Royal Portrush Golf Club
Overview
Royal Portrush Golf Club is located in the Causeway Coast & Glens area of Northern Ireland. The club has two links courses that offer an enjoyable experience for all players.
The club overlooks the ruins of 13th-century Dunluce Castle and is framed by giant sandhills. It also has scenic views toward the hills of Donegal, the Isle of Islay, the Giant’s Causeway, and the Skerries.
The Dunluce at Royal Portrush Golf Club
The Dunluce Links stand as one of the most challenging links courses in the world. It is also home to The Open Championship. The layout delivers a fair yet scenically stunning test characterised by Atlantic views, firm fairways, creative greens, and natural hazards such as deep rough, ravines, and dunes.
Signature holes define the experience. The 4th, Fred Daly’s, is a challenging par-4 with out-of-bounds on the right and a green nestled between dunes that rewards accuracy. The 5th, White Rocks, is a stunning downhill dogleg to a green perched on the edge of the Atlantic. The 16th, Calamity Corner, has a green that drops off sharply to the right, demanding precise club selection and favouring the safer left side.
Other notable holes include Causeway and Skerries, where second shots demand concentration amid coastal backdrops. Wind, elevation changes, and contoured greens that fall away on all sides present ongoing challenges that test every aspect of a golfer’s game.
The Valley at Royal Portrush Golf Club
Complementing the Dunluce, the Valley Links is a full-length championship course set on stunning natural seaside turf. It winds through the sheltered landscape of the War Hollow, a setting believed to have been the site of an ancient battle around 1102. Each year, the course hosts a qualifying round for the North of Ireland Open Championship. It’s often listed among the top 40 golf courses in Ireland.
Natural hazards create a hard test for low-handicap players, while accuracy is essential for approaches to the small greens. The layout features undulating terrain, narrow fairways framed by sand hills, and strategically placed bunkers.
Notable holes include the opening Zara Bolton’s, which demands an accurate drive over a ridge. The par-5 War Hollow is played into a long valley beneath the Calamity Corner tee. Several strong par-3s include Fairy Ring and the reopened Saucer.
Facilities and Practice Amenities
Practice options include a long-game area with grass teeing grounds, target greens, and bunkers, plus complimentary range balls and a shuttle service to the clubhouse.
Two short-game greens and a putting green near the first tee mirror the topography of the Dunluce Links. A TrackMan suite in the Starter’s building allows players to prepare their opening tee shot or book private lessons.
The clubhouse has a bar and dining area. There is also a pro shop, caddie services, and equipment hire.
Hosted Tournaments
Royal Portrush has hosted major championships. The Dunluce Links staged The Open Championship in 1951, 2019, and 2025. The only venue outside Great Britain to do so.
The club has also welcomed Amateur Championships, British Ladies’ Amateur Championships, Senior Opens, and Irish Opens.
This rich tournament history, combined with the dual-course offering, makes Royal Portrush an essential destination for golfers wanting authentic links golf of the highest standard.
Book Now
Whether you play the Dunluce Links or try the Valley Links, you will find two different courses that highlight the best of golf in Northern Ireland. Book a tee time to confront the challenges of both courses and create lasting memories.
