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Ardglass Golf Club

NORTHERN IRELAND, IRELAND

Ardglass Golf Club

Clifftop golf begins beneath a 1405 clubhouse beside the Irish Sea.

  • NORTHERN IRELAND Location
  • LINKS Course type
  • 18 HOLES Holes
  • PAR 70 Par

Beyond the Scorecard

  • Course established: 1896
  • Course designer/s: Rev Thomas MacAfee (original layout), David Jones (three later holes), and Ken Kearney (later improvements)
  • National ranking: #8 in Northern Ireland
  • Known for: World's oldest clubhouse beside the first tee
  • Defining feature: Opening five holes along Irish Sea cliffs

A Links Shaped in Stages

The golf course at Ardglass Golf Club began in 1896 under the leadership of Rev Thomas MacAfee. Its first seven holes measured under 1,000 yards and occupied ground now used by the 1st and 18th fairways. The layout grew to nine holes before reaching 18 in 1970 as the club secured land towards Ringfad Point and Coney Island Bay.

Later changes added three David Jones holes around the farthest part of the property. Ken Kearney was appointed in 2015 to guide a long-term improvement programme, with early work centred on the bunkers.

The course keeps revealing the sea as it moves over high ground, along cliffs, and towards a rocky headland. Its opening stretch sets the tone immediately. At the 168-yard 2nd, Howd's Hole, the shot crosses a rocky inlet to a compact green, and the club notes that changing wind can alter the club choice dramatically.

Why Add This Course to Your Golf Experience

Ardglass gives a Northern Ireland golf experience a different rhythm from the region's better-known championship links. Its cliff carries, elevation changes, and shifting coastal wind ask for confidence without demanding excessive length. The historic clubhouse adds a memorable finish, with the building standing beside the harbour since 1405.

Kinfern can pair Ardglass with nearby Royal County Down to create a considered contrast between celebrated tournament pedigree and a more intimate, character-rich links round tied closely to its fishing village setting.

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