or so away across the county boundary of the world famous Royal Portrush. The (British) Open Championship was held here for the only time in in Ireland in 1951 and won by England's Max Faulkner. It would have been back many times since had it been able to cope with the massive crowds who these days flock to the tournament. When holes are known as "Calamity Corner", "Purgatory" and "Giant's Grave", you know this is going to present a serious examination of a golfer's talents.

But Portrush is not as difficult as it might sound and the 16 year-old prodigy Rory McIlroy made the point graphically when shooting an incredible eleven under par 61 in a qualifying round for the 2005 North of Ireland Championship. With the compulsory golf game completed, it would then be timely to make the short journey to the Giant's Causeway, the basalt outcrop that legend says was the result of the giant Finn McCool building a bridge across the sea to his true-love on a Hebridean island. Another attraction just might be the Bushmills distillery not a whole lot more than a drive and three wood away!

Nuremore and Mannan Castle both situated near Carrickmacross are the leading courses in Monaghan while Slieve Russell not far away in Co Cavan has developed into one of the nicest golfing resorts in these islands. It has a certain "Wow" factor because of being so far off the beaten track that you would never expect to discover such a splendid hotel and 27 fine holes of golf. Ballyconnell is the nearest town and the development is the brainchild of local businessman Sean Quinn. Definitely worth a visit.

The recently extended 18 hole course at Carrick-on-Shannon has come in for many laudatory comments and while you are in Co Leitrim it is a very good idea to try out the long established nine hole lay-out at Ballinamore. Enniskillen and Castle Hume are the major golfing attractions in Fermanagh while in Tyrone, Dungannon, where Ryder Cup star Darren Clarke played most of his early golf, and Killymoon near Cookstown are well worth a visit.

For county profiles, suggested drives and great holiday ideas, click here

FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information on any of the items featured above, or on the counties in general, please contact:

Fáilte Ireland North West
Aras Reddan
Temple Street
Sligo
Tel: 00353 (0) 7191 61201
Fax: 00353 (0) 719160360

Email: northwestinfo@failteireland.ie
Web: www.irelandnorthwest.ie

Fermanagh Lakeland Tourism
Fermanagh Tourist Information Centre
Wellington Road
Enniskillen
BT74 7EF
Northern Ireland
Tel: 0044 (0) 28 6632 3110
Fax: 0044 (0) 28 6632 5511

Email: info@fermanaghlakelands.com
Web: www.findfermanagh.com

Derry Visitor and Convention Bureau
44 Foyle Street
Derry
BT48 6TE
Northern Ireland
Tel: 0044 (0) 28 7137 7577
Fax: 0044 (0) 28 7137 7992

Email: info@derryvisitor.com
Web: www.derryvisitor.com

Causeway Coast & Glens
11 Lodge Road
Coleraine
BT52 1LU
Northern Ireland
Tel: 0044 (0) 28 7032 7720
Fax:0044 (0) 28 7032 7719

Email: mail@causewaycoastandglens.com
Web: www.causewaycoastandglens.com

Flavour of Tyrone
Killymaddy Tourist Information Centre
190 Ballygawley Road
Dungannon
Co. Tyrone BT70 1TF
Tel: 0044 (0)28 8776 7259
Fax: 0044 (0)28 8776 7911

Email: info@flavouroftyrone.com
Web: www.flavouroftyrone.com

Sperrins Tourism Ltd
The Manor House
30 High Street
Moneymore
BT70 45 7PD
Tel: 0044 (0)28 8674 7700
Fax: 0044 (0) 28 8674 7754
Email: info@sperrinstourism.com
Web: www.SperrinsTourism.com