Emerald Isles' little gems

Now stripe it!: Fairway at Portstewart's first hole from the elevated tee

Though Portstewart has lived in the shadow of its more illustrious neighbour, Royal Portrush, on Northern Ireland's Atlantic coast, it's favoured by the thousands who visit it every year for its unique links experience.

It not only boasts 54 holes - 18 more than the 1948 Open venue - it offers breathtaking views across to Donegal and the Bann River estuary, tee shots that sweep down into dune-flanked valleys and greens that are both perfect and terrifying.

It's worth playing the course for the experience of the opening tee shot on the Strand course alone, where an inevitable freshening breeze offshore flaps at your trousers and threatens to balloon your ball on to the beach.

The feeling of seeing it soaring above the dunes and landing on the closely mown fairway far below makes you appreciate why millions play this game.

Scary: Par-3s at Portstewart are tough

But be warned, there are some climbs upto both tees and greens to set the heart rate racing so a powered trolley is a definite advantage.

It's very much a driving course with several blind shots over dunes with some excellent par-3s. And the par-4s, which run down close to estuary and river, are sublime especially when played in the early evening light.

The Strand's also got a cracking finish with real testing par-4s at 16, 17, with a green perched on a hill and an 18th that's long treacherous.

The Riverside course is a par 68 which was extended with nine holes to a full 18 in 2004 following the purchase of some additional land. At 5,725 yards with extensive bunkers and a spectacular water feature, it offers a worthy alternative to the Strand running down to the river.

The Old course is a par 64, along the rocky shore east of Portstewart where the club was founded in 1894. It ends at the site of the original course, where golf was first played as far back as 1889. Only 4,730 yards in length, it's a fun course with breathtaking panoramic views of the coastline.

Spectacular: The famous par-3 12th at Ardglass

Like Portstewart, the first five holes are fantastic with an opening drive to match. It's not a long hole but that not to say it's easy, especially with the sea encroaching on your left.

The par-3 second is many people's favourite with the tee shot fired across a rocky inlet. At only 160 yards it may look simple on paper but nerves play a vital part in shot selection.

Equally tough is the par-3 Island hole while the 11th is a great par-5 and downhill par-3 12th equalling intimidating into the wind.

With generous fairways and smooth, true greens Ardglass is wonderfully user friendly and, like Portstewart's Strand has top quality finishing holes - the last with a backdrop of medieval stonework in its clubhouse, once a 14th century warehouse for imported wines and silks.

Both Portstewart and Ardglass come highly recommended as must play courses on your next visit to Ulster.