Lisfannon,
Fahan, Co. Donegal F93W 0VC
Office
+353 074 936 1027Pro shop
+353 074 936 1715Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Brian McElhinney (PGA Golf Professional).The Course:
18 holes. Seaside links. Relatively flat terrain - easy to walk.
Surroundings:
Coastal duneland alongside Lough Swilly.
Designer:
Original design by Charles Thompson (golf professional at Portrush GC).
55.112322
-7.466918
3 km S of Buncrana / 20 km NW of Derry (Londonderry).
North West Golf Club is home to a thoroughly enjoyable and unpretentious links golf course, the six opening holes of which are played directly alongside scenic Lough Swilly. Here, a few kilometres south of Buncrana, you'll find a well presented course that gently meanders across a landscape of low level dunes. Quite a contrast to the towering sand hills and hellacious bunkering of the likes of Ballyliffin, Rosapenna or Portsalon ( ... which are all within an hour's drive).
North West is a more restrained links course, where the dunes, bunkers and rippling fairways are less exuberant in scale, but still provide the backdrop for an absorbing round. As you set off by the side of Lough Swilly, you'll enjoy an outer front-nine loop that wraps around the inner back-nine. On the estuary, the Buncrana-Rathmullan car ferry chugs along, setting an easy-going tempo for a relaxed golf swing. Beyond the Lough lie attractive hills and mountains.
Although less dramatic and more compact that its more renowned peers, the generally good-width fairways are well-separated by bands of not overly penal rough, a scattering of gorse bushes, and occasional water hazards. The east side of the course, versus the Lough side, runs next to a reasonably busy local road, but not one that will disturb your enjoyment of the course.
Pick of the holes: if you think the par-3 8th (Piffler) is short (and interestingly, played back over the 9th tee; as the 9th is played back over the 8th tees!), then wait for the par-3 16th (Fairy). This smidge of a hole is ringed by four pot bunkers, water is in play front and right, and slick run-off areas also add to this wee-demon's 93-yard challenge.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance.
Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2023].
Players generally walk this course. Golf carts available for hire.
Limited
North West Golf Club dates back to 1891, when it was one of the founding members of the Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI). Measuring over 6300 yards, the links nestles under the so called “Mouldy Mountains” on the shores of Lough Swilly.
Ireland's 71st best course (Golf World, 2025).
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Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
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Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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