Before Shane Lowry’s triumphant Open Championship victory at Royal Portrush in 2019, many outside Ireland knew little about this stunning links course. Though it had previously hosted The Open in 1951, that was long before most of us were born. Watching the 2019 tournament, we witnessed the wild Atlantic weather, the punishing challenge of the course, and the passionate Irish crowd willing Lowry to victory.
That championship left a lasting impression on the R&A, as Royal Portrush is set to host The Open again this July, after just a six-year gap. A true testament to the course, the people of Portrush, and the golfing passion of Ireland.
A Storied Past
Royal Portrush Golf Club was founded in 1888 as The County Club and received its Royal status in 1892 under the patronage of HRH The Duke of York. The club was renamed Royal Portrush in 1895, with HRH The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) as patron.
The Dunluce Links, the club’s championship course, owes much of its modern layout to the legendary architect Harry Colt, who redesigned it in 1929. More recently, in preparation for the 2019 Open, Martin Ebert oversaw significant changes, including the creation of two new holes—now the 7th and 8th—integrated from the club’s Valley course.
The Dunluce Links Experience
After a quick warm-up on the practice range and a few putts on the pristine practice green, we were ready to take on this legendary course. Teeing off alongside Phil from London and Ali and Madoda from South Africa, we opted for the white tees at 6,705 yards. With a strong 15 mph wind blowing, in hindsight, the shorter tees might have been the wiser choice!
Hughies
The first hole, Hughies, is a 382-yard par 4. With the wind blowing left to right across us, we didn’t manage to hold the fairway. The second shot is uphill to a hidden green; all you see is the flag. The rough was lush and deep; we hacked it out into the bunker on the left, short of the green, so it was no surprise that we started with a bogey. Army golf at its best!
Islay
The 3rd hole, Islay (pronounced eye-la), is a 145-yard devil of a hole. There is trouble left and right of the green. The wind was into and out our left, and it took a well-struck 6 iron to finish pin high and right of the putting surface. The runoff slopes on either side of the green will not stop your ball, then it is deep rough. It was another easy bogey!
Tough Stretch
Fred Daly’s
The 4th hole, Fred Daly’s, plays from right to left. At 455 yards, it was another hole that caused us difficulty as the wind was out the left. Holding the fairway and avoiding the out-of-bounds proved difficult for some. It doesn’t look too bad in the photo, but there are four deep bunkers on the left side of the fairway, so it narrows your landing area. Our 3 wood off the tee proved a wise choice, although it left us over 200 yards out. Our 3 hybrid second took a big bounce, and we finished on the back edge of the green. Two putts gave us a welcome par.
White Rocks
The 5th hole, White Rocks, is a wonderful 382-yard dogleg par 4. If you look closely, you can see a white mark on an embankment in the left centre of the photo. That’s the line, and you won’t see it land. Playing into the wind, it will take two excellent shots to reach the green, which sits on the horizon. Once there, you get a great view of White Rocks beach. The view certainly took our minds off the four shots and a lost ball, it took us to reach the green…Avoid the rough on this hole at all costs!
Avoid the massive bunker
The 7th hole, Curran Point, is an outstanding par 5 of 552 yards. The first challenge is to avoid the enormous bunker up the right. It doesn’t look that big in this photo, but it’s bigger than most greens, and the face is at least 15 feet high. One of our players pitched his drive into the face. We saw it go in, but there was no sign of it. We had to rake around, and he eventually found his ball. Not allowed in the rules, you understand, but a Pro V is a Pro V. You have been warned! If you avoid the bunker, play it as a 3-shot hole and try to make a par.
We told you the bunker was big!
A Graveyard for Golf Balls
If we thought the front nine was tough, the holes on the back nine were tighter and more difficult, for all of our group anyway. The back nine was a graveyard for golf balls. We lost four golf balls, and as a group, it was certainly over a dozen. The rough just off the fairway is penal.
Dhu Varren
The 12th hole, Dhu Varren, is a great example of how tight the holes on the back nine are. A 500-yard par 5, the further you hit it off the tee, the tighter it gets. The bunkers cut into the fairway, and there is hay on either side. Our advice: Pick a club to reach the fairway short of the bunkers, then 2 iron shots will get you safely onto the green. Hindsight is wonderful, isn’t it?
Respite
Feather Bed
The 13th hole, Feather Bed, offers some respite from trying to hit narrow fairways. It plays 165 yards and is downhill to the green. It was into the wind for us, and it took a well-struck 5 iron to get on the front. As the name suggests, it was a much more relaxing hole to play.
Skerries
The 15th hole, Skerries, is “only” 370 yards; however the is a large sandy waste area on your left and three bunkers up the right of the fairway. Avoid those, and you are left with a medium iron into a small green with bunkers on the left and a runoff slope on the right. Miss this green right at your peril…
The World-Famous Calamity Corner
Calamity Corner
Since the 2019 Open, the 16th hole, Calamity Corner, has become world famous. There is no bailout, so if you can’t carry the ball 190 yards in the air, choose another tee on this hole. It was playing 202 yards in a right-to-left wind, with the pin in the centre of the green. We ignored the pin and took a 3 hybrid, which finished just off the green on the left. Two putts, and we walked off with an easy par. Don’t see what all the fuss is about… The pros play it from a tee about 30 yards further back!
Purgatory
The 17th hole, Purgatory, is a 360-yard downhill par 4. An easy hole, you might think? Maybe the name will give you a clue. The fairway is narrow, and as you can see from the photo, anything landing on the left side will kick further left into the rough or the bunker. Three of the four in our group lost a ball on this hole. The one that didn’t almost drove the green! An old-fashioned risk-and-reward hole if you take a driver. Our advice is to play to the top of the hill where the landing area is the widest. The second shot will be longer, but at least you won’t lose a ball like we did.
Our Bucket List Summary
The Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush is as tough and challenging as any Open Championship venue. It says a lot that we found Carnoustie easier to play!. That’s not to say it is not an enjoyable challenge. In fact, we have never enjoyed losing 5 golf balls in one round so much.
It is the ultimate test of ball striking and controlling your ball in the wind. Our group, all single-figure golfers, failed miserably in that respect, and we reckon we lost over 20 balls as a group. However, in the bar afterwards, we all agreed that we would love to take on the challenge again now that we have seen what not to do.
We look forward to watching The Open on television this summer to see how the professionals fare. Hopefully, the wind will be up at some point during the championship, although I don’t think the pros will lose as many balls as we did.
At a Glance:
- Open Championship venue – Hosting again in 2025
- 36 holes – The Dunluce Links and The Valley Course
- Traditional clubhouse – Steeped in golf history
- Full-size practice area – Plus an excellent short-game zone
- Outstanding pro shop – Stocked with top branded gear
- Convenient location – Just over an hour’s drive from Belfast City Centre
- Website – Royal Portrush Golf Club
Beyond the golf, Royal Portrush is situated on the stunning Causeway Coast, home to the Giant’s Causeway, Dunluce Castle, and the world-famous Bushmills Distillery. A visit here is more than just about golf—it’s an unforgettable experience.
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
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