Royal Portrush Golf Club (Dunluce)

Overview: Royal Portrush is a majestic and formidable links that clings to the rugged cliffs of the north Antrim coast. Named after the nearby ruins of Dunluce Castle, the "Dunluce Links" is a masterclass in utilizing natural dune formations to create strategic complexity. Designed by the legendary Harry Colt in 1929, the course is a series of soaring vistas and deep, valleyed fairways that demand both power and precision. It is famously the only club outside of Great Britain to host The Open Championship, a testament to its standing as one of the world’s ultimate tests of golf. With its firm turf and relentless Atlantic winds, Portrush is links golf at its most grand and atmospheric.

History: Founded in 1888, Royal Portrush quickly became the premier venue for golf in Ireland, hosting the first professional tournament in the country in 1895. While Old Tom Morris provided the original 18-hole layout, it was Harry Colt’s redesign in 1929 that elevated the course to its current world-class status. To prepare for the return of The Open in 2019, architect Martin Ebert oversaw a brilliant modernization that included the creation of two new holes (the 7th and 8th) using land from the Valley Links. This project allowed the club to retire two weaker finishing holes and create a more cohesive and challenging championship routing that was universally praised during Shane Lowry’s historic victory.

Did You Know? The 16th hole, famously known as "Calamity Corner," is one of the most feared par-3s in golf. It requires a long iron or wood carry over a 100-foot-deep chasm to reach a plateau green. Even for the world’s best players, the sight of the yawning ravine to the right of the green is enough to provoke a "calamity" on the scorecard.