Moyola Park Golf Club

Moyola Park Golf Club — parkland by the river, opened by Seve

Moyola Park carries a touch of stardust: when it opened in 1980, none other than Seve Ballesteros arrived to christen it. Set on the wooded banks of the River Moyola in south County Londonderry, it is a mature, well-conditioned parkland with a famous island green to test your nerve.

Moyola Park Golf Club is a parkland course at Castledawson, County Londonderry, laid out along the River Moyola. It plays to a par of 71 over about 6,591 yards, through mature trees and river-edged fairways. Designed by Don Patterson and Alan Smith and opened by Seve Ballesteros in 1980, it is one of the north-west’s most enjoyable inland tests.

Key Details

• Location: Castledawson, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
• Length: about 6,591 yards (championship tees)
• Par: 71
• Designers: Don Patterson and Alan Smith
• Established: opened 1980
• Notable: opened by Seve Ballesteros in 1980, who played an exhibition match and golf clinic

History and significance

Moyola Park Golf Club opened in 1980, and did so in style: on 11 August that year the great Seve Ballesteros arrived to play an exhibition match and hold a golfing clinic, launching the new course with a flourish few clubs can claim. The course was designed by Don Patterson and Alan Smith on parkland beside the River Moyola.

In the decades since, the club has matured into one of the most respected parkland courses in the north-west of Northern Ireland, its trees grown tall and its conditioning well regarded. The Seve connection remains a proud part of its story.

Set in the quiet countryside near Castledawson, close to the shores of Lough Neagh, Moyola offers a genuine, well-kept inland test in a peaceful riverside setting — a fine round away from the busier coastal courses.

Photo: Moyola Park Golf Club

The course and how it plays

Moyola Park is a mature parkland test, its fairways lined with tall trees and threaded along the River Moyola, which brings water into play on several holes. Well conditioned and fair, it rewards accurate driving and thoughtful approach play rather than sheer power.

The river and mature planting frame the round beautifully and demand respect, while the greens are true and nicely contoured. It is a course that suits golfers of all standards from the forward tees, yet offers a proper challenge from the back — a rounded, enjoyable inland examination.

Signature holes

Moyola’s standout is one of the most talked-about holes in the north-west.

Hole 17 (Par 3)

Moyola’s signature hole, a par three played to an island green ringed by water — a nervy, all-or-nothing tee shot where anything less than a clean, committed strike finds a watery grave. It is the hole every visitor remembers.

Hole 8

A strong test among the mature trees, where an accurate drive is essential to open up the approach — a good example of Moyola’s demand for position over power.

Why play Moyola Park Golf Club

Moyola Park offers a mature, well-kept parkland round in a peaceful riverside setting, with the fun of a genuine island green and a dash of Seve history. It is an enjoyable test for all standards, handy for exploring the Lough Neagh shore and the Sperrins, and a welcome inland contrast on a Northern Ireland golf trip. Friendly and unhurried, it is a rewarding day out.

Clubhouse and facilities

The clubhouse is comfortable and welcoming, with a restaurant serving local fare and relaxed lounges overlooking the course. There is a well-stocked pro shop, a driving range and a putting green for warming up, and buggies and trolleys are available to hire — a well-rounded set-up for a day’s golf.

Green fees and booking

Moyola Park welcomes visitors to its parkland course at Castledawson. A visitor eighteen-hole round for adults typically ranges from around £50 on weekdays to around £75 at weekends, with a reduced twilight rate and lower prices for students and juniors.

Booking ahead through the pro shop or online is recommended, and buggies and trolleys are available for hire. For current green fees and tee times, check the official website.

Getting there and parking

Moyola Park is near Castledawson in south County Londonderry, close to the M2 corridor.

• By car: about 40 minutes from Belfast via the M2 towards Castledawson; the club is signposted near the village.
• By public transport: Translink buses serve Castledawson and nearby Magherafelt, with a short taxi to the club.
• Address & parking: Shanemullagh, Castledawson, Magherafelt, County Londonderry, BT45 8DG, with on-site parking.

Where to stay

The Mid-Ulster towns nearby make handy bases:

• Castledawson & Magherafelt: the nearest towns, with hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs.
• Cookstown / Lough Neagh shore: further options for a countryside stay.
• Belfast or Derry: either city, under an hour away, for a wider trip.

Book ahead in the golf season, especially at weekends.

What to pack

Parkland golf by the river, in changeable Ulster weather:

• Waterproofs and a warm layer for quick weather changes
• Comfortable golf shoes with grip for parkland turf
• Plenty of spare balls for the river holes and the island 17th
• A rangefinder for the tree-framed approaches

Nearby attractions

Moyola sits between Lough Neagh and the Sperrins, with plenty to explore.

Conclusion

Moyola Park is the north-west’s quiet parkland pleasure: mature, riverside and beautifully kept, with an island green to set the pulse racing and a Seve story to tell in the clubhouse. Peaceful, friendly and genuinely testing, it is a round that lingers longer than you might expect.

Frequently asked questions

When was Moyola Park Golf Club established?

Moyola Park Golf Club opened in 1980, and memorably so: on 11 August that year the great Seve Ballesteros arrived to play an exhibition match and hold a golf clinic, launching the new course. Designed by Don Patterson and Alan Smith on parkland beside the River Moyola near Castledawson, it has matured over more than four decades into one of the most respected inland courses in the north-west of Northern Ireland.

What is Moyola Park’s par and length?

Moyola Park plays to a par of 71 over about 6,591 yards from the championship tees, with shorter tees for all standards. It is a mature parkland test where accuracy matters more than length: tree-lined fairways, the River Moyola in play on several holes, and true, contoured greens reward positional golf. The famous par-three 17th, played to an island green, adds a memorable sting to the closing stretch.

What is the most famous hole at Moyola Park?

Moyola’s signature hole is the par-three 17th, played to an island green surrounded by water. It is an all-or-nothing tee shot: anything less than a clean, committed strike finds the water, and it has decided many a medal and match. Dramatic, nerve-testing and thoroughly memorable, it is the hole every visitor talks about long after the round.

How do I get to Moyola Park Golf Club?

Moyola Park is near Castledawson in south County Londonderry, close to the M2. By car it is about 40 minutes from Belfast via the M2 towards Castledawson, and the club is signposted near the village. By public transport, Translink buses serve Castledawson and nearby Magherafelt, with a short taxi to the club. The address is Shanemullagh, Castledawson, Magherafelt, County Londonderry, BT45 8DG, with on-site parking.

Are there other courses nearby?

Yes. The Mid-Ulster and Lough Neagh area has a good spread of parkland golf, and both Belfast and Derry, each under an hour away, open up many more courses. Moyola makes an ideal inland round when travelling between the coast and the north-west, or as a peaceful base for exploring Lough Neagh, the Sperrins and Seamus Heaney country.