Golf

Castlerock Golf Club. The Mussenden Course underwent major reconstruction during 2018 and 2019, which resulted in nine holes being altered, although there was no change to one of its most unusual, "Leg o' Mutton," a 200-yard par-3 with railway tracks to the right and a burn to the left. The course has bedded well and is regarded as having the best greens in Ireland. The finish is spectacular: from the elevated 17th tee, where you can see the shores of Scotland, to the majestic 18th, which plays uphill to a plateau green. The club also boasts the equally scenic 9-hole Bann Course. 65 Circular Rd., Derry, Co. Londonderry. 028/7084–8314; www.castlerockgc.co.uk. Mussenden: £125; Bann: weekdays £30.

Portstewart Golf Club. More than 120 years old, Portstewart may scare you with its opening hole, known as "Tubber Patrick," generally regarded as the toughest starter in Ireland. Picture a 425-yard par-4 that descends from an elevated tee to a small green tucked between the dunes. The Strand Course is affectionately called "The Sleeping Giant," and the manicured greens are known for uniformity and speed. Eight of the holes have been redesigned to toughen the course and two have been lengthened. From its rolling fairways and undulating dunes the views stretch across the Atlantic Ocean to north Donegal. In 2017 the club hosted the Irish Open, and the winner, Jon Rahm, a Spanish professional, described it as an amazing course, saying "it is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen." If you want a break from the grand scale of the Strand championship links, there's the Old Course and the Riverside, 36 holes of downsize, executive-style golf. A modern clubhouse has a bar and restaurant. 117 Strand Rd., Portstewart, Co. Londonderry, BT55 7PG. 028/7083–2015; www.portstewartgc.co.uk. The Strand: summer daily £175, May and Sept. £145, winter, £65; Old Course: summer weekdays £15, winter £10, weekends £15 all year; Riverside: weekdays £25, weekends £30. Visitors: daily, Sat. after 2 pm.

Royal Portrush Golf Club. Hosting the British Open in the summer of 2019 resulted in a radical reshaping of the Dunluce course at Royal Portrush to ensure the perfect stage for the game's oldest major, and at the same time seriously raising the club's profile. It was the first time that the championship had been held at the club for almost 70 years and it was a memorable occasion—made even more so by the fact that Irish golfer Shane Lowry from the Esker Hills club in Co. Offaly lifted the coveted Claret Jug, six shots clear of his nearest challenger. Subtle alterations were made to almost every hole to stretch the course length and it was reconfigured to create space for an amphitheatre, freeing up land for spectators and a sprawling tented village for tens of thousands of fans. One of the main changes involved major changes to the 17th and 18th holes which were too weak for the tournament. With the skilful eye of leading architect Martin Ebert, the course was revised by exploiting the second-string Valley Course which runs alongside, instigating what became known as a "land grab." The Valley's 5th and 6th holes were sacrificed to create the Dunluce's new 7th and 8th. The loss of the old 17th meant the disappearance of its notorious "Big Nellie" bunker but the architecture incorporated a replica "Wee Nellie" into the new 7th while a new bunker was created on the left-hand side of the 17th. The Open left a considerable legacy that boosted the reputation, not only of the club, but of the north Irish coast as a premier destination for international events, and has left a satisfying afterglow. In a poll of Irish golf legends, Dunluce was voted the best in Ireland—among those who have graced the greens here are Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Ernie Els. Darren Clarke plays his golf here when he's home, and it's where Graeme McDowell, former U.S. Open champion, learned his golf at an early age. Dunluce Rd., Portrush, Co. Antrim, BT56 8JQ. 028/7082–2311; www.royalportrushgolfclub.com. Dunluce: Nov.–Mar. £90, Apr. and Oct., Mon.–Fri. £150, weekends £240; May–Sept. £240. Valley: Apr.–Oct., £50; Nov.–Mar., weekdays only £25.