Royal Portrush Golf Club - Valley Links

Royal Portrush Golf Club

Royal Portrush Golf Club is situated on the North Antrim Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland and has two of the best and most challenging links courses in the world - Dunluce and Valley.

The courses occupy a triangle of giant sandhills which present magnificient views in all directions. The hills of Donegal in the West, the Isle of Islay in the North East and Giants Causeway to the East. Dunluce is overlooked by the ruins of 13th Century Dunluce Castle.

The Valley Links, on lovely natural seaside turf is a full length championship course of 6,304 yards from the men's tees(SSS70).

On this course, one of the two qualifying rounds in the North of Ireland Open Championship is played annually. In addition, the Valley has hosted qualifying for The Senior British Open and The Amateur Championship.

The Dunluce Links is the only golf links outside Great Britain to host The Open Championship in 1951, won by Max Faulkner.

The Valley is situated in sheltered country in the War Hollow. The War Hollow forms part of the Valley Links is said to have been the scene of an ancient battle between The Chieftains of The Route and Magnus Barefoot, King of Norway, in the year of 1102. The Valley is remarkable for the fact that there are only twenty-two bunkers in the whole eighteen holes.

Nonetheless, the natural hazards are such as to make this course a really stiff test for the low handicap golfer and great accuracy is called for in the approach shots to the small and cleverly sited greens.

The Valley course is wonderful test of links golf, and provides an excellent compliment to the Dunluce Links.

Those golfers who take time to play it will realise how good a course it is. The shorter yardage may suggest an easier challenge than its bigger brother next door but never the less it will test every aspect of your game along the way.

Portrush's Ryder Cup star and multiple winner on the European Tour Graeme McDowell learned his game on the Valley links.