Links ClassicGreat ValueNorth Coast Route

Portstewart Golf Club (Old Course)

Portstewart, Co. Derry · Designed by Founded 1894 / expanded 1934

Portstewart Golf Club was founded in 1894, and the Old Course — the original nine-hole layout on the rocky Atlantic shoreline east of the town — predates the famous Strand Course by a generation. While the Strand (par 72, ~6,700 yards, designed by Willie Park Jr and rebuilt through towering dunes in 1986) hosted the 2017 Irish Open and is now considered one of the great championship links in Ireland, the Old Course is an entirely different animal: par 64, roughly 4,900 yards, no par fives, seven par threes, and squeezed onto 26 acres between the coast road and the sea.

The first eight holes run tight to the rocky Atlantic shoreline — errant shots genuinely go in the water. The 2nd, a short par-4, plays along the sea from tee to green the full length of the hole. It is links golf in its most compressed and unforgiving form, and the par threes are punishing when the wind is up. The back nine moves inland before the final holes return to the shore. Reviewers consistently describe it as exceptional value and one of the most fun seaside rounds anywhere on the north coast.

Portstewart Strand — a two-mile sweep of golden sand managed by the National Trust and named UK's Best Beach in 2025 — is five minutes away. Morelli's ice cream on the promenade has been run by the same family since 1911, using Ballyrashane Creamery cream; it is the north coast institution that locals treat as non-negotiable.

Holes worth knowing

12nd (par-4) — plays the full length of the hole directly along the sea. One of the most exposed holes on the north coast; the water is right there.
2Par-3s throughout — seven of them, and the wind catches every one. Club selection on the Old Course is more important than distance off the tee.

Highlights

Original 1894 layout
Rocky shoreline holes
Best value on the Causeway Coast

Good to know

→Play the Old Course first, then attempt the Strand — the contrast between the two across a single day is part of what makes Portstewart such a good base.
→Morelli's on the promenade has been serving ice cream since 1911, five generations of the same family. Non-negotiable after a round.
→Harry's Shack sits directly on Portstewart Strand — seafood, beach-shack style, locally sourced. The best lunch on the north coast.
→Chipmongers is ranked in the UK Top 40 fish and chip shops — a legitimate claim and a serious fish supper.
→Portstewart Strand (National Trust, Blue Flag, cars permitted on the beach) is five minutes from the club and was named UK's Best Beach 2025.

Visitor Information

Getting There

30min drive

1h drive

Common questions

How does Portstewart Old Course differ from the Strand Course?

The Strand Course is the championship links at Portstewart — one of the finest on the Causeway Coast, ranked in most top-25 Ireland lists. The Old Course is shorter and more accessible, providing a genuine links experience at Portstewart for golfers who cannot get a tee time on the Strand or who want a second round at a lower cost. It shares the same Portstewart peninsula setting.

Is the Portstewart Old Course worth playing?

Yes — it is a proper links with good character, and at significantly less than the Strand Course it represents strong value on the Causeway Coast. For golfers spending two or three days in Portrush or Portstewart, it fills a natural slot alongside the Strand and Royal Portrush without repeating the same experience.

How do I book the Portstewart Old Course?

The Old Course books through GolfNow with good online availability. The Strand Course books directly through Portstewart Golf Club.

Where should I stay for a Portstewart golf trip?

Portrush and Portstewart are the natural bases for the northern links circuit — both small seaside towns with hotels, restaurants and atmosphere. 55° North on Causeway Street in Portrush is a reliable dinner option with good views. The Causeway Hotel near the Giant's Causeway is worth a night if you want to stay close to the headland itself.