TIGER TO DESIGN FIRST NORTHERN IRELAND LINKS IN 100 YEARS
An aerial view of the Bellarena site on the northwest coast where the first links course in Northern Ireland in 100 years will be built. (Photo: Harry Cook)
By Paul Gallagher
Tiger Woods will be named the course designer of the first new links course in Northern Ireland to be built at Bellarena on the northwest coast with the 15 times Major winner’s role to be officially rubberstamped in the coming days.
To secure the services of Woods illustrates the ambitions of the £30 million project, a landmark move that will alter the playing landscape of world class golf in Northern Ireland. News of a new course at Bellarena was announced in July last year by Galgorm Collection and their respective investment partners.
Galgorm Collection has ambition plans for the Bellarena development situated between Portrush and Limavady, where the group owns and operates the nearby Roe Valley Resort in Limavady and is less than one hour from their signature Galgorm Resort in Ballymena.
Woods’ involvement emerged in Coleraine Now after a local councillor informed the newspaper they “received a briefing that confirmed Tiger Woods has been signed to design the course at Bellarena”.
Bellarena will bring Galgorm Collection’s investment in the region to over £60 million after the acquisition and ongoing development of Roe Valley Resort in the last two years with the prospect of creating 300 new jobs across the projects.
Woods is a massive draw and will undoubtedly raise awareness around the world and especially in the United States. It will be the former world number one’s first design project in Ireland with the 50-year-old responsible for the design and layout of a world class 18-hole links course with ambitions to complement the likes of established Northern Ireland venues such as Royal County Down and Royal Portrush.
The Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) was submitted in August with the inclusion of a new clubhouse, restaurant, practice facilities, range, short game and putting area plus accommodation by way of lodges all planned.
Golf in Northern Ireland is riding on the crest of a wave, especially on the back of The Open that returned to Royal Portrush in 2025 (Scottie Scheffler won) after Shane Lowry won when played at the same venue in 2019. Such high profile events generate millions to the local economy.
Demand to play the ‘trophy’ courses in Northern Ireland has never been greater and securing tee times at the top links courses is reaching saturation point. A new world class links venue for the first time in 100 years with the name Tiger Woods attached will go some way to satisfying tee time demand from overseas golfers.
News of Bellarena comes just days after Royal County Down Golf Club (RCD) in Newcastle submitted plans for a “significant upgrade” to the Championship Links with work planned for nine of the 18 holes and two further hole upgrades on the Annesley Links.
Royal County Down is recognised as the number one course in the world and the upgrade work has been in conjunction with Mackenzie and Ebert, who work with many Open venues, including Royal Portrush.
Mackenzie and Ebert’s involvement has led to speculation that The Open could be considered an option for RCD. However, that remains to be seen given the considerable infrastructure demands that come with an Open Championship.
The last stress test for tournament golf at RCD came with the 2024 Amgen Irish Open where Rasmus Højgaard denied home favourite Rory McIlroy. Tournament week attracted just over 70,000 spectators whereas an Open Championship would expect to attract up to four times that number over the week.