Portstewart Golf Club

Portstewart Golf Club, founded in 1894, is home to three true links courses, a rare distinction among clubs in Britain and Ireland. It’s located on the North Coast in Portstewart, County Londonderry.
The club delivers championship-standard golf alongside more accessible options. The Strand Course, Riverside Course, and Old Course each have their own designs, challenges, and memorable holes.

Course Layout at Portstewart Golf Club

The Strand Course is a par 71/73 course measuring up to 7,080 yards long from the black tees. Many people consider it one of the best golf courses in Ireland. The front nine winds through dunes known as Thistly Hollow, with elevated tees, sloping fairways, runoff bunkers, and challenging greens. The back nine is more open ground near the River Bann while retaining firm links character. Atlantic views appear from nearly every hole.

The Riverside Course is a par 69/70 course measuring about 5,751 yards long from the blue tees. Holes meander along the banks of the River Bann, creating a scenic and self-contained challenge. The course begins near the clubhouse on higher ground, then goes down toward the river. Many middle holes play through open, gorse-scattered terrain with small ponds or streams.

The Old Course is a par 64/65 course measuring about 4,890 yards from the white tees. The first eight holes are next to the rocky shoreline east of Portstewart, along Portmore Road toward Portrush. The last ten holes are further inland.

Challenges at Portstewart Golf Club

Challenges on the Strand Course centre on the constant influence of coastal winds, deep dunes, and thick marram grass, which punish errant shots. Accurate driving, recovery play, and distance control are essential. The variety of required shots creates a tough but fair course.

The Riverside Course’s challenges arise from variable winds typical of the Causeway Coast, firm, fast links turf, and strategic water hazards or ditches that require careful club selection. While more accessible in length than the Strand, the course still demands attention due to its exposure and the need for accurate approaches to well-defended greens.

The Old Course is not as hard as the other courses, but it still has its challenges. Coastal exposure on the front holes brings wind and the need for controlled shot-making near the shoreline. The shorter overall length places a premium on accuracy rather than pure distance, with several par-3s and shorter par-4s testing iron play and short-game precision.

Signature Holes

The Stand Course signature holes include the 1st, Tubber Patrick, widely regarded as one of the finest opening holes in Irish golf. It offers scenic views of the North Atlantic, Lough Foyle, and the Inishowen Peninsula, with a downhill dogleg right around natural contours. The 6th hole, renamed for Des Giffin, demands exact club selection to a plateau green.

Signature elements on the Old Course include the coastal stretch of the opening holes, which offer great views of the Atlantic Ocean and shoreline. The longer holes on the card, such as the ninth and certain par-4s over 400 yards, provide stronger tests of driving accuracy. The overall routing delivers an enjoyable and historic round that captures the origins of golf at Portstewart.

Facilities at Portstewart Golf Club

The modern clubhouse, built in 2009, includes ladies’ and gentlemen’s locker rooms with showers and towels, bag storage, a well-stocked pro shop, and a swing room for hire or lessons.

Dining options include the Spike Bar, Strand Bar and Lounge, Members Bar, Strand Restaurant, and the halfway house known as The Bothan.

Practice facilities include a putting green, a chipping green, and a practice or driving area.

Services include caddies, pull trolleys, electric trolleys, and golf buggies available only to those with medical certification.

Hosted Tournaments and Events

Portstewart Golf Club has hosted many events, most notably the 2017 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open on the European Tour.

Other championships include the 2015 British Ladies Amateur, the 2014 Amateur Championship, Open Championship qualifying in 1951, and numerous Irish amateur and professional competitions.

Book Now

Portstewart Golf Club offers three distinct links experiences. Whether tackling the championship dunes of the Strand, enjoying the riverside setting of the Riverside Course, or walking the historic fairways of the Old Course, golfers will encounter authentic coastal golf. Book a tee time to discover this Causeway Coast destination.