Moyola Park

You'll need a decent golf handicap to get on at Moyola Park, the sort of course that doesn't suffer fools gladly. Located just outside Antrim, this 18-hole layout commands respect - tight fairways, strategic bunkering, and greens that demand precision. It's a members' club primarily, so advance booking is essential if you're not already in the fold.

The course stretches across proper rolling countryside, giving you genuine views across Mid and East Antrim as you work your way around. It's not flashy or trying to be anything other than what it is: a solid, challenging test of golf for golfers who actually want to concentrate. You're looking at a full round taking four to four-and-a-half hours if you know your way around, longer if you don't.

This isn't the place for beginners wanting a casual knock about, or for non-golfers tagging along hoping for a nice walk. Serious golfers, however, will find it genuinely rewarding - the sort of course that makes you work for your pars. Combine it with stays at Lough Beg Glamping or Sett on The Lough, both just a few miles away, and you've got a proper golf break in Northern Ireland that won't feel like you've been herded through a theme park. Worth contacting the club directly to check visitor rates and availability - don't just turn up expecting to play.