Situated on the beautiful north coast of County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland, Portsalon Golf Club fringes Ballymastoker Bay on the Fanad Peninsula, a finger of land washed by Lough Swilly and the Atlantic Ocean.
With its par 72, 18-hole links course hugging the coast and Ballymastoker’s sandy beaches, Portsalon Golf Club must rank as one of Ireland’s most spectacular and bracing golfing locations. Golf Digest has voted it one of the top 25 courses in Ireland.
Founded in 1891, Portsalon is one of the world’s oldest links courses and was one of the Golfing Union of Ireland’s nine original members. The course was originally designed by Portrush professional Charles Thompson, but has undergone significant changes to its layout, including a remodelling by Pat Ruddy in 2000. While leaving five holes unchanged, Ruddy introduced nine new holes and modified four others, extending Portsalon’s yardage from under 6,000 to more than 7,000.
The stunning setting and salt air of the Portsalon Golf Club course make it a must if you’re eager to sample Ireland’s greatest courses. Many holes snake around billowing sand dunes and command inspirational views of Lough Swilly, providing a stirring backdrop to your game. Topping the list of holes is the 2nd— a scenic blockbuster with exquisite vistas over the lough that’s been regularly named as one of Ireland’s finest golf holes.
Portsalon Golf Club lies around 15 miles north of Letterkenny and is open daily from 8am until 7pm.
