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From
£205
Per Person
Golfer Favourite
1 Night, 2 Rounds
- 1 Night Bed and Breakfast at Holiday Inn Express Derry
- 1 Round at North West Golf Club
- 1 Round at The Riverside, Portstewart
Portstewart Golf Club
Portstewart's Strand Course has been shaped by more than a century of links golf on Northern Ireland's north coast. Golf has been played here since 1894, with major work in the 1980s and the modern course completed by Des Giffin in 1992 from an original Willie Park design.
Set among huge dunes with sweeping Atlantic views towards Inishowen Head, it's a proper bucket-list stop and it sits comfortably alongside Royal Portrush and Royal County Down for pure scenery and challenge. Hosting the Irish Open in 2017 only underlines the point, this is Northern Irish championship links at its best.
On the course, the duneland does a lot of the talking. The opening drive from an elevated tee is one of the most memorable opening tee shots you'll find in Ireland, then the holes twist through natural sandy corridors with plenty of uneven lies and ever-changing wind. If you're driving it straight you'll have chances, but miss your line and you'll quickly be scrambling. Approaches need to be flighted and controlled into typically firm, quick greens, so it's a round where patience and imagination matter as much as power.
If you're planning a north coast golf break, Portstewart is an easy one to pair with Portrush and a great shout for groups who want a memorable links test.
Top tip:
Bring a lower-flying shot and commit to your line off the tee. The dunes make misses feel bigger than they are.
Who is this for?
Golfers building a Northern Ireland north coast itinerary who want dramatic dunes, a tour-proven layout and a genuine links experience.
Who is it best for?
Confident ball-strikers and groups who enjoy windy conditions, firm greens and a tough-but-fair walk, especially if you're pairing it with Royal Portrush.
Top Offers
From
£205
Per Person
1 Night, 2 Rounds
- 1 Night Bed and Breakfast at Holiday Inn Express Derry
- 1 Round at North West Golf Club
- 1 Round at The Riverside, Portstewart
From
£236
Per Person
1 Night, 2 Rounds
- 1 Night Bed and Breakfast at Bushmills Inn Hotel
- 1 Round at The Riverside, Portstewart
- 1 Round at Castlerock Golf Club
From
£257
Per Person
2 Nights, 2 Rounds
- 2 Nights Bed and Breakfast at Marine Hotel Ballycastle
- 1 Round at Ballycastle Golf Club
- 1 Round at The Riverside, Portstewart
From
£273
Per Person
1 Night, 2 Rounds
- 1 Night Bed and Breakfast at The Adelphi Portrush
- 1 Round at The Strand, Portstewart
- 1 Round at Castlerock Golf Club
From
£282
Per Person
1 Night, 2 Rounds
- 1 Night Bed and Breakfast at Elephant Rock Boutique Hotel
- 1 Round at The Strand, Portstewart
- 1 Round at Castlerock Golf Club
From
£284
Per Person
1 Night, 2 Rounds
- 1 Night Bed and Breakfast at The Marcus Hotel Portrush
- 1 Round at The Strand, Portstewart
- 1 Round at Ballycastle Golf Club
From
£296
Per Person
1 Night, 2 Rounds
- 1 Night Bed and Breakfast at Bishops Gate Hotel
- 1 Round at North West Golf Club
- 1 Round at The Strand, Portstewart
From
£303
Per Person
2 Nights, 2 Rounds
- 2 Nights Bed and Breakfast at Portrush Atlantic Hotel
- 1 Round at Castlerock Golf Club
- 1 Round at The Strand, Portstewart
From
£305
Per Person
1 Night, 2 Rounds
- 1 Night Bed and Breakfast at Galgorm Resort
- 1 Round at Galgorm Castle Golf Club
- 1 Round at The Strand, Portstewart
From
£352
Per Person
2 Nights, 2 Rounds
- 2 Nights Bed and Breakfast at The Marcus Hotel Portrush
- 1 Round at Ballycastle Golf Club
- 1 Round at The Riverside, Portstewart
From
£360
Per Person
2 Nights, 2 Rounds
- 2 Nights Bed and Breakfast at Golflinks Hotel Portrush
- 1 Round at The Strand, Portstewart
- 1 Round at The Riverside, Portstewart
From
£373
Per Person
2 Nights, 2 Rounds
- 2 Nights Bed and Breakfast at Bushmills Inn Hotel
- 1 Round at The Strand, Portstewart
- 1 Round at The Riverside, Portstewart
From
£377
Per Person
2 Nights, 3 Rounds
- 2 Nights Bed and Breakfast at Portrush Atlantic Hotel
- 1 Round at The Riverside, Portstewart
- 1 Round at The Strand, Portstewart
- 1 Round at Ballycastle Golf Club
From
£389
Per Person
3 Nights, 3 Rounds
- 3 Nights Bed and Breakfast at Marine Hotel Ballycastle
- 1 Round at Ballycastle Golf Club
- 1 Round at Castlerock Golf Club
- 1 Round at The Riverside, Portstewart
From
£390
Per Person
2 Nights, 2 Rounds
- 2 Nights Bed and Breakfast at The Adelphi Portrush
- 1 Round at The Strand, Portstewart
- 1 Round at Ballycastle Golf Club
From
£430
Per Person
1 Night, 2 Rounds
- 1 Night Bed and Breakfast at The Lodge Hotel
- 1 Round at The Strand, Portstewart
- 1 Round at The Riverside, Portstewart
From
£528
Per Person
3 Nights, 3 Rounds
- 3 Nights Bed and Breakfast at The Adelphi Portrush
- 1 Round at The Riverside, Portstewart
- 1 Round at Ballycastle Golf Club
- 1 Round at Castlerock Golf Club
From
£561
Per Person
2 Nights, 2 Rounds
- 2 Nights Bed and Breakfast at Ballygally Castle
- 1 Round at Castlerock Golf Club
- 1 Round at The Riverside, Portstewart
From
£591
Per Person
1 Night, 2 Rounds
