Royal Portrush Golf Club — Dunluce Links Golf Course

— About

About Royal Portrush Golf Club — Dunluce Links Golf Course

Royal Portrush Golf Club's Dunluce Links is one of the great links courses of the world — a dramatic Harry Colt design that unfolds along the North Antrim coastline of Northern Ireland, with the Atlantic Ocean, the ruins of Dunluce Castle, and the basalt columns of the Giant's Causeway coastline forming a visual backdrop unmatched in British and Irish golf. Harry Colt's 1929 redesign created a course of considerable strategic complexity from terrain that already possessed extraordinary natural drama: elevated tee shots over valleys filled with deep rough, approach shots played across ridges to greens perched above the sea, and a relentless wind off the North Channel that makes club selection a constant challenge. Royal Portrush hosted the Open Championship in 1951 — the only time The Open has been held in Ireland — and returned to the rota in 2019, when Shane Lowry's dominant victory in front of a home crowd produced one of the most emotional finishes in Open history. The 2025 Open Championship also returns to Portrush. The club operates on a semi-private basis, with visitor tee times available on specified dates through advance booking.

— History

History of Royal Portrush Golf Club — Dunluce Links

Royal Portrush was founded in 1888 and originally laid out on land bordering the North Antrim coast. Harry Colt visited in 1929 and produced a wholesale redesign that created the Dunluce Links in its current form — routing the course through the spectacular coastal terrain with a strategic intelligence that made it immediately comparable to the great Scottish and English links. The 1951 Open Championship, won by Max Faulkner, was the only Open held in Ireland until 2019, when Shane Lowry's victory confirmed the course's permanent place in the modern rota. For the 2019 return, two new holes (the 7th and 8th) were created by Martin Ebert to replace holes previously used for the Valley Links course.

— Signature Holes

Signature Holes at Royal Portrush Golf Club — Dunluce Links

The par-3 14th — Calamity Corner — is one of the great short holes in golf: a 213-yard shot with a cliff drop of 200 feet on the right side to the Atlantic far below, and dense rough and out of bounds on the left. The par-4 5th descends through towering dunes to a fairway that requires precision off the tee to set up a long iron to a well-bunkered green. The par-4 16th, known as Calamity's approach hole, plays toward the sea with the ocean visible ahead throughout the shot.

— Best Time to Visit

Best Time to Visit Royal Portrush Golf Club — Dunluce Links

May through August offers the best weather on the Antrim coast, with June and July typically the driest months. The course is exposed to North Channel wind year-round — plan for some wind on any visit. Portrush town has expanded its accommodation significantly since the 2019 Open. Autumn visitors find the course quieter and the coastal light particularly beautiful in September and October.

— Practical Tips

Tips for Playing Royal Portrush Golf Club — Dunluce Links

Royal Portrush operates on a semi-private basis with visitor tee times available on specified dates. Green fees range from GBP 155 to 295. Advance booking is strongly recommended — demand is high year-round since the 2019 Open. Caddies are available. The club is approximately one hour from Belfast City Airport via the coastal road — the A2 drive along the Antrim coast is among the most scenic in the British Isles and worth planning as part of the trip.

— Highlights

Why Play Royal Portrush Golf Club — Dunluce Links

• ▸ Harry Colt 1929 design — the only Open Championship venue outside Great Britain (Northern Ireland)
• ▸ Shane Lowry's emotional 2019 Open victory in front of an all-Irish crowd — one of golf's greatest moments
• ▸ Dunluce Castle ruins and Giant's Causeway coastline visible from multiple holes
• ▸ Host of the 2025 Open Championship — confirming Portrush as a permanent part of the modern rota
• ▸ Calamity Corner (14th): cliff-edge par-3 with a 200-foot drop to the Atlantic — one of golf's great holes

— FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Royal Portrush Golf Club — Dunluce Links

Can visitors play Royal Portrush?

Yes — Royal Portrush offers visitor tee times on designated days throughout the season. Advance booking through the club is essential as demand is high.

How much does it cost to play Royal Portrush?

Green fees range from GBP 155 to 295 depending on the season and tee time category. Peak summer rates apply from May to September.

When did the Open Championship return to Royal Portrush?

The Open returned to Portrush in 2019 — 68 years after the 1951 edition — when Shane Lowry won in front of a predominantly Irish crowd. The 2025 Open also returns here.

How far is Royal Portrush from Belfast?

Approximately 85 kilometres north of Belfast, around 75 minutes by car via the A26. The scenic Antrim coast road along the A2 adds 30 minutes but is highly recommended.

What is Calamity Corner at Royal Portrush?

The par-3 14th hole, playing 213 yards with a 200-foot cliff drop to the Atlantic on the right — one of the most dramatic and difficult short holes in championship golf.