Royal Portrush
Course
Royal Portrush Golf Club, Portrush, County Antrim
Founded 1888. Links Course
Located on the spectacular Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland, Royal Portrush boasts two superb links courses, the Valley Links and the more renowned Dunluce Links. Obviously you will want to play the Dunluce Links but the Valley is a fine links too and is worth playing in its own right or as part of a 36-hole day. The club was founded as the County Club in 1888, acquired its Royal prefix by 1892 and finally became known as Royal Portrush Golf Club in 1895. Royal Portrush is associated with many firsts. It was the first club to host a professional event in Ireland in 1895 and in 1951 became the first and only Irish course to host the British Open. The Open Championship returned to Royal Portrush for a hugely successful staging in 2019, an event which saw Irishman, Shane Lowry win his first major championship in emotional scenes.
Sightseeing
The main attraction of Ireland as a golf destination may indeed be its great golf courses but the overall experience is influenced by many other factors including great accommodation options, restaurants, pubs, people, and not least it’s stunning scenery and superb visitor attractions. Each region offers something very different and with all locations being quite close together, it’s very easy to mix the stunning countryside and coastline with more urban attractions.
We work with each of our clients to recommend what suits their trip best. You may have a full day to spend sightseeing or you may squeeze in a quick stop on the way to or from the golf course but we will make sure that you maximise your experience at all times. The below is intended as a very general guide to sightseeing in Ireland.
Northern Ireland has many stories to tell about its troubled past but thankfully the harrowing historical element is now confined to history and we can more fully appreciate the region for its general beauty, vibrant cities and many attractions. The Antrim coastline in particular is breath-taking, with the impressive Giants Causeway (pictured below) a must-see for any visitor.
The historic walled City of Derry is a real highlight and visitors should include a visit to the Walled City Brewery and one of the local walking tours of the city. Playing Royal Portrush & Portstewart provides the ideal opportunity to visit the famous Bushmills Distillery nearby, while you should also take in the imposing ruins of Dunluce Castle and the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.
Belfast is another vibrant city, which offers much in terms of history, attractions, restaurants and excellent shopping. The recently opened Titanic Belfast tells the sad story of Titanic and is a wonderful experience that should be included if at all possible, while the Ulster Museum and Belfast City Hall are also well worth a visit if time allows. Travelling south from Belfast, your likely destination as a golfer is Newcastle, home to the world renowned golf links of Royal County Down. Highly recommended in this area are Castlewellan Forest Park and Tollymore Forest Park. Both locations offer stunning scenery and beautiful walks.