... there's still time to get in on the act in 2012.
The Great North Links Challenge takes place between
October 3 and October 5, 2012. The competition plays over Ballyliffin (Glashedy), Portstewart (Strand) and Royal Portrush (Dunluce). These are the three 'big' courses at each club (between them they have seven in all) and it includes this year's Irish Open venue, which will probably be in the best nick of its life.
There are plenty of remarkable Challenges out there (
see my earlier post for details) and this is right up there with the best of them. You can still enter your team of four (or try to stick your name down individually - there are bound to be spaces) and the event is both Singles Stableford and Team Stableford.
If you're interested, contact Ballyliffin on
074 937 6119, but entries close next week.
Accommodation
Accommodation is plentiful, from
Ballyliffin Lodge (twitter.com/Ballyliffinlodg) to
The Ramada Portrush to
The York in Portstewart, but this is just a sample from each venue. I've stayed in the latter two and found them both excellent.
Travel
For those concerned by the length of travel time from the two Northern Irish golf clubs to Ballyliffin - don't be: the
Lough Foyle Ferry from Greencastle to Magilligan is running until October 7th.
Ballyliffin (Glashedy)
The
stark beauty of Glashedy Rock combines with the roughly hewn mountains to give
Ballyliffin a raw air – one that is matched by the club’s two courses. Designed
by Pat Ruddy, Glashedy bears all of his hallmarks, namely that it is as elegant
as it is lethal. The course dives into big dunes, pops up again briefly for
stunning vistas of Donegal from the 7th tee box, and then heads back down
again. Golfers must approach greens with great care if they are to score well,
for poor shots are harshly punished here. ballyliffingolfclub.com
[Photo: Ballyliffin's par three 7th, from the highest dune]
Portstewart (Strand)
Few would argue that
Portstewart’s front nine is among the best on the island. You are thrown
straight into a landscape known as ‘God’s Own Country’, where valleys and tall
dunes help to create holes that are tantalising and picturesque. Thorny bushes
abound and only the brave, or the foolish, will attempt to retrieve balls from
them. The new clubhouse is magnificent, as are the views over the 1st tee from
its balcony. www.portstewartgc.co.uk
[Photo: Portstewart's 17th green - taken from 18th fairway]
Royal Portrush (Dunluce)
A thrilling links that
combines a worldclass reputation with some of the country’s finest holes (5 and
14 most notably). Like RCD, the Dunluce course has an air of greatness and an
aura of invincibility which will inspire you all day long. Be patient as club
selection is the key on holes where you can almost always see what lies ahead. Enjoy the wonderful moment when you step
onto the 5th tee and experience everything the course has to offer.
www.royalportrush.com
[Photo: The par three 11th at Royal Portrush, with the par four 15th behind]
And if you're already playing in it, then best of luck and enjoy.
For many golfers, Royal Portrush remains a mystical place of cascading dunes and golden grasses. The Dunluce links (and its sister Valley course alongside) was designed by the legendary Harry Colt in 1932 and this, too, gives this stretch of Co. Antrim coastline a touch of mysticism. Throw in views to Dunluce Castle and ocean rocks battered by relentless waves and it is easy to understand why this golf course is lauded around the world. It is firmly entrenched in the top echelon of Top 100 world rankings just about everywhere and it isn’t hard to see why. 
