sports down

Tollymore Mountain Centre offers courses in mountain walking, rock climbing, canoeing, orienteering and a variety of other related activities. Courses are for individuals to attend and are for both adults and young people. Phone for a full programme....

Without doubt the jewel in our crown is the Royal Co. Down, one of the world's best courses. Indeed, it is virtually impossible to say anything new about these famous links. Its virtues have been extolled in every golf playing country in the world. Not least among the aesthetic glories of Newcastle is the remoteness, the feeling enjoyed by golfers that they are the only people on earth.

It is common for golfers never to find equivalent challenge after playing this course. Many of...

When you join a club, most will have coaches from whom you can take lessons. Even if you have a basic knowledge of the game, and have played before, it's advisable to take a few lessons from the club coach. Even the professionals need coaching!...

When you join a club, most will have coaches from whom you can take lessons. Even if you have a basic knowledge of the game, and have played before, it's advisable to take a few lessons from the club coach. Even the professionals need coaching!...

The course has recently been extended to eighteen holes, including the dogleg 'pond' hole - the 6th. The redesigned par 5 14th requires a tricky shot over a ravine. The par 3 10th is also tough: 201 metres, with the green very close to the boundary hedge. The course is located one mile from the town centre on Huntly Road....

18 Holes. A parkland course which is regarded as one of the finest par 3 courses in Northern Ireland....

Although Downpatrick is an inland course it has many of the characteristics of links golf - fast greens, tricky undulations and quite often a testing breeze. In many ways it is an ideal course for the amateur golfer to play; it is short enough to be enjoyable but great accuracy and a silky touch are required for good scoring.

Holes to watch out for are the 5th, 7th, 13th and 14th, all classic par 4s which require long straight hitting. Incidentally the view from the 5th fairway is...