Kevin Markham's book Hooked: An Amateur's Guide to the Golf Courses of Ireland reviews the course as follows:
"Donaghadee Established 1899"
"STRAIGHT AND TRUE"
"Donaghadee overlooks the sea. The views are interrupted briefly by a line of houses, but the course rises and fall so you see plenty, including the Scottish coast."
"The course is an interesting mix that combines parkland, heathland, and links but there is not one flat hole out there. For the most part it is open and exposed - almost bare - but the sparse trees that dot the early links-like fairways are countered by bigger trees inland and on the separate, up-and-down 5th to 8th. Add in the gorse (the par 3 9th especially) and the mix is complete. Several seriously high tee boxes hit down onto fairways, and three greens are at the top of long, sharp rises. Holes 2 and 12 combine both for some roller-coaster drama, and a deep ditch/stream runs across these and other holes, threatening tees shots whether you're long or short."
"The course is mown throughout, so there's lots of room to play and almost every flag is on view. Off the tee, the stream and bunkers present the biggest problems. The green complexes are a different matter; the bunkering is excellent, well shaped and tough. It is often tucked under the putting surface, pinching the entrance. Greens are smallish, smooth and have little rises into them, which can take a short ball and playfully toss it in a bunker - so be aggressive or play bump-and-run brilliantly. It's not a long course, so you can go for your shots."
"Some more creative tree planting would enhance the character and colour - just look at the trees on the 16th. The clubhouse has serious entertainment programme so enjoy."