Clandeboye

The Dufferin Course is one of two 18-hole layouts at Clandeboye Golf Club, and it is the championship offering at the Northern Irish venue.

It is one of the few heathland courses on the island, and is within just a 15-mile drive of the capital, Belfast.

Bernhard von Limburger, Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas were the man behind the redesign, which came in 1969 as the venue extended to 36 holes, adding the Ava Course to its portfolio.

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William Rennick Robinson was the man behind the original golf course design at Clandeboye. That opened in 1930, though Clandeboye Golf Club was only founded three years later.

In the late 1960s, the design duo Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas, along with Germany’s Bernhard von Limburger, extended the property’s portfolio to 36 holes.

It was at that point that the Dufferin Course and the Ava Course were born, and Clandeboye is a venue that has hosted the European Challenge Tour throughout its history.

Heathland golf is not something you might associate with the nation of Ireland, but the Dufferin Course at Clandeboye Golf Club might well be one of the best versions of it. The panoramic view from the first tee might well distract you slightly, especially on a sunny day, but then you need to get down to business and work out how to tackle this cracking layout. At 6,550 yards, playing as a par 71, the Dufferin has a little bit of everything to entice you in!

It is a course that begins with a drive that requires a decent carry to find the fairway from the 1st tee, but if you manage that, then the opener could well be a birdie chance. The first of the short holes comes at 2, while the 3rd is one of five par 4s on the Dufferin that is longer than 400 yards. It also has one of the narrowest fairways on the property, one that runs out around the 300-yard mark. Despite being less than 390 yards, the 4th is the Stroke Index 1 on the course. Like the previous hole, there is a split fairway, one that comes around the same distance off the tee as the 3rd.

The green on the par 3 5th is diagonally angled, with the left side of the green being at least a club further to carry that the right side. Take that into account before selecting you club here. The 6th is the first of the par 5s on the Dufferin and it offers up a good scoring chance. The fairway is split into three sections – firstly by a ditch that runs across, and then by rough closer to the green. Play one shot into each section, with the third finding the green, and you will have a birdie putt!

A trio of par 4s take you to the turn, with 7 being the shortest of those at 360 yards. It moves slightly from right to left, with the green being guarded by three bunkers. The 8th is the longest par 4 on the course, at more than 450 yards from the tips. It is straight, but fairway bunkers see the fairway tighten around the 220-yard mark. The green is deep, which can extend the hole even further. The 9th is just shy of 400 yards, and it is another hole that requires an accurate tee shot, with sand left and trees right. The opening hole of the back nine is also a par 4 that moves slightly to the left after the tee shot. It is 415 yards, and will require two solid shots to get home.

11 is the shortest hole on the course at less than 150 yards. There is space right of the green, providing you carry the bunker at the front. It is followed by the longest hole, the 520-yard par 5 12th. Like the 6th, the fairway is split by a ditch, so make sure to keep your tee shot short of that! 13 is a scoring opportunity, providing you keep your tee shot on the short grass. The 14th is the last of the short holes on the Dufferin, and plays over a small water hazard. It is 165 yards from the tips, and anything short of the green will see you reaching into your bag for another ball. At less than 500 yards, the 15th is a par 5 that is another good scoring chance. Longer hitters will fancy their chances of making it to the green with their second shots.

The closing stretch encompasses a trio of par 4s, starting with the dog-leg right 16th. The fairway is wide, but anything down the left side will leave a longer approach to this green. 17 is the shortest of the final three at 370 yards, but it has the narrowest fairway. It snakes from one side to the other, but on the whole, 17 is actually pretty straight. The green is long and narrow, and requires a precise approach. The Dufferin’s final flourish is a 430-yard par 4, one that needs another solid drive. Anything shy of 260 yards will find the widest part of the fairway, before taking fire at the last green, one that is tighter at the front and wider at the back.

Dove Jones: Great hilltop parkland - will be coming back!

Michael Atkinson: Nice enough, does demand some challenge in terms of positioning off the tee due to the tree-lined fairways.

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Where is Clandeboye Golf Club located?

Clandeboye Golf Club is situated on the eastern side of Northern Ireland, but some way in from the coastline of the Irish Sea. It is just two miles south of the centre of Bangor, while the Northern Irish capital of Belfast is only 15 miles to the west of the golf club.

Bangor is home to the nearest train station, with services running to and from Belfast on a regular basis. Thanks to its location on the east of the Northern Irish capital, Belfast City Airport is the closest major airport to Clandeboye, sitting ten miles west. Belfast International Airport, the busiest airport in the country, is 30 miles from the venue.

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Ireland venues nearby?

Royal Belfast is the nearest venue that occupies a spot on the NCG Top 100s: Ireland list, located just seven miles away on the coastline. Belvoir Park and Malone’s Championship Course are also within 20 miles to the southwest of Clandeboye.

How many courses are there at Clandeboye Golf Club?

Clandeboye Golf Club is proud to be the host of two great 18-hole courses – the Dufferin Course and the Ava Course.

What golf facilities does Clandeboye Golf Club offer?

Along with the Dufferin and Ava Courses, the club is also home to some great practice facilities. There is a full-length driving range, which has practice greens as targets to help you practice. There is also a chipping area with two practice bunkers, along with a pair of putting greens at the club as well.

What are the green fees at Clandeboye Golf Club?

The price of a green fee at Clandeboye Golf Club changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.

For more information on current green fees at Clandeboye, visit their website here.

Visit Clandeboye’s website here.

Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.