What is the history of the Royal Portrush Golf Club?
The Royal Portrush Golf Club was founded 131 years ago in 1888 as The County Club. It became The Royal County Club in 1892 under the patronage of the Duke of York and assumed its present name in 1895 under the patronage of the Prince of Wales.
What is the second course at Royal Portrush like?
The second course at Royal Portrush is the Valley Links, and is used mostly by members of the 'town' club Rathmore and the ladies and juniors of Royal Portrush. It is shorter and considered less demanding than the Dunluce Links. Rathmore clubhouse and the ladies clubhouse are situated adjacent to the first tee.
When will the Open Championship be held at Royal Portrush?
In 1951, Royal Portrush first hosted the Open Championship, the oldest of golf's major championships; it was the first Open not held on the island of Great Britain. The Open returned to Portrush in 2019, and it will host again in 2025.
Where is the oldest golf club in Belfast?
Located on the North Antrim Causeway Coast, about an hour’s drive from Belfast International airport, the 36-hole club was founded in 1888 and opened as The County Club. It achieved its ‘Royal’ status under the patronage of the Prince of Wales in 1895.
What is the oldest golf course in Northern Ireland?
The Royal Belfast Golf ClubThe Royal Belfast Golf Club is the oldest established club in Ireland. Still in excellent condition, it was founded on November 9, 1881, the birth date of the game of golf in Northern Ireland. The 18-hole course at Le Royal Belfast Golf Club is characterized by a large number of bunkers (61 in total).
Who designed Royal Portrush golf Course?
architect Harry ColtOn the advice of Sir Anthony Babington, Royal Portrush enlist the services of celebrated golf course architect Harry Colt. Involved in the design of over 300 courses during a prolific career, Colt was charged with creating a championship course to challenge the best in the game.
How much does it cost to play Royal Portrush golf Course?
Today, it will cost you £220 to play 18 on one of Europe's most esteemed courses — the Dunluce Course, which is hosting The Open. That translates roughly to $274. A pricy trip, no doubt, but one some golf enthusiasts will undoubtedly deem worthwhile.
How hard is Royal Portrush?
Quite simply stunning and challenging in equal measure. The greens require precision approaches and will punish (or test) you if your precision approaches require some recalibration. Visually magnificent with each hole presenting a very different challenge, Royal Portrush is one to add to you 'simply must play' list.
Why is it called Royal Portrush?
History. The Royal Portrush Golf Club was founded 134 years ago in 1888 as The County Club. It became The Royal County Club in 1892 under the patronage of the Duke of York and assumed its present name in 1895 under the patronage of the Prince of Wales.
How many golf courses are there in Northern Ireland?
90 clubsIn geographic terms, Northern Ireland is not a huge country. But when it comes to golf, make no mistake: we're a giant, with 90 clubs – and champions like Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell to prove it. Northern Ireland is the perfect mix of Links and Parkland golf courses.
Do you need a handicap to play Royal Portrush?
Is a handicap required to play Royal Portrush? Yes, golfers are required to carry an 18 handicap or better for males and 24 for females.
How much does a round of golf cost in Scotland?
For a round, it costs about the same as your normal PGA Tour venue open to the public. Depending on the exchange rate, the 2018 green fee to play the Old Course is 180 pounds, which is about $250.
How much does it cost to play a round of golf UK?
£20-25 is a good price. £30-35 if the course is decent. I probably wouldn't pay more than £40 for a round of golf in anything but very special circumstances. I think £30-£50 is about average for an average course.
Is Royal Portrush open to the public?
We are delighted to welcome visitors from all over the world to visit Royal Portrush and participate in a world class golfing experience in a warm and welcoming environment against the stunning backdrop of the Causeway Coast & Glens area of outstanding natural beauty.
Is Portrush Open?
Return to Northern Ireland confirmed for 2025. The Open is set to make a triumphant return to Royal Portrush in 2025, marking an exciting new chapter in the history of golf's original Championship and providing another outstanding showcase for golf in Northern Ireland.
When was Royal Portrush Golf Club founded?
The Royal Portrush Golf Club was founded 133 years ago in 1888 as The County Club. It became The Royal County Club in 1892 under the patronage of the Duke of York and assumed its present name in 1895 under the patronage of the Prince of Wales. In 1947, Rathmore Golf Club member Fred Daly became the first Irishman to win The Open Championship, and four years later the club hosted the championship itself, the first time the event was held in Northern Ireland. The club has also hosted the Senior British Open Championship between 1995 and 1999 and again in 2004. The club was also host to the 2010 Palmer Cup. Daly's feat was repeated by club member Darren Clarke in 2011. Clarke also named Royal Portrush his favourite golf course in the world.
