Royal Portrush Golf Club: A Deep Dive into the Host of the 153rd Open Championship
It's 1888, and two Scots — George Baillie and Thomas Gilroy — are standing on the windswept dunes of Northern Ireland's Causeway Coast, envisioning something extraordinary. At the time, they could not have known, but they were about to create what would become the only golf course outside Great Britain to host the Open Championship not once, but three times. As we approach the 153rd Open Championship, which kicks off tomorrow, their vision feels more prophetic than ever.
Advertisement
A Royal Beginning That Started Humble
The story of Royal Portrush begins as "The County Club" — a modest nine-hole course that these founding fathers carved from the dramatic duneland between Portrush and Portballintrae. But this wasn't just any piece of land. Perched beneath the haunting ruins of 13th-century Dunluce Castle, with sweeping views toward the Scottish islands of Islay and Jura, this was nature's own amphitheater for golf.
Within just four years, the club had caught royal attention. In 1892, it became "The Royal County Club" under the patronage of the Duke of York, later King George V. By 1895, it had evolved into "Royal Portrush Golf Club" under the watchful eye of the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VII. You don't get much more establishment than that.
Advertisement
But here's what makes the story truly remarkable: In 1947, a local lad named Fred Daly became the first Irishman to win the Open Championship. Four years later, in 1951, his home course would host the championship itself — the first time golf's oldest major had ever been played outside Great Britain. Max Faulkner would triumph that year, but the real winner was Portrush itself, proving it belonged on the world stage.
The Colt Connection That Changed Everything
In 1929, Royal Portrush made a decision that would define its destiny. They enlisted Harry Colt, the legendary architect who had already created masterpieces at Sunningdale and Wentworth, to help transform their course into something truly special. Colt designed more than 300 courses during his career, but many consider the Dunluce Links his finest work.
What Colt created was nothing short of genius. He took the natural undulations of the duneland and crafted a course that plays with both your mind and your swing. The result was a 7,337-yard monster that stretches across giant sand hills, offering up views that can distract you from the very real dangers lurking on every shot.
Advertisement
The Beast That Awaits for the 153rd Open Championship
As the world's best golfers prep for this week's 153rd Open, they're facing a course that has been further refined since Lowry's emotional victory in 2019. The Dunluce Links now plays as a par 71 that can bite back harder than ever, especially when those Atlantic winds start howling.
Let me walk you through what makes this course so special — and so absolutely terrifying.
The Opening Gambit: The first hole, "Hughie's," might look innocent enough at 420 yards, but it's flanked by out-of-bounds on both sides. Many players will leave their drivers in the bag, opting for accuracy over distance. It's a psychological test disguised as a golf hole.
Advertisement
Giant's Grave: The second hole was the second-easiest in 2019, but don't let that fool you. This 575-yard par 5 features a quartet of strategically placed bunkers and rewards those brave enough to take on the cross bunkers with their second shot.
The Calamity That Defines Champions: But it's the 16th hole — "Calamity Corner" — that truly separates the wheat from the chaff. At 236 yards, this par 3 demands a carry over a yawning chasm to a green perched 40 to 50 feet above disaster. In 2019, it yielded just 24 birdies all week — the fewest of any hole.
The Shane Lowry Magic of 2019
When the Open returned to Portrush in 2019 after a 68-year absence, something magical happened. Shane Lowry, playing in front of 237,750 spectators — second only to the Centenary Open at St. Andrews — delivered one of the most emotional victories in championship history.
Advertisement
The preparation had been immense. Two new holes — the seventh and eighth — were created on land that had been part of the Valley Links.
Martin Ebert led the redesign, which included five new greens, eight new tee boxes and 10 new bunkers. The course was shortened from par 72 to par 71, but it was actually lengthened by nearly 200 yards to 7,337 yards.
Lowry's third-round 63 in deteriorating conditions was pure poetry. He didn't just win; he commanded the course like a conductor leading an orchestra through a complex symphony.
