Royal Portrush — Dunluce Links
Named after the ruined medieval castle overlooking the coast, the Dunluce Links has now hosted The Open three times — 1951, 2019 and 2025 — making Northern Ireland’s only Open venue one of just three courses outside Scotland and England ever to stage the Championship.
The course two new holes helped bring home an Open
Royal Portrush’s return to the Open rota in 2019 — its first since 1951 — required real surgery: architect Martin Ebert built two entirely new holes, the par-5 7th (“Curran Point”) and par-4 8th, on land borrowed from the neighbouring Valley course, retiring the old 17th and 18th to make room for tournament infrastructure. Two Opens later, in 2025, Scottie Scheffler won here at 17-under, four shots clear of Harris English — the third Claret Jug handed out on this stretch of Antrim coast.
The old holes still do the damage
Calamity Corner
The par-3 16th, one of two Colt originals (alongside the 5th, “White Rocks”) that survived the 2019 rebuild untouched — still regarded as one of the most feared short holes in championship golf.
Respect the dunes
Visual drama can tempt aggressive lines. The better scoring route is usually the one that preserves position and the next shot.
Protect the short game
Only 62 bunkers guard the whole course — fewer than any other Open rota venue — so missed greens are punished by run-off and recovery angle rather than sand.
For serious links travellers
The Dunluce Links is most relevant to experienced club golfers, championship-course collectors and small groups building a premium Northern Ireland itinerary. A 16-year-old Rory McIlroy shot a course-record 61 here in 2005, before the redesign — a useful reminder that scoring well and enjoying the round aren’t always the same challenge for the rest of us.
Build the trip around the Causeway Coast
Keep the base close enough to the golf that the journey does not become a sequence of long transfers. On a demanding links trip, recovery is practical rather than decorative: sleep, mobility, hydration and a quieter evening can make the second round noticeably better.
Check current visitor information
Visitor access, tee-time availability, green fees, handicap requirements, dress guidance and seasonal restrictions can change. Confirm current arrangements directly with the club before travelling and check the coastal forecast before the round.