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Old and bold: Ardglass Golf Club and its ancient clubhouse.
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Located about 30 minutes north of Newcastle (in Northern Ireland) and the famed Royal County Down Golf Club, you’ll find Ardglass Golf Club and what is likely the oldest golf clubhouse in the world.
The blocky stone structure, long known as Ardglass Castle, dates back to the 14th century and has a fortress-like look, which is accentuated by its position atop a cliff some 30 feet above a harbor.
After marveling at this historic structure, you’ll find the golf course equally compelling. The entire thing is routed over high ground, resulting in views — across the Irish Sea to the Isle of Man, down over Coney Island Bay, and south to the Mountains of Mourne — that are intoxicating, hole after hole.
Six of the holes are authentic linksland and the other dozen have a meadow-like feel, yet they combine nicely to produce a thrilling course that skirts the cliffs, beach and water. At 6,260 yards, it’s not extremely long, but when the wind blows — and it always seems to be blowing here — the yardage on the scorecard has little meaning.
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