Republic of Ireland's Shane Lowry after winning the Claret Jug at the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club; July 8, 2021. Credit: PA Images, Richard Sellers
What Makes 2025 Different
For the 153rd Open Championship, Royal Portrush has made subtle but significant changes. The fourth hole, "Fred Daly's," has been lengthened considerably from its 2019 setup, now playing as a true test of accuracy and distance at 502 yards. The new championship tee brings those menacing fairway bunkers fully into play.
Advertisement
"The hole has been lengthened considerably and I think it is going to present a slightly different proposition to what it did in 2019," McNeill said. It's now stroke index one for members — a hole where even the world's best would gladly take four straight fours.
The Links That Time Built
What makes Royal Portrush so special isn't just its championship pedigree — it's the pure, unadulterated links golf experience. The course plays firm and fast, exactly as links golf should. The fescue grasses and sandy soil provide excellent drainage, even in Ireland's notoriously wet climate. But it's the wind that truly completes the picture, adding another dimension to every shot and forcing constant strategic adjustments.
The Dunluce Links is a living piece of golf history. From Old Tom Morris' exhibition match in 1889 to Rory McIlroy's course record 61 in 2005 — and Lowry's third round 63 that helped him win in 2019 — this course has witnessed some of golf's greatest moments.
Advertisement
The Supporting Cast
While the Dunluce Links commands the spotlight, the Valley Links provides its own compelling story. This shorter, more intimate par 71 layout serves as home to both Royal Portrush members and the historic Rathmore Golf Club, whose famous members include 1947 Open champion Fred Daly and 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell.
The clubhouse, rebuilt after a fire in 1947, maintains the traditional atmosphere befitting such a historic venue. It's filled with memorabilia that tells the story of Irish golf, from vintage photographs to championship trophies.
2025 Memories to be Made
As we approach the start of the 153rd Open Championship, Royal Portrush stands ready to add another chapter to its remarkable story. The course, which began as a humble nine-hole layout, has evolved into one of golf's most respected venues.
Advertisement
The Irish crowds will surely be out in force, hoping for another magical moment like Lowry's 2019 triumph. The course will be there too, waiting to test the world's best with its unique blend of natural beauty and strategic challenge.
This isn't just another Open Championship venue — it's Royal Portrush, where the Atlantic winds carry the echoes of golf history and where, in 2025, another champion will be crowned on one of the world's most spectacular stages.
Related: Why I'm Not Getting Cute with My Open Championship Picks
Related: When Magic Almost Happened: Remembering Tom Watson's Heartbreaking Dance With Destiny at Turnberry
Related: Gary Player Reflects on Royal Portrush's Return to The Open Championship
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Peaty hopes to 'put name back in hat' at Glasgow 2026
Three-time Olympic gold medal winning swimmer Adam Peaty believes next year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will "be a great opportunity" to put himself back in the mix for another shot at Olympic glory. Peaty took a break from the sport after winning a silver medal at last year's Paris Olympics. The 30-year-old Englishman is now eyeing the next one - in Los Angeles in 2028 - and says a good showing in Glasgow would be an important step on his journey towards stateside success. "It is a great opportunity, but I am not thinking about a time, I am not even thinking about winning," Peaty, who won double gold at Glasgow 2014, said. Kerr confirms sights set on Glasgow 2026 McIntosh wins fourth gold, medley double for Marchand "I just want to see what happens on the day because there is that famous quote of you don't win an Olympics every four years, you win it every single day up to that four years. "It is exactly the same with Glasgow, but it would be a great opportunity to put my name back in the hat." Peaty did not compete this month at the World Championships in Singapore, where a youthful Great Britain team returned with just two medals in the swimming and only one gold in the men's 4x200m freestyle. But, speaking to BBC Scotland at a coaching clinic in Aberdeen, he said judgments should not be made on that apparently low medal return. "They have got a lot of new people on the team and, like with any younger team, there is space to grow," he said. "In terms of medals alone, people will say 'that is not enough' for the investment, but it is a long process and you can't expect to have a new, younger team and still win lots of medals, especially after Paris. "Normally, two years out from an Olympics is where you can get an inkling of what is happening, but it's all about making sure there is no complacency. "As soon as we get complacent, we lose those results and we get defeated."
