A Brand New Links Course Is Coming To Northern Ireland

Galgorm Collection unveils plans to create Northern Ireland’s first championship links golf course in over 100 years in £30m investment

Galgorm Collection is planning to create Northern Ireland’s first championship links golf course in over 100 years

(Image credit: Harry Cook)

published 18 July 2025

The eyes of the golfing world are on Royal Portrush and the 153rd Open Championship this week, and there has been more good news for Northern Ireland today with plans being released for a stunning new championship links course.

The country's premier luxury hospitality group, Galgorm Collection, has revealed plans to invest more than £30 million on a new layout at Bellarena on the north west coast, located between Portrush and Limavady, around 30 minutes’ drive from the City of Derry.

Bellarena Golf Links, which is scheduled to open in 2029, will be the first championship links course in Northern Ireland in over 100 years.

Bellarena - derived from the French word for 'beautiful' and Latin for 'sand' - is a small town on the coastal road between Limavady and Coleraine within the Causeway Coast and Glens District Council area.

Galgorm Collection owns and runs Galgorm Castle in Ballymena and Roe Valley in Limavady, and its latest course will bring its total investment in the area to approximately £65 million.

The company said the new course would create an additional 300 jobs, and help cement the region’s reputation as a world class golfing destination.

"With a rich heritage and stunning views, Northern Ireland is a highly sought-after destination for golfers from across the globe and our golf strategy focuses on maximising our strengths to continue to grow this crucially important part of our tourism offer," said Ellvena Graham OBE, Tourism Northern Ireland Board Chair.

Northern Ireland is already home to a collection of the world's very best golf courses, including Royal County Down and Royal Portrush, which is currently hosting The Open for the third time.

Subject to planning approval, Galgorm Collection, which is also developing plans for a new championship links golf course in Glenariffe in the Glens of Antrim, said development of Bellarena Golf Links will start next year.

Last week, it was announced that Scotland's newest links golf course, Old Petty, which sits alongside four-time Scottish Open host venue, Castle Stuart, would be opening for preview play from August 1, 2025.

Michael has been with Golf Monthly since 2008. A multimedia journalist, he has also worked for The Football Association, where he created content to support the England football team, The FA Cup, London 2012, and FA Women's Super League. As content editor at Foremost Golf, Michael worked closely with golf's biggest equipment manufacturers and has developed an in-depth knowledge of this side of the industry. He's a regular contributor, covering instruction, equipment, travel and feature content. Michael has interviewed many of the game's biggest stars, including seven World No.1s, and has attended and reported on numerous Major Championships and Ryder Cups around the world. He's a member of Formby Golf Club in Merseyside, UK.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.