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Kirkistown Castle Golf Club

NORTHERN IRELAND, IRELAND

Kirkistown Castle Golf Club

Ireland's easternmost eighteen-hole links pairs quarry carries with exposed greens.

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

Beyond the Scorecard

  • Course established: 1902
  • Course designer/s: George L. Baillie and James Braid
  • National ranking: #11 in Northern Ireland
  • Known for: Ireland's most easterly eighteen-hole links
  • Defining feature: Long Reach's thirty-foot pulpit green

Sandgrass Farm and Braid's Hand

The golf course at Kirkistown Castle Golf Club began on Sandgrass Farm after the club was formed in 1902. George L. Baillie designed the original nine holes, and the layout grew to 18 holes in 1929.

James Braid visited in September 1934 to advise on a redesign. His work altered tees and greens, while bunkers were reshaped and moved. The changes were completed by the end of March 1935, leaving a clear Braid influence across the links.

The course runs in two loops of nine over sandy loam that drains quickly. Elevation plays a large part in the round, with several greens set on higher ground and exposed to wind. Revetted pot bunkers add another layer of thought, while seven par fours stretch beyond 400 yards.

Two unusual depressions near the opening holes also carry wartime history. Sand and gravel were removed there during the Second World War for the construction of nearby airfields at Kirkistown and Ballyhalbert.

Why Add This Course to Your Golf Experience

Kirkistown Castle gives a Northern Ireland itinerary a quieter club setting on the Ards Peninsula, away from the region's best-known championship venues. The route through Strangford Lough country also adds a strong sense of place before the round.

The club has its own link to modern elite golf. Michael Bannon learned the game at Kirkistown Castle before becoming Rory McIlroy's long-time coach. Kinfern can include the course for golfers who value local golfing roots as much as headline names.

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