- 1 Night Bed and Breakfast at Everglades Hotel
- 1 Round at Dunluce Links
- 1 Round at The Riverside, Portstewart
From
£610
Per Person
2 Nights, 2 Rounds
- 2 Nights Bed and Breakfast at Ballygally Castle
- 1 Round at Ballycastle Golf Club
- 1 Round at The Strand, Portstewart
From
£645
Per Person
1 Night, 2 Rounds
- 1 Night Bed and Breakfast at The Lodge Hotel
- 1 Round at The Strand, Portstewart
- 1 Round at Castlerock Golf Club
From
£720
Per Person
2 Nights, 2 Rounds
- 2 Nights Bed and Breakfast at Curran Gate Portrush
- 1 Round at Castlerock Golf Club
- 1 Round at The Strand, Portstewart
From
£762
Per Person
2 Nights, 3 Rounds
- 2 Nights Bed and Breakfast at Curran Gate Portrush
- 1 Round at Ballycastle Golf Club
- 1 Round at The Riverside, Portstewart
- 1 Round at Castlerock Golf Club
From
£785
Per Person
1 Night, 2 Rounds
- 1 Night Bed and Breakfast at Curran Gate Portrush
- 1 Round at The Strand, Portstewart
- 1 Round at Valley Links
From
£1310
Per Person
3 Nights, 3 Rounds
- 3 Nights Bed and Breakfast at Curran Gate Portrush
- 1 Round at Valley Links
- 1 Round at The Riverside, Portstewart
- 1 Round at Ballycastle Golf Club
Golf Courses at Portstewart Golf Club
The Strand Course
Carved among the colossal sand dunes, the golf course provides superb views across the Atlantic mouth of Lough Foyle and the Inishowen peninsula. The web of dunes that plays host to Portstewart is called ‘Thirsty Hollow', and is a truly spectacular place to enjoy a foray into Irish golf.
The designer has created a number of incredible holes, and deserves credit for ensuring that the new holes assimilate subtly and smoothly with the originals. Of any, the most fascinating hole is arguably the opening hole, daunting downhill par-4 that gives an insight into the immense character of the golf course throughout. Just a few minutes from the equally magnificent Royal Portrush, Portstewart is at the heart of a magnificent Northern Irish golf tour.
2014 saw Portstewart placed at the forefront of amateur golf in its hosting of the 119th Amateur Championship. As part of the 36 hole qualification process, the links layout provided a suitable test for the world's amateur golfers. The championship was eventually won by Bradley Neil who triumphed over South African Zander Lombard with a 2&1 victory in the 36 hole final.
| Par | 72 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | A G Gow, Willie Park Jr, Des Giffin |
| Opened for play | 1908 |
| Blue | 7,118 yards | SSS 75 |
|---|---|---|
| White | 6,626 yards | SSS 73 |
| Red | 5,867 yards | SSS 71 |
The Old Course
The original 9 holes of The Old Course run along the rocky coastline, east of Portstewart town on the Portmore Road heading towards Portrush. During the early 1900s the club managed to obtain more land and by 1934 the course had been extended to 18 holes.
Not a long course by any standards but the ancient fairways are great for groups of golfers looking for enjoyment combined with a walk through history.
| Par | 65 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | David Simpson, Mr. R. C. Davison, James Rea |
| Opened for play | 1894 |
| White | 4,890 yards |
|---|---|
| Red | 4,395 yards |
The Riverside Course
The scenic Riverside Course meanders along the banks of the River Bann, not as challenging as The Strand but still a good test of your golfing ability.
| Par | 68 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Unknown |
| Opened for play | 1894 |
| Blue | 5,725 yards |
|---|---|
| White | 5,497 yards |
| Red | 5,048 yards |
What Our Golfers Say
9.4
Excellent
24 reviews
Condition overall
9.4
Condition of greens
9.2
Speed of round
About right
Value for money
9.2
Facilities
9.4
Difficulty
Hard
These reviews are from verified Your Golf Travel customers.
Andrew
✓27 Apr 2026
Very Good
8.0
It was a shame that the last three holes were still closed for refurbishment, but at least we were told ahead of time and could plan for this. You didn’t tell us that the driving range was also closed which was an unwelcome surprise.
Charles
✓30 Sep 2025
Excellent
10.0
Martin
✓12 Sep 2025
Excellent
10.0
Great Course following the changes made recently
Kenny
✓7 Sep 2025
Excellent
10.0
Scott
✓1 Aug 2025
Excellent
10.0
Sensational
Calum
✓1 Aug 2025
Excellent
10.0
Alan
✓21 Jul 2025
Very Good
8.0
Mark
✓4 Sep 2023
Very Good
8.0
The course is unsurpassed in its beauty, design and difficulty. No complaints about the staff and customer service should put anybody off playing it...a true gem. Don't bring your driver unless you are on the tour! The greeting by the team when you arrive is too contrived, too rigid, too much like an American resort; we do not want that experience in a place like Portrush. Also, they attempted without asking to put a stranger into our 3-ball which is totally unacceptable, and it was only after unnecessary hassle that they changed it back to how it should be. Also, overly expensive pro-shop is a rip-off and there are apparently no coffee facilities before 10am!
Chris
✓18 Jul 2023
Excellent
10.0
Bernhard
✓16 Jul 2023
Excellent
10.0
Great experience . Definately a must if you play in northern ireland
Showing 10 of 24 reviews
