Kirkistown Castle Golf Club is a traditional links and the most easterly 18 hole golf course in Northern Ireland and on the island of Ireland. A popular links golf course in Northern Ireland, Kirkistown Castle Golf Club is situated in the village of Cloughey on the Irish Sea coast of the Ards Peninsula, County Down.

The present course layout was designed by the legendary golf course architect James Braid in 1934. Little has changed since then and few would argue that this Braid gem has not stood the test of time. The course consists of two loops of 9 holes, each beginning and ending at the clubhouse. The inner 9 is played in an anti – clockwise direction, while the outer 9 is played in a clockwise direction. This means that when the wind blows (and it usually does) you experience it from every direction during your round.

Measuring 6167 Yards, Kirkistown Castle is widely regarded as one of the best PAR69 courses you are ever likely to encounter, but do not be put off by the PAR of 69. This course is longer than some courses with a PAR of 71 and this is reflected in the SSS of 70 and a slope rating of 121. It features a number of long and strong PAR 4s and some very varied and interesting PAR 3s that make this course the fine test of golf that it has always been. Being at the seaside means that wind is usually another 'hazard' that has to be overcome.

The signature hole is the PAR 4 10th measuring 435 Yards. With out of bounds all along the left side, some subtle bunkering on the right and a small elevated green protected by gorse and links rough, this hole is reputed to be one of the most difficult PAR 4s in Irish Golf.

The golf course has a tremendous variety of holes including some elevated greens and elevated tees, making perfect use of the two small hills at either end of the course. The 12th hole, at 434 yards, links the two hills with the tee box on one and an exposed green on top of the other. The course will test every facet of your golf game so it can be enjoyed equally by low handicappers and high handicappers alike. Every day is a different challenge when you play at Kirkistown Castle, but this is one of the reasons we all love the game of golf.

The south eastern corner of the Ards Peninsula has the lowest rainfall in N.Ireland and this together with the free draining sandy base on which the course sits means that the course remains very playable all year round. Kirkistown Castle delivers a quality golfing experience throughout the winter period when most other golf clubs experience course closures or temporary greens for days and even weeks on end. Temporary greens are only ever used here on the very rare occasions when frost is on the ground.