Click a stop for the dates, the drive, and the tee times. Dublin up to Portrush on the Causeway Coast, east to Newcastle for RCD, then west across to Derry for the Donegal leg.
Yardage, rankings, signature holes, strategy notes — everything on every course.
Five seeding rounds determine the playoff draft. Six teams form by snake draft. Top two seeds get a bye, bottom four play their way through.
Four of the five seeding rounds are match play — each awards 4 points:
· 1 point for winning the front nine
· 1 point for winning the back nine
· 2 points for the overall match
The Bann 4-man scramble is scored by group finish — 3 points to the winning group, 1.5 points to second.
Players are seeded 1–12 based on points earned across the five seeding rounds. The #1 seed picks first, then snake order through pick six until six two-man teams are set.
You can pick anyone available — including the next-highest seed. #1 seed can take #2 if he wants.
Head to the hotel, drop bags, get cleaned up.
Stretch the legs, grab lunch, take in the city before heading out to the course.
Cab or Uber from the hotel — about 25 minutes north to Donabate.
Three groups: 2:30 · 2:40 · 2:50. Warm-up round, easy pace.
Walk around, find dinner, hit a pub — or crash early for tomorrow's early departure to Portrush.
Stopping about an hour in for food, coffee, and a shit.
We're checking in, but rooms likely won't be ready yet. Staff will move bags up to rooms once they're available.
Short drive over to the course.
Three groups: 11:36 · 11:45 · 11:54. Lunch at the clubhouse after the round.
Heads up: We lose the bus once we arrive at Portstewart for the rest of the day (driver rest rules). Make sure you have everything you need for the evening before we get off.
Three groups: 3:40 · 3:50 · 4:00. Sausage roll and a Guinness comped at the halfway house — driving range renovation is overlapping our visit.
Quick showers, then head out to dinner.
Pubs after.
Morning sightseeing along the coast before the afternoon round.
Eat at the clubhouse before the round. Plenty of time to warm up after.
3:48 – 4:12 tee window. The big one.
Quick showers, then food and pubs in town.
Check out of Curran Gate, load up, head south.
Classic Belfast pub lunch. Roast beef and a pint.
Free afternoon — Titanic Quarter, the murals, Cathedral Quarter, whatever you're up for.
~1 hour drive down to the Mournes.
Right in town, walking distance from the Donard.
Complimentary continental in the hotel, the cooked breakfast (small upcharge), or Railway Coffee nearby — supposed to be excellent.
3 minute drive or a 9 minute walk from the hotel. Bus can take you whenever you're ready in that window.
Three groups: 10:00 · 10:10 · 10:20.
Between rounds. Eat well — there's a long afternoon ahead.
Three groups: 2:13 · 2:26 · 2:39.
Likely one of the best meals of the trip.
Last morning at the Donard.
Load bags — we're not coming back to the Donard.
Three groups: 11:00 · 11:10 · 11:20.
Stopping along the way for a snack.
We're switching to a new bus in the morning, so all golf clubs and luggage have to come off tonight.
Restaurant TBD.
Roll out of the townhouse, grab a seat. Coffee + food about an hour in.
Three groups: 9:30 · 9:40 · 9:50.
Entrée and a beer included with the round.
About 45 minutes up the Donegal coast.
Three groups: 4:30 · 4:40 · 4:50.
Hitting somewhere along the route for dinner.
Long day. Last night-before-golf of the trip.
About an hour out to Downings.
Eat at the clubhouse, hit the range, settle in.
Three groups: 10:45 · 11:00 · 11:15. Final round of the trip.
Need to be loaded and rolling by 4:15 sharp.
Restaurant TBD.
One stop along the way. ~3 hour drive.
Unload clubs and luggage, head to your gate.
Courses in N Ireland are much more spread out compared to Scotland. We rented a mini bus + driver for the week to make things easy.
Spacious, room to spread out
USB at every seat
Alcohol Allowed
Cards/Work
EU regulations cap our driver's working hours and require mandatory rest breaks. A handful of departures this week — mostly the early mornings — have to leave on time to stay inside the law. Be on the bus when those windows come up.