Royal Portrush Golf Club

Regarded as one of the best championship tests in the world, Royal Portrush certainly possesses one of the most dramatic dunescapes of any Open-rota venue. Set on the northern coast of Ireland, the Dunluce Links is a prime example of Harry Colt’s architecture. Colt was tasked with redesigning the original Old Tom Morris golf course in 1923 but didn’t begin construction until 1929. This was a late point in Harry Colt’s career, which included over 300 course designs, so he brought exceptional experience to the project. In 1941, less than 20 years after opening the new course, Portrush hosted the first Open outside of Great Britain. It would then take nearly 70 years for the oldest major championship to return to Northern Ireland, but the wait was worth it: Irishman Shane Lowry captured the Claret Jug on the Dunluce Links in 2019.

Prior to the 2019 Open Championship, the Dunluce Links underwent its first major alteration since Harry Colt’s redesign in the 1930s. The firm Mackenzie & Ebert replaced the original 17th and 18th holes with the new par-5 seventh and par-4 eighth, which borrowed land from the Valley Course. (The new seventh green has been rebuilt four-plus times since its opening in 2017.) In addition, the second, third, and 10th greens were rebuilt, and several new tee and bunkers were added. Makenzie & Ebert have continued to make more minor alterations in preparation for the 2025 Open Championship.

The Dunluce Links stands out among most Irish and Scottish links courses for its elaborate green designs and enormous dunes. Many old links courses are “found” rather than built, with flat sections among dunes selected for green sites. This is why many links courses have relatively simple greens. Portrush, however, was constructed late in the Golden Age of golf architecture. Colt had advanced skill in green building, and he implemented more dynamic and intricate green designs. The site itself has both towering dunes and wonderful medium-sized contours, perfectly scaled for golf. Despite its coastal location, many of Portrush’s ocean views are blocked by a prominent, nearly 100-foot tall dune ridge that separates the course from the beach. The combination of exquisite greens, incredibly dramatic landforms, and a quality routing makes Royal Portrush’s Dunluce Links one of the very best golf courses in the entire world. 

Take Note...

Dunluce. On the fifth green, players can look up the coastline to the east and spot the historic Dunluce Castle atop the seaside cliffs. This castle has stood since the 1300s, and the course was named after the castle in 1933, when the new Harry Colt design opened. The Giant’s Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge are a few other tourist attractions in the area that are worth a stop.

Royalty. Once known as the County Golf Club, Portrush received royal appointment in 1892 from The Duke of York. The Royal County Club was then renamed three years later to Royal Portrush Golf Club under the patronage of the Prince of Wales. Over 100 years later, Queen Elizabeth II visited Royal Portrush — her first official visit to any golf club.

‍Harbour Bar. This is the best-known pub in town and Darren Clarke’s regular spot. The tiny, “Best Guinness in Ireland” bar is covered floor-to-ceiling in epic golf memorabilia, including a 2012 Ryder Cup player trophy. Be sure to drop by and order a fresh Guinness from local legend “Bomber.”

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