Where is Royal Portrush?
Situated on the North Antrim Causeway Coast, Royal Portrush occupies a triangle of giant sand hills with views of the hills of Inishowen in County Donegal in the west, the Isle of Islay and Southern Hebrides in the north, with the Giant's Causeway and the Skerries in the east. The course is overlooked by the ruins of the 13th century Dunluce Castle, which gives its name to Dunluce course.
Who won the 2012 Irish Open?
The club's Dunluce course held the 2012 Irish Open which was won by Jamie Donaldson. This was the first time that a European Tour event had been played in Northern Ireland and the first time since 1953 that the Irish Open had been played in Northern Ireland; it was last played at Royal Portrush in 1947.
What are the holes in Dunluce?
On the Dunluce course at Portrush there are several signature holes on both the front and back nine. In particular are the fourth, fifth and sixteenth holes. The fourth hole is a long par four which is more than 480 yards from the championship tees, with out of bounds right and thick rough on the left. There are several bunkers in the undulating fairway and the green is placed between two small sand hills. The fifth hole is a relatively short downhill par four with a dogleg to the right. It has no bunkers but a heavily undulating green perched on the edge of a large drop down to the beach and has views across the White Rocks beach, and the Dunluce Castle after which the course was named. The sixteenth hole, named Calamity Corner, but locally known as just "Calamity" is a long 236 yard, uphill par three. It is played to a green over a huge ravine short and right, with mounds and hollows to the back and left of the green. Only one member is known to have made more than 1 ace at Calamity. Michael Henry made the feat in both 2007 and 2019.
What is Royal Portrush Golf Club?
The club is famous for the magnificent turf, superb golf holes and breathtaking scenery, and is as fine a links course as you will find anywhere in the world. Fred Daly, who won "The Open", in 1947 at Hoylake was a Royal Portrush member. It was the venue for the first professional tournament played in Ireland in 1895, then in the same year the first Ladies Championships were held. Royal Portrush is one of the many must play classic links courses you should make every effor to play.
When was the only British Open Championship held outside of England?
In 1951 the only British Open Championship ever to be held outside of England or Scotland was played at Royal Portrush. It is a classic links course and should be on every golfers list of courses to play on the Emerald Isle.
When was Portrush Golf Course changed to Royal Country Club?
The Country Club. 2. Just one year later in 1889, an additional nine holes were added to the existing layout. 3. In 1892 , the course’s name was changed to the Royal Country Club. That same year, the Irish Amateur Open was inaugurated at the course. 4. In 1895, the course was renamed again: the Royal Portrush Golf Club.
Where is Royal Portrush?
13. Royal Portrush is approximately 160 miles north of Dublin, and 60 miles north of Belfast.
When was the first professional golf tournament held in Ireland?
The first professional tournament ever held in Ireland was organized by the club in 1895 when the course’s first professional, Alex ‘Sandy’ Herd, a Scot, defeated Harry Vardon in match play. 6. In 1929, the Dunluce links were built, bringing the total holes of property to 36. 7.
Who accounts for three quarters of Royal Portrush's overseas visitors?
Americans account for three-quarters of Royal Portrush’s overseas visitors. *Sources include the Royal Portrush website and North Star by Alan Shipnuck, which originally ran in the July 2019 issue of GOLF. To receive GOLF’s all-new newsletters, subscribe for free here. ADVERTISEMENT.
When was the Dunluce Links built?
In 1929, the Dunluce links were built, bringing the total holes of property to 36. 7. Royal Portrush hosted three Irish Opens (1930, 1937 and 1947) before finally hosting the Open Championship in 1951 — the first time a club outside of the mainland UK was ever selected as a venue. 8.
Royal Portrush Fast Facts
Designer: Harry Colt (note that Martin Ebert made extensive changes in 2015)
Past Tournaments at Royal Portrush
As local hero Rory McIlroy fluffed his lines by taking a quadruple-bogey at his opening hole and missing the cut due to a first-round 79, another Irishman, Shane Lowry, sparked scenes of jubilation with a six-shot win over Tommy Fleetwood. Lowry opened with a pair of 67s, kicked clear with a course-record 63 and kept his cool with a closing 72.
