Royal Portrush Golf Club

Royal Portrush Golf Club in County Antrim, Northern Ireland is the only golf club outside of Great Britain which has hosted The Open Championship, the oldest of golf's major championships. It is considered a highly testing course, with a particularly scenic setting. The Dunluce Links course is rated number 4 of "The 100 greatest courses in the British Isles", "Golf World" 11/96. It was ranked number 12 in the world in "Golf Magazine's" biennial rankings of the Top 100 Courses in the World, often considered the gold standard of course rankings. Additionally "Golf Digest" ranks it as the third best course outside the United States. [http://www.golfdigest.com/planetgolf/]

Situated on the beautiful North Antrim Causeway Coast, Royal Portrush occupies a triangle of giant sand hills with views of the hills of Donegal in the west, the Isle of Islay and Southern Hebrides in the north, with the Giant's Causeway and the Skerries in the east. The course is overlooked by the ruins of 13th century Dunluce Castle and this gives its name to Royal Portrush's famous Dunluce course.

This beautifully natural golf course is one for enthusiasts of the game but it is a difficult challenge for high handicappers and anyone who is liable to stray of the straight and narrow. From June or July on the rough is well named and discretion rather than bravery should be your watchword. Highlights of the course include the famous 14th, Calamity Corner, [ [http://www.royalportrush.com/14th.php Calamity Corner, Royal Portrush Golf Club, Royal Portrush Golf Course, Northern Ireland, Senior British Open Golf 2004 host course ] ] a Par 3 in excess of 200 yds requiring a full carry to the green over an imposing ravine.

The club was founded in 1888 as "The County Club" it became "The Royal County Club" in 1892 under the patronage of the Duke of York and assumed its present name in 1895 under the patronage of the Prince of Wales. In 1947 club member Fred Daly, became the first Irishman to win The Open Championship until Pádraig Harrington's victory at Carnoustie in 2007. Four years later, when the club hosted the Open, the victor was Englishman Max Faulkner. More recently the course has hosted the Senior British Open Championship in 1995-99 and 2004.

It has an agreement with a second club, Rathmore Golf Club, when members of Portrush can play the Rathmore course, "the Valley", at any time and members of Rathmore may play the Dunluce course at any time.

There is also a driving range, open to members only, where the club professional Gary McNeil and his assistants give lessons.

It is believed that Tiger Woods shot an 81 on this course during a round.

Rory McIlroy holds the course record with a 61.

The Open Championship

The Open Championship was staged here only once, and here's the only champion.

External links

* [http://www.royalportrushgolfclub.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.royalportrush.com/ RoyalPortrush.com Fan site]
* [http://www.golfclubatlas.com/royalportrush1.html Golf Club Atlas Guide]

References