Ballyliffin Golf Club: Ireland's Most Northerly Links
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Ballyliffin Links
At the very top of Ireland, on the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal, sits Ballyliffin, the most northerly golf club in the country. It is a place golfers travel to on purpose, for two championship links laid out among some of the finest dune land anywhere on the island.
Ballyliffin at a glance
Location: Inishowen Peninsula, County Donegal (Ireland's most northerly golf club)
Two championship links: the Glashedy Links and the Old Links
Glashedy Links: Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock (opened 1995); host of the 2018 Irish Open, won by Russell Knox
Old Links: golf at Ballyliffin dates to 1947; today's 18-hole Old Links completed by 1973, with Eddie Hackett among the hands, later refined with input from Nick Faldo
Also the Pollan Links, a nine-hole par-three course by Pat Ruddy
Named for Glashedy Rock, the sea stack that stands offshore
Nearest airport: City of Derry; Belfast for broader connections; most US itineraries via Dublin
Two championship links at the top of Ireland
Ballyliffin is unusual in offering two links of genuine championship quality on one site. The two are a study in contrast, and serious links golfers should play both, because that contrast is Ballyliffin's defining strength.
The Glashedy Links
Named after the striking rock that stands offshore, the Glashedy was designed by Pat Ruddy, creator of the celebrated European Club, and Tom Craddock, and opened in 1995. It is the bigger, longer, championship-scaled of the two, and in 2018 it hosted the Irish Open, won by Russell Knox in a playoff. Its scale was on show at tournament yardage, but everyday visitors play from a choice of tees, so the prestige comes without the punishment.
The Old Links
Golf at Ballyliffin dates to 1947, and the present 18-hole Old Links was developed in the early 1970s, with all 18 holes in play by 1973. It carries the fingerprints of Eddie Hackett, among others, and was later refined with input from Nick Faldo. More rumpled, natural and old-fashioned in character, it is the course many links purists leave talking about most.
Where it fits a trip
Ballyliffin belongs to the north-west, Ireland's least-crowded championship coast. It pairs naturally with Rosapenna in Donegal, and continues to County Sligo Golf Club and Enniscrone on a longer journey. It is remote, on the Inishowen peninsula: City of Derry is the nearest airport, Belfast offers broader connections, and most US itineraries begin or end through Dublin.
Planning your visit
Ballyliffin welcomes visitors to both championship links and to the nine-hole Pollan Links. Because of the remote setting and its growing reputation, it is worth settling your dates well ahead. We build Ballyliffin into a privately chauffeured north-west itinerary, with the golf, hotels and driving all handled.
Frequently asked
How many courses at Ballyliffin? Two championship links, the Glashedy and the Old, plus the nine-hole Pollan Links.
Which course hosted the Irish Open? The Glashedy Links, in 2018.
Should you play both? Yes. The contrast between the championship-scaled Glashedy and the natural Old Links is the point.
How do you get there? It is Ireland's most northerly club, on the Inishowen peninsula; City of Derry is the nearest airport, with Dublin the main transatlantic gateway.
Ballyliffin is one of the great rewards of Irish golf's far north, and we make the journey effortless with the golf, hotels and driving all handled. Plan my Ireland golf trip.