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North coast could be home of new links golf course

Luke Sproule and Ross McKee
BBC News NI
Getty Images A wide shot of a golfer wearing a dark polo shirt, light grey trousers and a white cap chipping a golf ball out of a bunker. Sand can be seen spraying up where his club and the ball made contact and the ball has lifted just out of the bunker. In the distance the yellow flag marking the hole can be seen as well as some scrubland and, further up the image, the blue sky.Getty Images
Links golf courses are typically found on sandy coastal terrain

Plans have been unveiled for a new links golf course to be built on the north coast of Northern Ireland, about 20 miles from Royal Portrush which is currently hosting The Open.

The developers of the course said that if the project went ahead it would be "Northern Ireland's first championship links golf course in more than 100 years".

A links golf course is the oldest and most traditional form of course, with origins in Scotland.

Links courses are typically built on sandy coastal terrain, offering firmer playing surfaces than those found on parkland or heathland.

Economic impact

Caoimhe Archibald, in blue top, at The Open at Royal Portrush, with spectators in the background.
Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald welcomed the development and said it would help to increase the impact of golf on Northern Ireland's economy

It is hoped the new course, on the coast near Bellarena in County Londonderry, will open in 2029.

Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald welcomed the development and said it would help to increase the impact of golf on Northern Ireland's economy.

She told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme the plans were "really ambitious and exciting".

"Something that I have heard over the course of the past number of days is the issue of tee times, so we have these fantastic golf courses, they are for the most part member clubs and it can be difficult for people here visiting to get those tee times, so having a new golf course will really add to the proposition that we have."

The minister said she would be keen to have conversations with the R&A in the coming weeks about The Open returning to Northern Ireland in the future.

"When you see the economic impact, last time around in 2019 it was over £100m, this time it is anticipated to be over £200m, so the direct economic impact of being able to host an event like this is significant and it is well worth the investment."

Colin Johnston in light blue top, at the Open at Royal Portrush, with spectators in the background.
Galgorm Collection managing director Colin Johnston said preparatory work had already started and main work on the course could begin from 2026, subject to planning approval

The course plans are being developed by the Galgorm Collection.

Its managing director Colin Johnston said preparatory work had already started and main work on the course could begin from 2026, subject to planning approval.

Northern Ireland is "blessed" with "two of the top 10 golf courses in the world", he said, but added that the challenge was to increase capacity.

"We look towards our nearest neighbours in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, both of them have been doing that with great success.

"While we have had great success, to take it to the next level we need to increase capacity."

Tourism Northern Ireland's chairwoman Ellvena Graham said Northern Ireland was already "a highly sought-after destination for golfers from across the globe" and she hoped more would be attracted to visit the new course.

The organisation's golf marketing manager, George Diamondis, said demand for a new links course is high and added that another course would "build on the reputation of Northern Ireland as a truly world-class golfing destination".

Northern Ireland's current links courses include Royal Portrush and Royal County Down in Newcastle.