Malone Golf Club

Malone Golf Club — parkland golf in the Lagan Valley

Roll up the long drive at Malone and the golf feels a world away from the city: mature oaks and pines, sweeping fairways, and at the heart of it all the great 27-acre Ballydrain Lake, its banks blazing with rhododendrons in early summer. Just five miles from Belfast, this is one of Ireland’s finest inland courses.

Malone Golf Club is a mature parkland course at Ballydrain, Dunmurry, on the southern edge of Belfast in County Antrim. Its championship eighteen plays to a par of 70 over about 6,780 yards, laid out across 270 acres of wooded, rolling land with the River Lagan along one edge and Ballydrain Lake as its centrepiece. Founded in 1895, the club has hosted a string of significant Irish tournaments.

Key Details

• Location: Dunmurry, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
• Length: about 6,780 yards (championship tees)
• Par: 70
• Designers: John Harris (1962), Fred Hawtree (1965), with later revisions by Ken Kearney
• Established: Club founded 1895; the present Ballydrain course opened in 1962
• Notable Events: Blaxnit International (1966), Ulster Open (1971), Irish Close Championship (1984), Irish Senior Masters (1990s)

History and significance

Malone Golf Club was founded in 1895 and has one of the more well-travelled histories in Irish golf, moving site four times before settling at Ballydrain. The present parkland course opened in 1962 to a layout by John Harris, with Fred Hawtree adding further shape in 1965, and more recent revisions by Ken Kearney keeping it current.

A 27-hole club, Malone has long been a leading inland venue in Ulster, its championship eighteen good enough to stage a series of important events. The Blaxnit International came in 1966, the Ulster Open in 1971, the Irish Close Championship in 1984 and the Irish Senior Masters through the 1990s — a pedigree that marks it out among Ireland’s parkland courses.

Its enduring appeal, though, is the setting: 270 acres of specimen oaks, sycamores and pines around the tranquil Ballydrain Lake, a haven for wildlife and a rare pocket of calm so close to the city. Few Belfast courses feel as far removed from it.

Photos via Google Business Profile (Malone Golf Club)

The course and how it plays

Malone is a classic mature parkland test, its fairways framed by stands of tall, old trees that demand accuracy off the tee. The turf is well drained on rolling ground, the greens are true, and the River Lagan and Ballydrain Lake bring water into play on the second nine.

It is a course that rewards position over power: find the fairway, control your approach, and the birdies come; stray into the trees and par slips away. Sheltered from the worst of the wind, it plays a little differently from Ulster’s famous links — a subtler, strategic examination that many members rate as the best inland golf in the province.

Signature holes

One hole above all defines Malone.

Hole 15

Malone’s signature hole is a short par three played across an arm of Ballydrain Lake to a green backed by massed rhododendrons. It is not long, but the carry over water and the beauty of the setting make it as memorable as it is nervy — a picture-postcard hole, and a genuine test when the pin is tight to the water.

Why play Malone Golf Club

Malone offers championship parkland golf minutes from Belfast, with the calm of a country estate and a warm members’ welcome. It is a course you can enjoy whatever your standard, yet good enough to have tested tournament fields, and its lake-and-woodland setting makes it a lovely contrast to a links-heavy Northern Ireland golf trip. For anyone basing themselves in Belfast, it is the standout inland round.

Clubhouse and facilities

The clubhouse is a comfortable, traditional base with a restaurant and dining looking out over the course, plus a well-stocked pro shop. Practice facilities are good for an inland club, and buggies, trolleys and caddies can be arranged. As a 27-hole venue there is also a nine-hole course, making Malone a flexible day out for groups of mixed ability.

Green fees and booking

Malone welcomes visitors to its mature parkland course beside Ballydrain Lake, one of the finest inland tests in Ulster. Green fees vary by season and day of the week, with weekends the busiest and priciest times, and reduced rates for visiting societies and groups.

Visitors are welcome most days but should book in advance, and a handicap is expected. For current green fees and tee times, check the official website.

