Course History - From Their Website:

The present building started its existence as a fortified warehouse that operated as a safe haven for 15th century importers and exporters. The initial construction of the castle started no later than 1405 and by the 18th century it was converted into a family home, with a new extension being completed around 1788.

However, as the Harbour was in use by the Norman knight, Sir John De Courcy, at the time of his invasion of Ireland in 1177, it is entirely possible that the clubhouse sits on even earlier footings. Today we are fortunate to have this distinctive building as our clubhouse.

The story of Ardglass Golf Club and links began in 1896, under the leadership of the Rev Thomas MacAfee. The first incarnation was a 7-hole layout with a total length of less than 1000 yards and shoehorned into the area that is now our 1st and 18th fairways. Over the next 100 years our Club leased and then purchased the additional land that stretches out to Ringfad Point and around to the original Coney Island Bay. In 1907 it became a 9-hole links and was basically to remain unaltered for the next 60 years.

In the late 1960s, with the additional land, the layout expanded to encompass our first 18-hole layout. A generation later, the latest tranche of land was acquired. The Club developed the lands around Coney Island Bay and remodeled the course to provide the stunningly natural links.

Ardglass Golf Club does not stand still, and even today we are continuing to upgrade, remodel and improve the current layout to make it fair, enjoyable and a challenge for golfers of all abilities. As the Club heads towards its sesquicentennial anniversary in 2046 plans are afoot to meet the challenges of such an old building and sympathetically bring the clubhouse to a new level that meets all the formidable demands of the 21st century.

As explained below, by Tom Coyne: Author, Honorary Ardglass Member

I’ve played several rounds here since writing ‘A Course Called Ireland’ back almost 20 years ago. These guys were the first to tell me of the impact my book had on their visitor numbers and were gracious enough to give me Honorary Membership, which I cherish dearly.

Ardglass is unpretentious, and while some clubs offer a quiet welcome, Ardglass will hardly let you leave.

It has gone from a favorite in my book to a spot that occupies a place in my life, all because I stopped there for 24 hours back in 2007.

Course Review:

Ardglass is the Anglicization of the Irish 'Ard Glais'; meaning the green height. The town, and links course, lies in County Down, a mere 35-minute drive from Newcastle, and the Slieve Donard which was our basecamp for three-nights.

Per the previous quote, I do not think that Tom Coyne could have put it better. Ardglass is very unpretentious, and far from a quiet welcome. It makes you want to pull up a chair (or bar stool) relax and spend a few days.

Scooter and I planned to get there early and had the pleasure of having lunch upstairs in the clubhouse. It was mayhem and a crowded mid-day Saturday, and it looked as if every golfer within a 50-mile radius was in that dining room.

I recommend that you Order the Soup of the Day, your favorite Toastie/Panini—my choice the Brie & Peppered Leek (Wow) and choose the thick-cut chips over the skinny. Scooter? Take a wild guess….um, “the fish ‘n chips, please.”

If we weren’t driving back to Newcastle, I would have tucked into that pub for the duration after our round and secured a Sunday tee-time, to rinse and repeat.

I have mentioned in earlier reviews and blogs that not all the links courses across the pond have the luxury of a practice range, and the is the case with Ardglass. That said, at least there are a couple practice mats/nets around the back of the first tee—that at least enables you to get loose before stepping up to the first tee for a gripper of a start.

It is raucous on the first tee, step-up, grip it and swing away—do not mind the twenty or thirty golfers, caddies and lunch crowd intimidate you, and by all means do not focus on the Irish Sea to your left off the 1st, save those views for the next three and a half hours.

Ardglass is many things: scenic beauty, joyous, fun, playful, and a wonderful walk, but mostly it is quirky. Although it is and has most features of a links course, it can also be dubbed a cliff course. It sits-up over the Irish Sea, and beautiful views and drop-offs abound. A beach first appears on a hill high above #10 green and holes 11-13 rim it before turning back inland and around the point to Ringfad.

