It’s a bold claim, we know. But after playing the Strand Course at Portstewart Golf Club, we’re standing by it. The front nine here may just be the most spectacular stretch of links golf on the planet. Yes, we said it—again!
That’s not to take anything away from the back nine—it’s still an exceptional set of holes—but the front nine is packed with jaw-dropping vistas, unforgettable holes, and that classic, wild dunesland setting that makes links golf so addictive.
Inspired Madness or Absolute Genius?
The Strand Course has a storied past. First opened in 1908, it was reshaped in the 1920s by none other than Willie Park Jr. But the most remarkable transformation happened in 1986, when club member and local schoolteacher Des Giffin took on the redesign. Yes, you read that right—a teacher, not a tour pro or high-profile architect. And what he created is nothing short of genius.
The club had acquired new land, and Des’s vision brought the Strand Course into its modern glory. Every golfer who’s played it since knows just how right the club was to trust him.
Now, full disclosure—this article is a little different. We usually pick three or four holes to spotlight, but the Strand demands more. Expect deep dives on 13 (yes, thirteen!) holes. If you’re short on time, feel free to just scroll through the photos, but you’ll be missing out!
The Strand Experience
The approach to the first tee sets the tone. As you crest the path and turn toward the sea, the view opens up—the beach, the dunes, and the sparkling ocean. It’s breathtaking. From the elevated tee, you get a sweeping view of the first hole and glimpses of the eighth fairway dancing through the dunes. Pure golf magic.
Before teeing off, Ricky the starter gave us some words of wisdom—and a tempting promise: the halfway house serves the best pint of Guinness in a plastic cup in all of Ireland. More on that later…
We played from the white tees, which come in at 6,626 yards—a good challenge for most golfers. Tees range from just under 5,900 to over 7,100 yards. Par 72 across the board.
Away We Go
The first hole is intimidating. It doglegs to the right and is 417 yards. For us, it was a driver off the tee, which remarkably found the fairway, then a 6 iron into the breeze onto the putting surface. Two putts and we were off and running. Nothing could have prepared us for the sight of the 2nd tee!
The 2nd hole, Devil’s Hill
The 2nd hole is only 360 yards, but it is one of the most beautiful and scariest holes we have played. From the elevated tee, picking a club to find the sliver of fairway is a challenge in itself. If you find the fairway, your troubles aren’t over. The 2nd shot is uphill to a small green. It plays further than the yardage so take enough club to get up.
The 3rd hole
Next up, is a 205 yard par 3. It plays downhill but into the prevailing wind. For us it was a 3 hybrid which carried the front bunker but fell off the green to the right. We didn’t get up and down. You need to hit the green to make par.
View back down the 4th
The 4th is a 522 yard par 5. Finding the fairway off the tee is imperative. The dunes on either side of the fairway will swallow up any errant tee shot and making a par will be almost impossible. A tough hole but a beauty.
The 5th hole, Rifle Range
The fifth hole is statistically the hardest hole on the course. At 449 yards, it will take two good shots to find the green, which is tucked into the dunes. Miss it on either side, and you are in trouble. Another great hole.
Wonderful Short Hole
The 6th, Five Penny Piece
We would imagine the name comes from the size of the green. The hole is only 135 yards, but much like the Postage Stamp at Royal Troon, you can’t miss the green left or right, or short or long. A cracking short par 3.
Your second shot to the 7th, Strawberry Hill
The 7th is a short par 5, at only 475 yards, but it plays uphill. If you take it on in two, there is no margin for error on either side up at the green. Play it as a three-shot hole, and it’s a straightforward par if you stay out of the dunes.
Your 2nd shot to the 8th green
The 8th hole has a 90 degree turn to the left at the landing area. It plays downhill so take a club off the tee that won’t run through the fairway at 250 yards. The 2nd shot is a tester, we had a 6 iron into the breeze which found the putting surface and two putts later we walked off happy with our par.
The 9th green
The 9th hole is a short par 4 at 350 yards. A birdie chance? Only if you find the hogs back fairway. Your second shot is to a green that sits on a plateau. We took an extra club to try and get back to this pin, and we were on the green but 40 feet short. Deceptive but a delicious wee hole.
Draught Guinness at the Halfway House
A well-earned Guinness in a plastic cup
As we said earlier, there are no poor holes on this course, only less spectacular holes than the front nine. The following are our picks of the back nine.
The 11th green
The 11th hole is only 375 yards but if you miss the fairway as we did, it becomes a treacherous hole. It took our very best 5 iron from the rough, to a green we couldn’t see, to get on the back of the green. Any shot that doesn’t make it to the middle of the putting surface, is in danger of running back off and down that slope. A great short par 4.
Don’t Miss the Green!
The 15th hole
The 15th is another lovely par 3. Playing 159 yards into a right to left wind, the green is raised up, which again means that you have to find the putting surface to have the best chance of a par. We lost our shot in the wind and went long left, not the place to be.
Approach to the 17th
The 17th hole is the 2nd toughest hole on the card. At 428 yards, this hole is all about the second shot. For us, it was playing downwind, but that didn’t make it easy. The green sits up like a table top and is quite narrow in depth. We took a club based on the yardage to the front and didn’t make it, even with the wind at our backs. We managed an up and down though and made our way to the last tee.
Last but not Least
A welcome sight, the Clubhouse
As you can probably tell from the photos on the back nine, the weather had closed in, the wind had got up and a fine rain was chasing us home. The last hole was into the wind and slightly uphill. A good drive followed by a good 3 hybrid took us to the left of the green. My best chip shot of the day and a 3 foot putt meant we finished with two good pars.
Final Thoughts: A Strand to Remember
On a tour packed with marquee courses, Portstewart’s Strand Course stands out. The front nine is jaw-dropping, the back nine quietly brilliant. This course has cemented its place in our Top 10 links courses—and possibly even the Top 5.
If you’re heading to Northern Ireland, don’t think twice. Yes, it’s a premium round, but it’s worth it. This is a bucket-list experience that will stay with you forever.
Thank You’s
Thank you to everyone at Portstewart for a wonderful day. To the General Manager, David MacLaren and Jeanie in Reservations who organised our round, Alan who introduced us the Captain Stephen and Vice-Captain Niall, and to Ricky the Starter, who recommended the halfway house Guinness. We look forward to returning to Portstewart Golf Club in June 2025.
At a Glance:
- Irish Open Venue
- 54 holes over 3 courses, the Strand, the Old Course and the Riverside
- Practice area with short game facilities
- Outstanding Pro Shop
- Lovely Clubhouse with views over the courses
- Welcoming Members and Staff
- Beautiful beach just down from the Clubhouse
- 75 minutes north of Belfast City Centre
Jim Callaghan CCM is a former Club Manager with experience overseeing several top Scottish Golf Clubs.
Now, as European Editor of Golf Operator Magazine and World’s Best Golf Destinations, he shares insights into club operations and his golfing adventures across Europe.
Jim is also an Ambassador for premium clothing brand Fenix Xcell Clothing and also for the Spanish local DMC, Costa Verde Golf.
If your club/resort or brand wants to reach over 400,000 golfers, contact Jim at [email protected] or call 0044 (0) 78522 88732.
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