Galgorm Launches Landmark Bellarena Golf Development. In a landmark move for Northern Ireland’s golfing landscape, luxury hospitality group Galgorm Collection has announced plans to invest over £30 million to develop a new championship 18-hole links course at Bellarena, located between Portrush and Limavady along the scenic Causeway Coast.
If approved, Bellarena Golf Links will be the first new championship links course built in Northern Ireland in more than 100 years. The site is ideally situated just 30 minutes from Derry and its regional airport, positioning it as a highly accessible destination for international golf tourism.
The development forms part of Galgorm’s wider regional investment strategy, which includes last year’s acquisition of Roe Park Resort in Limavady and the Galgorm Castle Estate in Ballymena, contributing to a total investment in Northern Ireland’s northwest of approximately £65 million. The group is also injecting a further £22 million into the transformation of the newly renamed Roe Valley Resort, including its own 18-hole course.
Colin Johnston, Managing Director of Galgorm Collection, described the Bellarena project as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to elevate Northern Ireland’s global reputation in golf and tourism.
“Preparatory work is already well underway, paving the way for development to begin as early as next year,” Johnston said. “Pending planning approval, we aim to welcome our first guests in 2029. This project will create 300 new jobs and act as a powerful catalyst for sustainable tourism in the region.”
The announcement comes as golf tourism continues to surge. A 2023 study revealed that the sector’s value has grown by nearly 66% since The 148th Open at Royal Portrush in 2019, with visiting golfers spending an average of nine days in Northern Ireland and playing five rounds across different courses.
Northern Ireland’s Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald welcomed the news, noting that golf tourism generated a record £86 million for the region last year. With The Open Championship returning to Royal Portrush this month, the timing of Galgorm’s announcement is set to further elevate the region’s international profile.
The Galgorm Collection’s portfolio includes the flagship Galgorm Resort near Ballymena, The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat, The Old Inn, and Belfast-based restaurants Fratelli and Parisien. The addition of Bellarena Golf Links marks a bold expansion of the group’s golf and hospitality ambitions—positioning Northern Ireland as a world-class golfing destination for decades to come.
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