Newcastle Golf Trip Planning Guide
Northern Ireland is home to two of the highest-ranked links on the planet: Royal County Down beneath the Mountains of Mourne, and Royal Portrush, host of the 2019 and 2025 Opens. Add Portstewart and the Giant's Causeway and you have a perfect long weekend.
Quick Facts
Spring, Summer, Fall
BFS (75 min drive)
$89–$575
$150/night
4 of 4
~$354/person
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Here's a realistic 3-day itinerary for a group golf trip to Newcastle. Every venue below is real and pulled from our curated database — no filler.
Day 1
Royal County Down (Championship Links) — links, $565–$575
Ranked the #1 course in the world by multiple panels — blind shots and gorse beneath the Mountains of Mourne
The Bushmills Inn — upscale, $$$ · 4.5★
Refined Irish cooking in a historic coaching inn near Royal Portrush
The Harbour Bar (Portrush) — dive · Open late
Traditional harbour-front bar pouring one of the best pints of Guinness on the coast
Day 2
Royal Portrush (Dunluce Links) — links, $530–$535
Host of the 2019 and 2025 Opens — "Calamity Corner" and the iconic White Rocks finish
Giant's Causeway — half day, $15–$25/pp
UNESCO basalt columns 15 minutes from Portrush — the iconic Northern Ireland day trip
Basalt (Ramore, Portrush) — seafood, $$ · 4.4★
Buzzy modern restaurant in the Ramore complex over Portrush harbour — easy for a big table
The Bush House (Bushmills) — dive · Open late
Cozy local near the distillery — locals swear it's "the best pint on the north coast"
Day 3
Portstewart Golf Club (Strand Course) — links, $89–$425
Front nine through "Thistly Hollow" — one of the great opening stretches in links golf; 2017 Irish Open host
Old Bushmills Distillery Tour — 1-2 hours, $15–$25/pp
Tour and tasting at the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery, minutes from Royal Portrush
The Percy French — casual, $$ · 4.3★
Seafront pub-restaurant at Newcastle with Mourne views, beside Slieve Donard
Ramore Wine Bar (Portrush) — patio · Open late
Busy food-and-drink hub on Portrush harbour — the lively spot to start the night
Course-by-Course Guide
Newcastle has 4 courses worth playing, including 2 bucket-list tier layouts. 4 are walkable if you want to save on cart fees.
Where to Stay
Newcastle has 2 group-friendly lodging options in our database, starting at $150/night for the whole house.
$230–$400 /night
Slieve Donard (Hastings) — seafront grande-dame hotel right beside Royal County Down
$150–$300 /night
Portrush hotels near Whiterocks Beach — base for Royal Portrush and Portstewart
Group Dining Guide
3 restaurants vetted for group golf trips. Several can handle large parties without a reservation headache.
The Bushmills Inn
$$$Refined Irish cooking in a historic coaching inn near Royal Portrush
Basalt (Ramore, Portrush)
$$Buzzy modern restaurant in the Ramore complex over Portrush harbour — easy for a big table
The Percy French
$$Seafront pub-restaurant at Newcastle with Mourne views, beside Slieve Donard
Nightlife
3 bars curated for groups. 3 stay open past midnight.
The Harbour Bar (Portrush)
Late nightTraditional harbour-front bar pouring one of the best pints of Guinness on the coast
The Bush House (Bushmills)
Late nightCozy local near the distillery — locals swear it's "the best pint on the north coast"
Ramore Wine Bar (Portrush)
Late nightBusy food-and-drink hub on Portrush harbour — the lively spot to start the night
Activities Beyond Golf
2 off-course activities for rest days or afternoons.
Giant's Causeway
UNESCO basalt columns 15 minutes from Portrush — the iconic Northern Ireland day trip
Old Bushmills Distillery Tour
Tour and tasting at the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery, minutes from Royal Portrush
Getting There
Fly into Belfast International Airport (BFS) — it's a 75-minute drive to Newcastle. For groups of 8+, consider booking a shuttle or party bus from the airport (local providers include NI Chauffeurs and Five Star Luxury Transfers). Renting two SUVs usually works for groups of 4-8.