Royal Belfast Golf Club

Royal Belfast Golf Club — Ireland’s oldest, on Belfast Lough

There is history in every step at Royal Belfast. Founded in 1881, this is the oldest golf club in Ireland, and its Harry Colt parkland tumbles down wooded slopes to the very edge of Belfast Lough, the water glinting between the trees as you play. It is a course as steeped in heritage as it is pleasant to walk.

Royal Belfast Golf Club is a mature parkland course at Craigavad, Holywood, County Down, on the shores of Belfast Lough. Designed by Harry Colt and opened in 1925, it plays to a par of 70 over about 6,309 yards. As Ireland’s oldest club, granted royal patronage in 1885, it blends genuine golfing pedigree with one of the loveliest settings in Ulster.

Key Details

• Location: Craigavad, Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland
• Length: about 6,309 yards (championship tees)
• Par: 70
• Designers: Harry Colt (1925), with W.A. Murray; renovated by Mackenzie & Ebert (2017)
• Established: 1881 (club); present course opened 1925–26
• Notable: Ireland’s oldest golf club; host of the Irish Professional Championship (won by Christy O’Connor Snr)

History and significance

Royal Belfast was founded in 1881 at Kinnegar, Holywood, making it the oldest golf club in Ireland. It received royal patronage from the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, in 1885, and after spells at Kinnegar and Carnalea it settled at its present home, the Craigavad estate on Belfast Lough, in 1925.

The present course was laid out by the great architect Harry S. Colt, with assistance from Walker Cup player W.A. Murray, and opened in 1925–26. It remains largely faithful to Colt’s design, with a sympathetic renovation by Mackenzie & Ebert in 2017. The club has staged the Irish Professional Championship, won here by the legendary Christy O’Connor Snr.

Nearly a century and a half on, Royal Belfast carries its history lightly: a welcoming members’ club whose age, royal charter and Colt design give it a standing few parkland courses in Ireland can match.

Photo via Google Business Profile (Royal Belfast Golf Club)

The course and how it plays

Royal Belfast is a classic Harry Colt parkland, its fairways falling away through mature woodland towards Belfast Lough. It is not long, but it is cleverly routed across sloping ground, with Colt’s subtly contoured greens providing the main defence and the trees demanding accuracy off the tee.

The lough views and the changing elevations give the round real variety and charm, while the greens reward those who leave the ball below the hole. It is a course that flatters a thoughtful, positional game rather than raw power — a genteel but genuine test in a beautiful setting.

Signature holes

Royal Belfast has a fine set of holes making the most of the lough and the slopes; a few stand out.

Hole 4 (Par 3)

A short par three of around 142 yards that demands a precise, committed strike to a well-guarded green — a delicate test where the trees and slopes leave little margin.

Hole 11 (Par 3)

A longer par three of about 174 yards, framed by mature trees, where club selection and a clean strike are everything.

Hole 18 (Par 5)

A rewarding closing par five of roughly 510 yards, offering a birdie chance to finish beneath the historic clubhouse — a fitting end to a round on Ireland’s oldest links of memory.

Why play Royal Belfast Golf Club

Royal Belfast offers the chance to play Ireland’s oldest golf club, on a Harry Colt parkland in a glorious Belfast Lough setting, all within easy reach of the city. It rewards a thoughtful game, charms with its lough views and history, and makes an ideal inland complement to a links-focused Northern Ireland trip. Few rounds combine heritage and setting so well.

Clubhouse and facilities

The clubhouse is elegant and historic, with dining and lounges looking out over the course and Belfast Lough, and a well-stocked pro shop. Practice facilities and buggy, trolley and caddie options are available. It is a comfortable, traditional base that matches the sense of occasion of playing Ireland’s oldest club.

Green fees and booking

Royal Belfast, the oldest golf club in Ireland, offers a warm welcome to visitors, who are asked to be members of recognised golf clubs, with handicap certificates sometimes requested before play. A Golf Ireland member rate is available on enquiry.

Visitor tee times are offered in set windows through the week, so booking in advance through the club or online is recommended. For current green fees and tee times, check the official website.

Getting there and parking

Royal Belfast lies at Craigavad, just outside Holywood on the County Down shore of Belfast Lough.

• By car: a short drive from Belfast via the A2 towards Bangor; the club is at Craigavad, signposted off the Bangor road.
• By public transport: Translink trains on the Bangor line stop at Craigavad and Holywood, a short walk or taxi from the club.
• Address & parking: Station Road, Craigavad, Holywood, County Down, BT18 0BP, with on-site parking.

Where to stay

Holywood and the nearby coast make an easy, pleasant base:

• Holywood: the closest town, with hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs a short drive from the club.
• Belfast: the city centre, minutes away, offers the full range of hotels and dining.
• Bangor: a nearby seaside town handy for a wider North Down golf trip.

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

What to pack

Parkland golf beside the lough, in changeable Ulster weather:

• Waterproofs and a warm layer for quick weather changes
• Comfortable golf shoes with grip for sloping, sometimes soft ground
• Spare balls for the tree-lined fairways
• A rangefinder for the tree-framed approaches and Colt greens

Nearby attractions

Royal Belfast’s lough-side setting is handy for both city and coast.

Conclusion

Royal Belfast is where Irish golf began, and it wears its 1881 heritage beautifully: a Harry Colt parkland tumbling to Belfast Lough, welcoming, walkable and quietly grand. Play it for the history, stay for the setting — a round at Ireland’s oldest club is a privilege every visiting golfer should claim.

Frequently asked questions

When was Royal Belfast Golf Club established?

Royal Belfast was founded in 1881, making it the oldest golf club in Ireland. It began at Kinnegar in Holywood and received royal patronage from the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, in 1885. After spells at Kinnegar and Carnalea, it settled at the Craigavad estate on Belfast Lough in 1925, where Harry Colt laid out the present parkland course. Nearly a century and a half on, it remains a distinguished members’ club with a genuine claim to being the cradle of Irish golf.

What is Royal Belfast’s par and length?

Royal Belfast plays to a par of 70 over about 6,309 yards from the championship tees, with shorter tees for all standards. It is not a long course, but Harry Colt’s design defends par through sloping, wooded terrain and subtly contoured greens rather than length. Accuracy off the tee and clever positioning are rewarded, making it a genuine, enjoyable test in a beautiful Belfast Lough setting.

Who designed Royal Belfast?

The present course was designed by Harry S. Colt, one of the greatest golf architects of all time, with assistance from Walker Cup player W.A. Murray, and opened in 1925–26. It remains largely faithful to Colt’s original routing, with a sympathetic renovation carried out by the respected firm Mackenzie & Ebert in 2017. Colt’s hand is clearest in the strategic use of the sloping, wooded ground and the subtle greens.

How do I get to Royal Belfast Golf Club?

Royal Belfast is at Craigavad, just outside Holywood on the County Down shore of Belfast Lough. By car it is a short drive from Belfast on the A2 towards Bangor, signposted off the Bangor road. By public transport, Translink trains on the Bangor line stop at Craigavad and Holywood, a short walk or taxi from the club. The address is Station Road, Craigavad, Holywood, County Down, BT18 0BP, with on-site parking.

Are there other courses nearby?

Yes. The North Down and Belfast area is rich in golf: Belvoir Park and Malone, both fine parklands, are a short drive away, and the championship links of County Down, including Royal County Down at Newcastle, are within comfortable reach. Royal Belfast makes an excellent heritage round to open or close a Northern Ireland golf trip.