The missing links of Ireland
Ireland’s north and west are not always the first place people think of when it comes to an Irish golf holiday. But if one’s decision is based upon the criteria of reasonable prices, world-class links courses, luxury accommodation and good, old-fashioned Irish hospitality, then the region cannot be matched.
Portstewart
Portstewart
Telephone:
028 7083 2015
Email:
Website:
Courses:
Strand: 6,895 yards, par 72
Our objective was simple enough: four friends meandering our way through the north and west of Ireland, hoping to discover the pure essence of links golf while enjoying the warmth and hospitality that makes the country unique.
Our first stop was Portstewart, which never really gets the attention it deserves because of its close proximity to Royal Portrush, which is just minutes away on the A2. But it’s worth a stop in its own right: rugged and beautiful, the Strand course – one of three at Portstewart – was a tough, yet fair test of links golf that was a fully enjoyable start to the trip.
We stayed at the nearby Bushmills Inn, a warm and comfortable hotel housed in a building that dated back to the 1600s. The glowing peat and coal fire that greets guests in the lobby helps to establish a tone of relaxation and rejuvenation. A single malt whiskey in the period authentic ‘gas pub’ – it is actually still lit by gas lamps – is a must.
While in the area, it would be churlish not to visit the Bushmills distillery. It was granted a ‘License to Distill’ in 1608 and from the samples they provided, they have apparently invested their time wisely.
From there, we visited the Giant’s Causeway, a natural anomaly of countless six-sided rocks piled atop one another. Geologists inform us that the rocks were formed by volcanic activity some 60 million years ago, and Irish myth will claim their origins to the giant Finn McCool. One thing that is certain is that the Giant’s Causeway proves there are forces in this world that are well beyond us.