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Winners at Catterick Golf Club's Ladies' Invitation Day
Catterick Golf Club's Ladies' Invitation Day was an enjoyable event with refreshments at the Halfway House hosted by Lady Captain Jude Stamp and a two-course meal after the game. The longest drive on the first hole was won by Vicky Iveson. Sandra Jones won nearest the pin in two shots at the 17th. Jackie Barker and her partner Rebecca Ellis won the competition with 43 pts. Second were Sue Dines and Chris Rushworth, third were Beryl Murray and Ainsley Morgan. The Anne Moore trophy, a 4BBB greensome competition sponsored by Anne, was won by Beryl Murray and Wendy Parr with a net 63. Second were Davina Matthews and Jude Stamp with a net 65, and third were Sandra Jones and Marion Palmer with a net 69. Seniors Open stableford: 1st Ed Glass and Ken Mills 50 pts, 2nd Julian Wade and Jeremy Wade 48 pts, 3rd P Cook and M Kelly 46 pts. Simon Ellis won the Div 1 August medal with a net 69, 2nd Dex Olmert net 73, 3rd Gavin Mann net 74. Div 2: 1st Raja Dura net 71, 2nd Ian Owen net 73, 3rd Cliff Addison net 73. Div 3: 1st Tom Ellis net 69, 2nd Krishna Singh net 71, 3rd David Hanson net 71.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Somerset golf club welcomes 75 new members since January
Enmore Park Golf Club has welcomed 75 new members since January. This includes men, women, and juniors who have joined the club in 2025. The club has an induction process for new members, led by club induction co-ordinator, Gwen Cavill. She is supported by link co-ordinators from the men's, ladies, seniors, and junior sections. The purpose of the induction is to fully integrate new members into the club. New member induction co-ordinators, Rob Fear, Adrian Winter, Jo Wyatt, and Alison Marchant, volunteer their time to help with this process. The 'Get into Golf Focus Group' also plays a key role in encouraging local community members to join the club. They promote the coaching programmes led by head golf professional, Harry Brown, and golf professional, Alex Elwick. The club's website has a new members section with useful information for anyone wanting to join. Those interested in joining the club can contact the general manager, Matt Brooke, on 01278 672100 extension four, or email manager@ The club is always open to visitors and potential new members. Every year, the club organises a nine-hole Texas scramble event for new members. This event gives new members a chance to play golf with other new members and learn about the club's competitions and social activities. Twenty-two new members and seven existing members took part in the most recent event in July. The winners of this event were Rob Fear, William Swift, Jonathan Cridge, and Nigel Redman. Several competitions have taken place recently at the club. The Ladies Eloise Grace Salver 18-hole competition was won by Heather Neale with 44 points, and the Ladies Eccles Cup was won by Angie Bowden with 45 points. Ann Morrison won the Ladies Individual nine-hole Stableford with 23 points, while Rhys Morgan won the Broomfield Cup, a nine-hole competition for past captains, with 20 points. Vince Hall was the winner of Week 16 of the Summer League with 22 points, and Edward Ingram won Saturday's Pro Shop Medal with a score of 69. The seniors' team also recently hosted their Long Sutton counterparts. Despite a gloomy weather forecast, the match was played in dry conditions. It was a close contest, with Enmore winning overall by 3.5 to 2.5. The winning pairs were Kevin Lewis with Peter Farnell, Chris Willsteed with Jeff Saunders, and Steve Jones with Peter Scott. Jeff Saunders was the winner of the nearest the pin competition.