Getting there and parking

Malone lies about five miles south of Belfast city centre, in the Lagan Valley at Dunmurry.

• By car: a short drive from Belfast via the A55 and Upper Malone Road; the club is well signposted at Ballydrain.
• By public transport: Translink trains run to Dunmurry or Finaghy stations nearby, with buses along the Malone and Lisburn roads, and a short taxi to the club.
• Address & parking: 240 Upper Malone Road, Dunmurry, Belfast, County Antrim, BT17 9LB, with ample on-site parking.

Where to stay

Belfast is the natural base, a few minutes away with something for every budget:

• South Belfast: hotels and guesthouses around the Malone and Lisburn roads, closest to the club.
• Belfast city centre: a full range of hotels and easy access to the city’s restaurants and sights.
• Lisburn: the nearby town offers further accommodation and quick road links.

Book ahead around major Belfast events, when city hotels fill up quickly.

What to pack

Parkland golf is generally kinder than the coast, but Ulster weather still calls for sensible kit:

• Waterproofs and a light warm layer for changeable days
• Comfortable golf shoes with good grip for rolling, sometimes soft turf
• Spare balls for the tree-lined fairways and the water at the 15th
• Plenty of tees and a rangefinder for the tree-framed approaches

Nearby attractions

Malone’s edge-of-city setting puts Belfast’s best within easy reach.

Conclusion

Malone is Belfast’s green escape: a mature, beautifully wooded parkland where the golf is strategic, the lake glints between the trees, and the city feels far away. Whether as a change of pace on a links tour or a round in its own right, it is inland Ulster golf at its finest.

Frequently asked questions

When was Malone Golf Club established?

Malone Golf Club was founded in 1895, making it one of the older clubs in Ulster, though it moved location four times before settling at Ballydrain. The present parkland course opened in 1962 to a design by John Harris, with Fred Hawtree contributing in 1965 and later revisions by Ken Kearney. Today it is a 27-hole club set across 270 acres of mature woodland and lakeland on the southern edge of Belfast.

What is Malone’s par and length?

Malone’s championship eighteen (the Ballydrain and Drumbridge combination) plays to a par of 70 over roughly 6,780 yards, with shorter tees for all standards. It is a mature parkland test where accuracy off the tee matters more than length: tree-lined fairways, true greens and water on the back nine reward position and control. As a 27-hole club, Malone also offers a nine-hole course for a shorter round.

What is the most famous hole at Malone?

Malone’s signature hole is the 15th, a short par three played across an arm of the 27-acre Ballydrain Lake to a green backed by banks of rhododendrons. It is a hole prized as much for its beauty as its challenge — the carry over water is short but unforgiving, and in early summer the flowering rhododendrons make it one of the prettiest holes in Ulster golf.

Has Malone hosted major tournaments?

Yes. While not a links championship venue, Malone has staged a series of significant Irish events, including the Blaxnit International in 1966, the Ulster Open in 1971, the Irish Close Championship in 1984 and the Irish Senior Masters through the 1990s. That record marks it out as one of the leading inland courses in the north of Ireland and a genuine test for strong fields.

How do I get to Malone Golf Club?

Malone is about five miles south of Belfast city centre, in the Lagan Valley at Dunmurry. By car it is a short drive via the A55 and Upper Malone Road and is well signposted at Ballydrain. By public transport, Translink trains serve nearby Dunmurry and Finaghy, with buses along the Malone and Lisburn roads and a short taxi to the club. The address is 240 Upper Malone Road, Dunmurry, Belfast, County Antrim, BT17 9LB, with ample on-site parking.

Are there other courses nearby?

Yes. Belfast and its surroundings are well supplied with golf: Belvoir Park, a fine Harry Colt parkland, and Royal Belfast are both within easy reach, and the famous County Down and Causeway Coast links are comfortable day trips. Malone’s own 27 holes also mean you can vary your round on site, making it a flexible base for golf in and around the city.