Royal Portrush Golf Club

About Royal Portrush

The golf course at Royal Portrush follows to stunning effect the natural contours and dunes of the links land it is built on. When Harry Colt designed the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush, it was said that he “has thereby built himself a monument more enduring than brass”.

Play Royal Portrush to experience one of the most challenging links golf courses in the world, comprising the Dunluce Links and sister course the Valley Links. It remains the only Irish club to host The Open Championship. In fact, the Irish Open Amateur Championship was inaugurated here, way back in 1892, as was the Irish Professional Championship in 1907.

Play here and you follow in the footsteps of the greats: Gary Player himself, the remarkable Arnold Palmer, Ernie Els. Darren Clarke, Larry Mize and Phil Mickelson.

A Brief History

• In 1888 the club was first formed, a relatively simple nine hole course
• 1892 saw Royal Portrush renamed as The Royal County Club
• The club arrived at its current name in 1895, patronised by the man who later became King Edward VII
• It has welcomed three Amateur Championships, nine British Ladies' Amateur Championships, six Senior British Opens, four Irish Opens and the only two occasions The Open Championship has ever been staged outside of the British Isles.

Featured hole – Hole 5

The magnificent Dunluce links at Portrush challenges for the title of most dramatic par four in the world, the monster 411 yard-long 5th. It's a treacherous dogleg hole that you need to play from an elevated tee facing the ocean, demanding a daring shot across an unnervingly wide chunk of rough. Take a too-long approach and you'll lose your ball on White Rocks beach. The par-3 14th hole also delivers significant challenges in the shape of a gaping chasm between the tee and green, which means you'll only make a three if you pull off a truly fantastic shot.

Known For: Its Stunning Golfing Architecture

Royal Portrush tee time is in popular demand as can be expected from a course recently voted 12th in the world by Golf Magazine. It’s a real masterpiece of golf course architecture. The rough is awesome, the greens are endlessly testing and the merciless Atlantic Ocean makes itself felt every step of the way. For all of that we must give thanks to Harry Colt, who carved a masterpiece from the beautiful natural contours of the links land, creating just under 7200 yards of supreme golfing pleasure.