Northern Ireland and Donegal are famous for their traditional links courses, but golfers planning to go to the north coast to see The Open this year have a wealth of choices that won't break the bank.

Getting a tee time on the trophy links courses will be daunting this summer, but there's lots more golf to play — and stunning locations to visit — in this beautiful corner of Ireland.

A stay in The Walled City of Derry, where the Wild Atlantic Way meets the Causeway Coastal Route, is ideal as it offers a perfect city base for trips to play parkland gems such as City of Derry and Strabane, and the great Strand Links at Portstewart, a stone's throw from Royal Portrush.

The city is a vibrant mix of history, culture, and hospitality, replete with award-winning restaurants, craft breweries, and lively traditional pubs such as Peadar O'Donnell's, where you can enjoy a pint and some live traditional music as you reflect on your birdies and bogeys during the day.

The Bishops Gate Hotel in Derry, situated within the historic city walls in the heart of Derry City's Cathedral Quarter, is perfect for a couple's break.

The Grade B1-listed building is full of Edwardian architectural details. It offers valet parking, 30 luxurious guest rooms, and two suites, not to mention a residents' lounge, fitness area, the Wig and Gown restaurant, and a champagne and cocktail bar.

I stayed in a luxurious top-floor suite, which offered great views of Derry's church spires and enough room to work and relax after a hard day on the fairways before popping down for a sumptuous meal.

The hotel is right in the heart of the city, which offers a huge variety of shopping and cultural options. It is also within a short walk of the city's famous walls.

There are options galore for golfers, especially those looking for a friendly game that won't break the bank.

I could have headed for Royal Portrush itself, or to Castlerock, but the Strand Course at Portstewart, a two-time Irish Open venue, is one of the best links tests on the island of Ireland.

The front nine is spectacular and its famous first hole arguably the best in the country, offering panoramic views of the links and the strand which gives the course its name.

This area of the country has produced its share of top players, and it's little wonder that many hail from the City of Derry Golf Club, the oldest parkland course in Northern Ireland.

The club was founded in 1912 and offers scenic views over the River Foyle. The Championship Prehen Course is a great test of golf, combining testing par threes with stout par fours and fives amongst mature trees.

The par-three eighth, a 160-yard par-three known as "The Crow's Nest", offers a stunning view of the river valley and a testing tee shot to a well-protected green.

But it's just one of a series of great holes on a course that has produced amateur internationals Davy Jones, Michael McGeady and Naoimh Quigg.

It's just 25 minutes from there to Strabane Golf Club, a lovely members club on the banks of the River Mourne, close to the border with Co Donegal.

Founded in 1909, Strabane moved from Carricklee to its present location in Ballycolman in 1954.

The course was extended to 18 holes in 1975, and it's an enjoyable test for golfers of every level.

After a gentle start, the index-one third is just one of a series of testing par fours on this Eddie Hackett design. The downhill fourth features a steep slope around 230 yards off the tee, offering an exhilarating second to a green situated far below.

The par-threes are tricky but fun, and there are several memorable holes, notably the signature 328-yard ninth, which plays along the river. With water left and bushes right, it's not for the faint-hearted. But other holes make this course an enjoyable challenge.

The short par-four 15th measures just 250 yards from the yellows, which means hitting a fairway wood down the left and then pitching to a sloping green.

It's a birdie chance but disaster lurks if you miss the fairway or leave youself a speedy putt or chip from above the hole.

The club is hugely welcoming, and the service is second to none.

An overnight stay in Derry is just the ticket if you are planning on heading to Donegal the following day; you can take the Lough Foyle Ferry from Magilligan Point to Greencastle in Co Donegal and the joys of the Inishowen Peninsula.

The 15-minute service runs from April through October, and it's a trip well worth the trouble if you plan to explore the wonders of Co Donegal.

The fishing village of Greencastle, named for the Norman fort and the nearby Martello tower, is home to one of the most improved clubs in Donegal.

At just under 6,000 yards, Greencastle is a par-70 test, and while it's no brute on a calm day, it can bite quickly if the wind is blowing off Lough Foyle and the Atlantic and you fair to make a perfect strike.

The views are a joy, and the recent improvements to the course, the clubhouse, and the pro shop facilities make it an excellent course for visitors looking to enjoy the beauty of the locality and test their stills.

Great views abound, and the par-four 12th, Lighthouse. Is one of the highlights of the day as he hit from a high tee to the left to right banking fairway. Avoid the beach and you'll have good chance to find the green down by the lighthouse itself before making the trip back to the welcoming clubhouse and the par-three 18th.

There are many excellent links tests in Donegal but a stay at the Shandon Hotel and Spa in Dunfanaghy, where former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley learned the game, is a great stopping point.

Not only is it a stone's throw from the 54-hole Rosapenna resort and its links courses, it's right next door to Dunfanaghy Golf Club, where McGinley is carrying out changes to this sporting links in the shadow of Muckish Mountain.

It's another privileged location with spectacular views of Killahoey Beach, Sheephaven Bay, and the harbour of Portnablagh. The hotel has everything the weary golf traveller could need, including delicious cuisine for foodies and gym and spa facilities for those seeking to indulge in self-care.

Whether you are planning to hear northeast to Ballyliffin or west to explore the rest of the Wild Atlantic Way, you might find it tough to resist the temptation to take in the many sights along the coast and leave the clubs in the boot as you explore the delights of Derry and Donegal.