Holes 2 through 5 are a dramatic opening run of atop rugged cliffs with gorgeous views of the Irish Sea on your left, then it turns inland, and heads to the other side of the course, Ringfad Point, then rims an inlet with breath-taking views.

Howd’s Hole, #2, a par-3 has everything you could ask for. Views off the tee, a chasm/inlet 20-yards in front of you that frames the hole nicely. An uphill tee shot to a small green guarded short-right and left with two pot bunkers. A gorgeous fun hole to play.

Then comes Compass Hill, a short par-4 at about 335-yards that runs along the cliff and bends a bit left as you approach the green, again rather small. Number 4, The Warren, at 375 yards has its tee behind the green and is right on the ledge above the Sea. Most of the trouble here are the numerous fairway bunkers right around your landing area, but the green is one of the largest and not guarded by pot bunkers at all. Take advantage of it!

The last one of this great stretch is Black Rock, #5--named for the rocks lining the Sea off the tee, a par-3 at 138-yards which turns the corner and heads back inland. The smallish green is guarded on all sides by five pot bunkers. Your miss here is short, and you do not want to go long. Just a good solid swing and you’ll be putting for birdie.

Speaking to the quirkiness and unique vibe of Ardglass, make sure you take pause on the 7th, The Cottage, Named after the old stone, halfway-house that sits all of 4 paces from the right edge of the green. It is a long par-3 (over 200 yards) but does not have any hazards—other than the cottage! Stop in for a wee dram, the fireplace is always cranking. Golfers have been known to push a tee-shot 20-yards to have a pitch/lob shot back over the cottage to the green-um, that happens to be none-other than Old Tam!

The last highlight on the front is Isabella Tower, the 9th and only par-5 on the front (par 34).

My other favorite stretch of holes was 10-13. The Island, #10, not only has great views of the bay, but is a fun hole, and a downhill, reachable par-4 at 290-yards. Colin Weston our new Canadian-friend (ModGolf) happened to smash a drive over the green and almost jar the eagle-chip on the way back, settling for a birdie—certainly a highlight of his day.

#11, St Johns, is a beautiful par-5, dogleg right, How much do you cut-off on the tee? At only 480-yards, it is a fun strategic risk/reward, with a great green complex, just off the water.

The walk up the hill to #12, Cathlin (meaning pure in Gaelic), is well worth the wait. You arrive on the elevated tee of the 180-yard par-3, that works its way downhill to a well-guarded (5 pot bunkers) green that is perched up above the water. The view is a panorama of the bay, and lighthouse in the distance. Certainly, one of the most scenic par-3’s in all of Ireland. I happened to hit a pure 5-iron that released to just off the back, and chose to punch ‘n run the same club to 3’ for a knock-in par.

Ending-up this stretch, #13, Ringfad is a par-4 (and #1 handicap hole) that stretches anywhere from 333-yards to over 400 from the back tee which is right and behind the green on Cathlin that you have to hit over. It is an uphill drive that moves back inland and bends left toward the green. Two well-placed pot bunkers line the left side and two more front-left of the green.

The back nine is a par-37, with two more back-to-back par-5's--#15-The Pillar, and #16-The Orchard—a monster from the back tees stretching to over 600-yards. In 2024, they “reinstated” a stone fence that runs across the middle of the fairway, in play on your (3rd) approach. I think it is a fun design element. The Orchard was also turned into a par-5 (from the previous par-4) and #17, Loughan’s changed to an uphill par-3.

As you make your way down the hill to the 18th (Cowd’s Castle) gazing at the amphitheater that is the 18th, with the castle in the background and the Irish Sea to your right, you cannot help but have a smile on your face. You have just walked and played one of the most fun, joy-filled, quirky, memorable links golf courses that you will ever encounter.

Course Rating: Birdie - Do not miss this course on any trip to Ireland when you are anywhere near Dublin, Newcastle or Belfast