Moyola Park Golf Club

The drive into Moyola Park Golf Club takes you through proper countryside just outside Antrim, and you can sense straightaway this is a serious golfer's destination rather than a casual pay-and-play affair. The course itself is an 18-hole layout that's been here since 1994, carved thoughtfully through woodland and open fairways that demand respect without being outright punishing.

You'll need a handicap certificate or an introduction from a member to play here - it's not a walk-up kind of place. That said, the condition of the greens and fairways is excellent, and the layout rewards accurate shot-making over brute force. The back nine particularly opens up, giving you real sightlines and some breathing room between holes.

Obviously this is for golfers, full stop. If you're not planning to play, there's nothing here for you. But if you are serious about your game, it's worth the trip when you're staying in the area. Allow a full four and a half hours for 18 holes, maybe five if you're a slower pacer.

Stay at either Lough Beg Glamping or Sett on The Lough - both are under six miles away and genuinely excellent - and you've got a handy base for exploring Mid and East Antrim without being tied to a caravan park all week. The course itself sits quietly in the landscape, no frills, no nonsense. Exactly what a proper golf course should be.