In '96 we took the ferry from Scotland to Northern Ireland, and Ballycastle was our first stop. Pouring rain, so our 3 ball was the only players on the course. Ballycastle was very short, much less than 6000 yards as I recall, but I cannot recall having more fun during any round that trip - which included among others 36 at Prestwick, which was second on my list, Troon, Western Gailes, Turnberry, Portrush, County Down, Portmarnock, and Southerness in another driving rainstorm (only two of us played on that last day).
Uphill into the wind 310 yard par 4 was driver 3-iron (yes, I had a 3-iron in the bag back then). Next hole, back down the hill, was 3 wood, pitch. There were a bunch of small islands right offshore which were sometimes visible when the rain died a little, and then disappeared into the mist. Cool rope bridge. One long par-3, and a cool short one. It's a long time ago, but the thing I remember was that we had so much fun.
I was very upset last summer when I couldn't talk my group into a quick detour from Portrush to another round at Ballycastle (tho as it turned out Castlerock was a worthy substitute).