Gracehill Golf Club

Gracehill Golf Club sits just outside Ballymoney in the Causeway Coast and Glens, a proper links-style course that punches well above its weight. The layout demands respect - it's tighter than you'd expect from the scorecard, with genuine hazards rather than cosmetic bunkering, and the greens hold their shape even when conditions turn damp.

You'll need to ring ahead to book; it's not a walk-up affair. Eighteen holes will take you a solid four hours, longer if the wind picks up off the coast, which it often does. The staff are friendly enough, and green fees sit at a reasonable level for the region. It's a course for golfers who actually want to play golf rather than take endless photos - minimal frills, maximum substance.

Families without keen golfers won't find much here, but anyone spending a long weekend in the area should work it in. The location is brilliant for combining with a glamping break - you're just under a mile from Thornfield Farm Luxury Glamping Pods by Dark Hedges, or about three miles from North Coast 9 Glamping if you prefer something different. Play early morning, grab lunch in Ballymoney, then explore the nearby coastal attractions. That's a proper day sorted.

Worth the detour if you're staying locally. Don't bother driving from Belfast specially unless you're a serious club golfer.