Crossgar Golf Club

Crossgar Golf Club sits about twenty minutes from Downpatrick, a proper 18-hole course that's genuinely worth a round if you're staying nearby. It's got that understated Irish charm - nothing flashy, just good greens and fairways that demand respect. The course plays fairly for golfers of mixed ability, though you'll want to respect the par-4s; they're trickier than they first appear.

For keen golfers on a caravan holiday, this is the kind of place that makes a week away properly memorable. You can slot in a round without any faffing about, and it's nowhere near the overcrowded courses you find closer to Belfast. The layout takes you through decent countryside without being overly dramatic - it's workmanlike golf rather than spectacular, which is fine by most.

If you're based at Delamont Country Park (only 3.6 miles away) or Buckshill, you're within striking distance for a casual 18 holes. Expect to allow three to four hours for a full round, depending on pace of play. Green fees aren't extortionate, though exact pricing shifts seasonally - worth ringing ahead to confirm and book, particularly at weekends.

Couples and foursomes will get the most from it. Non-golfers in your group might find hanging about the clubhouse tedious, so plan accordingly. It's very much a working golf club rather than a resort destination, which keeps things refreshingly straightforward.