Key Holes
Par 4, 421 yards (Hughies): Rory won’t forget this one after his opening tee shot went left of the internal out-of-bounds. The approach is played to an elevated two-tier green with plenty of undulations. An opening hole which gives an immediate sense of setting out on a special 18-hole journey.
Dave Tindall
Dave Tindall is former golf editor at SkySports.com and Golf365.com and has been writing betting previews for the PGA Tour and European Tour since 1997. He has also written for a range of betting companies, including William Hill and Betfair, as well as being a regular columnist for Rotoworld, The Guardian, Sporting Life and Planet Sport.
When did Royal Portrush Golf Club get its name?
“Royal Portrush Golf Club”. In 1895, the club was renamed ‘Royal Portrush Golf Club’, ...
When was the first professional golf tournament held in Ireland?
The Irish Amateur Championships were inaugurated here in 1892, while the first professional event on Irish soil was also hosted at Portrush in 1895. In the same year the first Ladies Championships were held. From the exclusive group of clubs so honored, only one has been located outside Scotland or England, when Royal Portrush Golf Club hosted ...
How many people attended the 148th British Open?
A record-breaking crowd of 237,750 is attending The 148th Open at Royal Portrush. This set an attendance record for a Championship staged outside St Andrews and it became the first ever British Open to sell-out.
When was the County Club formed?
Originally known as the ‘County Club’ when first formed in May 1888 when the Railway Company brought people from various cities to the fisher village of Portrush and the invigorating fresh air coming straight off the Atlantic Ocean.
Who won the 2012 Irish Open?
Irish Open 2012. In 2012, Royal Portrush very successfully hosted the Irish Open, won by Jamie Donaldson. This was the first time that a European Tour event had been played in Northern Ireland and the first time since 1953 that the Irish Open had been played in Northern Ireland. The first Irish Open in Northern Ireland since 1953 was watched by ...
Overview
Royal Portrush Golf Club is a private golf club in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The 36-hole club has two links courses, the Dunluce Links (the championship course) and the Valley Links. The former is one of the courses on the rota of the Open Championship and last hosted the tournament in 2019.
In 1951, Royal Portrush first hosted the Open Championship, the oldest of golf's major …
Location
Situated on the North Antrim Causeway Coast, Royal Portrush occupies a triangle of giant sand hills with views of the hills of Inishowen in County Donegal in the west, the Isle of Islay and Southern Hebrides in the north, with the Giant's Causeway and the Skerries in the east. The course is overlooked by the ruins of the 13th century Dunluce Castle, which gives its name to Dunluce course.
History
The Royal Portrush Golf Club was founded 134 years ago in 1888 as The County Club. It became The Royal County Club in 1892 under the patronage of the Duke of York and assumed its present name in 1895 under the patronage of the Prince of Wales. In 1947, Rathmore Golf Club member Fred Daly became the first Irishman to win The Open Championship, and four years later the club hosted the championship itself, the first time the event was held in Northern Ireland. The club ha…
Rathmore Golf Club
The Valley Links is the home of Rathmore Golf Club whose clubhouse is situated near the first tee. Famous members include 1947 Open Champion Fred Daly and 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell.
Signature holes
On the Dunluce course at Portrush there are several signature holes on both the front and back nine. In particular are the fourth, fifth and sixteenth holes. The fourth hole is a long par four which is more than 480 yards from the championship tees, with out of bounds right and thick rough on the left. There are several bunkers in the undulating fairway and the green is placed between two small sand hills. The fifth hole is a relatively short downhill par four with a dogleg to the right. It …
The Open Championship
The Open Championship was first staged at Royal Portrush in 1951; Max Faulkner won his sole major championship. The Open next returned to Portrush in July 2019.
A number of course changes were made in preparation for the 2019 Open. The 17th and 18th holes of the original Dunluce Links, the Championship course, were replaced by two new holes (the 7th and 8th) on land that was part of the Valley Links. Holes 7 to 16 were redesignated as h…
Irish Open
The club's Dunluce course held the 2012 Irish Open which was won by Jamie Donaldson. This was the first time that a European Tour event had been played in Northern Ireland and the first time since 1953 that the Irish Open had been played in Northern Ireland; it was last played at Royal Portrush in 1947.
Gallery
• 5th hole
• 7th hole
• 8th hole