New accommodation and another top course ranking have put Northern Ireland’s world-class golfing credentials in the spotlight once again.
New five-star accommodation will open in February right on the edge of the prestigious Royal Portrush golf course, which is to host the 153rd Open Championship in July.
Dunluce Lodge, County Antrim, will have 35 luxury suites as well as a restaurant, wine vault, private dining spaces and spa. Larger groups have the option of staying in The Stookan – an eight-suite facility sleeping 16.
The Lodge’s interiors have been designed to be authentically Northern Irish using local designers and suppliers to create décor that reflects the stunning landscape of the Causeway Coast. The restaurant and bar will overlook the fourth fairway allowing golf enthusiasts to get a prime view of the golfing action.
The Spa at Dunluce Lodge is another highlight of the accommodation offering a dynamic treatment and wellness menu that uses products from Irish brand Seabody, which harnesses bioactive compounds from seaweed.
With an onsite putting green and complimentary private transfers to the nearby helipad and to the clubhouses at Royal Portrush and Portstewart Golf Club, Dunluce Lodge promises to be a golfer’s paradise.
As well as being a prime location for golfers, the hotel is close to some of Northern Ireland’s top attractions. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Giant’s Causeway is just along the coast as is the romantic Mussenden Temple, thrill-inducing Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, and the dramatic remains of Dunluce Castle.
Over in County Fermanagh, known for its gorgeous lakelands, the Faldo Course at Lough Erne Resort has secured a top 10 ranking in Golf World’s Top 100 Parkland courses in Great Britain and Ireland. The rankings, which are regarded as amongst the most authoritative within the golfing fraternity, place the Faldo Course in sixth position.
Designed by six-time Major winner, Sir Nick Faldo, the par 72 course has been played by golfing greats including Rory McIlroy and Padraig Harrington. It combines stunning scenery with a challenging and entertaining layout that includes water in play across 11 of the 18 holes and almost 50 large sand traps.
The five-star Lough Erne Resort is set on a 600-acre peninsula in the Fermanagh lakes and offers award-winning luxury accommodation and dining and a Thai-inspired spa.
The Faldo Course, which can be played year-round, is one of two championship golf courses at the resort, the other being The Castle Hume Course. The resort also boasts a golf academy where golfers can improve their technique using state-of-the-art equipment.
