Dunluce Road,
Portrush, Co. Antrim BT56 8JQ
Office
+44 (0)28 7082 2311Pro shop
+44 (0)28 7082 3335Fax
+44 (0)28 7082 3139Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Gary McNeill (Head Professional).The Course:
18 holes. Seaside links. Undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb.
Surroundings:
Coastal duneland.
Designer:
Harry Colt (1932).
Above distances are for the Valley Links. Also at Royal Portrush is the 18-hole Dunluce Links (par-72; 7143 yds from back tees; SSS 75).
55.199789
-6.636976
5 miles NE of Coleraine.
From Coleraine take the A29 direction Portrush. After 5 miles, upon entering Portrush, turn right onto the A2 direction Bushmills. After o.4 miles golf entrance is on your left (approx o.3 miles before the entrance to Royal Portush Dunluce course).
Royal Portrush (Valley)
Royal Portrush Golf Club (Valley Course): Royal Portrush's Valley Links is certainly worth a visit in its own right, even if it is "looked down on" by its more revered big brother, the Dunluce Links. Most of the course is played in a relatively flattish valley, between the bigger dunes of the Dunluce course and a single line of immense dunes, behind which hides the sea.
The family resemblance between the two links courses, Dunluce and Valley, is clear. Both are laid out on excellent quality natural links land, where crisp turf carpets the rolling fairways. Around the greens, slick run-offs and strategically-placed and mischievous pot bunkers play their part. Surprisingly the course is home to only 22 bunkers, although the threat they pose would suggest a much larger number.
More than just a warm-up for the Dunluce, this is a great little links course that stands on its own two feet, quite independent of big brother. The Valley may be a tad shorter than the Dunluce, but be assured, your full game will be thoroughly tested. The Valley's Championship tees provide a par-70 course that stretches to 6,304 yards, with an SSS of 71. The shorter Medal tees give 6,054 yards, with a par of 68 and SSS 70.
Pick of the holes: Four exquisite short par-3s, including the 3rd hole (Fairy Ring), are countered by the very testing 237-yard par-3 6th (Curran's Point).
Visitors welcome on weekdays; more restricted on weekends.
Must book in advance. Handicap required.
Credit cards accepted. Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2018].
Players walk this course. Golf carts are not available. Caddies available (book in advance).
Good
Royal Portrush's Valley Links is used each year as a final qualifying course for the North of Ireland Amateur Championship.
George, Duke of York (later George V) conferred the Royal prefix on Portrush GC in 1892. By royal prerogative, three Northern Irish golf clubs use the "Royal" title, namely: Belfast, Portrush and County Down.
Valley course:
Ireland: 44th best course in Ireland (Golf World, 2019).
Whiterocks, Portrush, Co. Antrim BT56 8NF
+44 (0)28 7082 2236
Visit websiteA hotel with superb views over Royal Portrush golf courses and the sea.
No
Royal Portrush (Dunluce and Valley courses)
Portstewart; Castlerock
No
Royal Portrush (Dunluce and Valley courses)
Portstewart; Castlerock
Tournaments:
Women’s major championships: the month of June sees two women’s majors: the US Women’s Open (June 3-6), with A Lim Kim defending, and the Women’s PGA Championship (June 24-27), with Sei Young Kim defending.
Senior PGA Championship: the revered Southern Hills in Oklahoma hosts the 81st staging of this event (May 27-30); Ken Tanigawa holds the title from its last playing in 2019.
Who's Who:
Phil Mickelson: in winning the 2021 PGA Championship, the world’s most famous “leftie” became the oldest winner of a golf major championship.
Hideki Matsuyama: became the first Japanese professional to win a men’s major championship, when he triumphed in this year’s Masters Tournament.
New 27-hole golf complex to be built in southern Belgium
A new golf complex in southern Belgium, close to the border with Luxembourg, will start construction in June 2021.
American Dunes opens for play following Nicklaus transformation
Nicklaus Design has transformed the former Grand Haven Golf Club in Michigan into the American Dunes Golf Club, a new public course that is now open for play
New course opens for play at Barnbougle
Bill Coore designs 14-hole layout with “sporty” holes on dune ridge above Lost Farm (golf carts allowed).
Gamble Sands opens short course:
David McLay Kidd’s 14-hole QuickSands short course has opened for play at Gamble Sands in Brewster, Washington.
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