Overview
Royal Portrush is the only golf club outside Great Britain ever to host The Open Championship, and it has now done so three times – 1951, 2019 and again in 2025. That single fact is why golfers cross oceans to play here. The club runs two 18-hole links on the North Antrim coast: the championship Dunluce, threaded through some of the biggest dunes in Irish golf, and the shorter Valley alongside it. From the clubhouse the view runs across the water to the hills of Donegal, with the Skerries and the Giant’s Causeway to the east on a clear day.
If you have one round and a choice, play the Dunluce – it’s the reason the Claret Jug comes here. But book early and brace for the fee: it’s one of the most in-demand tee sheets on the island.
History
The club was founded in 1888 as The County Club. The original nine holes were laid out by Tom Gilroy; Old Tom Morris extended the course to eighteen in 1889. Royal patronage followed fast – the Duke of York made it The Royal County Club in 1892, and the Prince of Wales granted the present name three years later.
The character of today’s Dunluce owes most to Harry Colt’s redesign of 1929–1933, which let the dunes dictate the routing rather than imposing artificial hazards. In 1951 Portrush became the first venue outside Great Britain to host The Open. It took 68 years to return: the Championship came back in 2019, when Shane Lowry set the course record of 63 (beating Rory McIlroy’s amateur 61 from 2005), and again in 2025. Fred Daly, who grew up in the town and is a member here, remains the only Portrush man to win The Open, in 1947. Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell both call it their home club.
The two courses
Ahead of the 2019 Open, architects Mackenzie & Ebert built new 7th and 8th holes and lengthened the Dunluce to 7,337 yards, par 71. It’s a genuine links – firm, fast fairways, deep pot bunkers and greens that punish a loose approach, with the wind off the Atlantic mattering more than any yardage on the card.
The Valley links runs to 6,346 yards, par 71. It’s shorter, more sheltered and less punishing, and it costs a good deal less – a sensible choice if you want the Portrush dunes without the championship price tag, or a warm-up before the main event.
Signature holes
- 4th (Fred Daly’s) – a par-4 named for the 1947 champion, with a tee shot that must carry a deep ditch.
- 5th (White Rocks) – a par-4 from an elevated tee to a green perched above the beach; miss right and the Atlantic is your hazard.
- 7th (Curran Point) – added in the Mackenzie & Ebert work, an uphill par-5 guarded by the huge ‘Wee Nellie’ bunker.
- 15th (Skerries) – a par-4 aimed straight at the Skerries islands, with one of the best views on the course.
- 16th (Calamity Corner) – the one everyone talks about: a 236-yard par-3 over a ravine that falls away 50 feet to the right. Par here feels like a birdie.
Booking, fees and dress
The Valley green fee for the 2026 season is £200. The Dunluce commands a considerably higher championship fee – confirm the current rate directly with the club when you book, and expect to pay in full up front. Visitor access to the Dunluce is managed tightly and books out months ahead, especially in summer, so plan early rather than hoping for a walk-on slot. A handicap certificate may be requested.
Caddies are available and worth it on a first visit – the local knowledge is the difference between reading Calamity Corner and guessing at it. The dress code is smart-casual: no denim, no collarless shirts. Book any club hire or a caddie in advance through the club rather than assuming it on the day.
Around Portrush
The club sits at the heart of the Causeway Coast, and the run of sights nearby is hard to beat. The Giant’s Causeway is a few minutes east, the ruins of Dunluce Castle overlook the course, and Old Bushmills Distillery, Carrick-a-Rede and Mussenden Temple are all within a short drive. Portrush town itself has three Blue Flag beaches and a proper surf scene.
After the round, the Harbour Bar in town is the traditional stop – good Guinness, golf memorabilia on the walls. Royal County Down and Portstewart are both inside half an hour if you’re building a golfing tour, and Belfast is about an hour away by car, with rail and bus links to Portrush as well.