Northern Ireland’s north west coast is set to become home to the island’s newest championship links golf course as part of a major £30 million investment by leading luxury hospitality group, Galgorm Collection.

It will be the first to be built in Northern Ireland in over 100 years.

Unveiled today, the ambitious Bellarena Golf Links project promises to transform a stretch of the scenic Causeway Coast near Limavady into a world-class golfing destination.

Located between Portrush and Limavady, the planned 18-hole course will be nestled within the Causeway Coast and Glens area, just 30 minutes from Derry and its adjacent airport.

Subject to planning approval, construction is set to begin in 2026 with the course welcoming its first players in 2029.

The development will bring Galgorm Collection’s total investment in Northern Ireland’s north west to around £65 million, adding 300 jobs to a growing tourism sector that generated a record £86 million last year.

Colin Johnston, Managing Director of Galgorm Collection, described the plans as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to drive a new era of golfing and tourism success” that will build on the group’s “award-winning credentials” and boost the local economy.

Preparatory work is already underway on the Bellarena site – a name derived from the French word for “beautiful” and Latin for “sand” – which lies on the main rail line between Belfast and Derry and is known for its dramatic coastal setting.

The announcement was warmly welcomed by political and tourism leaders. East Derry MP Gregory Campbell called the investment “a major economic boost” and said it would ensure the benefits of tourism “are more widely spread, supporting local growth and prosperity.”

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald praised Galgorm’s “confidence and ambition” in contributing to a sector that has seen rapid growth since Royal Portrush first hosted The Open in 2019. “Golf tourism generated a record £86 million for the region last year,” she said, “and this month’s Open at Royal Portrush will help to increase this impact even further.”

Tourism Northern Ireland Board Chair Ellvena Graham OBE said Galgorm’s track record and continued investment reaffirm the region’s “position as a highly sought-after destination for golfers from across the globe.”

This latest project comes on the heels of Galgorm’s acquisition of Roe Park Resort in Limavady and Galgorm Castle Estate in Ballymena – part of a landmark £50 million expansion in 2023 – and a further £22 million investment currently being made into the newly named Roe Valley Resort.

Galgorm Collection has also confirmed that it is exploring a separate championship links course development in Glenariffe in the Glens of Antrim, further reinforcing its strategic commitment to golf tourism in Northern Ireland.

 

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