On the green shores of Lough Neagh, the biggest lake by area in the British Isles, sits Massereene Golf Club, formed in 1895 and proud owner of what without question is one of Northern Ireland’s best parkland courses. Legend has it that the lough was formed when the giant Finn MacCool tossed a sod of earth at a Scottish foe (the boulder became the Isle of Man). Whether you subscribe to that tall tale or not, you certainly can’t deny that Lough Neagh provides a fittingly dramatic backdrop to the challenge of this tricky course, especially on grey and windy days.
Accuracy is key to a successful round on the links at Massereene Golf Club, its narrow tree-lined fairways and compact greens ensuring that even the most experienced players will sometimes find themselves in difficulty. Nevertheless, it remains a highly popular course with all levels of golfers, with 18 holes over some 6,600 yards and a par of 72.
As you would expect from such a prestigious club, the facilities are superb. A well-stocked pro shop has everything you could possibly need for a day on the course, and you can also book lessons with the club pro, or a warm-up session on the putting green. After you’re finished, hopefully with an impressive scorecard, head to the 19th hole at the welcoming clubhouse, which has a snug bar, restaurant and lounge all of which make good use of the dazzling panoramic views over the lough.
