Bucket ListChampionship VenueLinks ClassicNorth Coast Route

Royal Portrush Golf Club — Dunluce Links

Portrush, Co. Antrim · Designed by H.S. Colt · Est. 1888

When Shane Lowry walked up the 18th at Royal Portrush in July 2019, wrapped in a tricolour and six shots clear, an entire island wept. The Open had not been to Portrush since 1951. Its return — after decades of the club rebuilding and reapplying — felt less like a sporting event and more like a homecoming. Rory McIlroy had a quadruple bogey on the first hole in his opening round, shot 79, and missed the cut. The golf course is not forgiving.

The Dunluce Links is widely regarded as Harry Colt's finest work. Colt redesigned the course in 1929, routing it along and above the chalk cliffs of the Causeway Coast — the same White Rocks that give the nearby beach its name. The fairways tumble between dunes with the Atlantic stretched out to the left, and on clear days you can see the hills of Donegal and the islands of Scotland from the same tee. This is links golf at its most exposed and its most beautiful.

To play here you need a handicap certificate (max 18 for men, 24 for women) and a letter of introduction from your home club. Arrange both before you try to book. Weekdays and weekend afternoons only — demand far exceeds availability.

Holes worth knowing

116th — "Calamity Corner" (par-3, 236 yards): A long iron or hybrid across a deep ravine with no room for error on either side. One of the most feared short holes on any Open rota.
25th — "White Rocks" (par-4): From an elevated tee the hole doglegs toward the Atlantic with White Rocks beach sitting just beyond the green. Being long here is not an option.

Highlights

Open Championship host (1951, 2019, 2025)
H.S. Colt design
Clifftop Causeway Coast setting

Good to know

→The Valley Links is the companion course at Portrush — considerably cheaper and a genuinely good round in its own right. Worth booking alongside the Dunluce if you have two days.
→You need a handicap certificate (max 18 men, 24 women) and a letter of introduction from your home club. Arrange both before you try to book.
→The Ramore restaurant cluster on the harbour is the go-to for dinner — multiple venues from casual fish and chips to the more formal Ramore Wine Bar, all within five minutes of the course.
→Giant's Causeway is 15 minutes east along the coast — 40,000 basalt columns, Northern Ireland's only UNESCO World Heritage Site. Allow at least an hour and go early to avoid the coach tours.
→The Causeway Coastal Route from Portrush to Ballycastle takes in Dunluce Castle ruins, Ballintoy Harbour, and Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. One of the great drives in Europe.

Visitor Information

Getting There

1h drive

45min drive

Common questions

What is Royal Portrush like to play?

Royal Portrush Dunluce Links is a clifftop course on the Antrim coast, designed by H.S. Colt in its current form. It is exposed, fast, and relentlessly testing — wind from the Atlantic is the primary defence. The fairways are firm, the rough is deep, and the par fours are long. It rewards precise ball-striking and punishes anything loose.

Do I need a handicap certificate at Royal Portrush?

Yes — visitors are required to hold a recognised handicap. Men should have a handicap of 24 or under; women 36 or under. Demand is considerable, particularly following The Open Championship return in 2019. Book directly through the Royal Portrush website well in advance.

How far in advance do I need to book Royal Portrush?

For peak season (June through August), three to six months ahead is realistic. The club does not use GolfNow — book directly through the Royal Portrush website. If you cannot get a tee time, Portstewart Strand Course nearby offers a comparable calibre of links golf with easier availability.

What else should I do near Royal Portrush?

The Giant's Causeway is less than fifteen minutes from the club and worth the detour. The Causeway Coastal Route south towards Belfast is one of the finest coastal drives in Europe. In Portrush itself, 55° North on Causeway Street is a reliable dinner option.