Golf legend Tiger Woods is reportedly set to design a new championship links course at Bellarena in Northern Ireland, marking his very first course architecture commission in Europe. Local council briefings have confirmed the agreement, though the developing hospitality group has indicated a formal announcement regarding the lead designer will be made at a later date.
The ambitious project carries an estimated price tag of £30 million (approximately $40 million) and is provisionally titled Last Man’s Club, referencing the World War Two U.S. Army camp that historically occupied the site. Developers are targeting a grand opening by 2029, pending standard planning permissions and local regulatory approvals.
- First European Design: This represents the inaugural European course commission for Tiger Woods’ design firm.
- Historic Location: The development would be the first new links layout constructed in Northern Ireland in over a century.
- Investment Scale: The £30 million project forms part of a broader £65 million regional investment by the hospitality group.
- Job Creation: Officials estimate the championship links development will generate around 300 new local jobs.
Project Scope and Location Details
Situated on agricultural land and woodland west of Bellarena House, the proposed course will stretch along Lough Foyle and cross the Coleraine to Londonderry railway line. A formal Proposal of Application Notice was submitted back in August, initiating the bureaucratic process. The current master plan details an 18-hole championship links course, a modern clubhouse featuring a bar and restaurant, extensive practice facilities, a dedicated short course, a driving range, and eight exclusive golf lodges.
Portfolio Expansion and What Comes Next
The design firm established by Woods in 2006 has previously built notable courses such as Bluejack National in Texas, El Cardonal at Diamante in Mexico, Payne’s Valley in Missouri, and The Hay at Pebble Beach in California. Undertaking a traditional links layout in Northern Ireland presents a distinct challenge, bringing the firm closer in character to the historic Open Championship venues where Woods secured multiple major victories during his playing career. While developers have not yet released the definitive timeline for the official launch event, local councillor briefings suggest that a public confirmation is imminent as planning stages progress.
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