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Royal Portrush Golf Club (Valley Links)

NORTHERN IRELAND, IRELAND

Royal Portrush Golf Club (Valley Links)

Harry Colt's enclosed links rolls between East Strand and Dunluce dunes.

  • NORTHERN IRELAND Location
  • LINKS Course type
  • 18 HOLES Holes
  • PAR 71 Par

Beyond the Scorecard

  • Course established: 1933
  • Course designer/s: Harry Colt; later work by Mackenzie & Ebert
  • National ranking: #4 in Northern Ireland
  • Known for: Enclosed links below the Dunluce dunes
  • Defining feature: Lower ground between two giant dune systems

Colt's Links Between the Dunes

The Valley Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club formed part of Harry Colt's two-course scheme, formally opened in 1933. The club itself dates to 1888. The Valley occupies lower ground between East Strand and the higher dunes carrying the Dunluce Links. That position explains its name and gives the round an enclosed feel, with natural humps and hollows shaping sightlines.

Its identity is distinct from Dunluce. Fairways thread through tumbling terrain, and the tall sandhills often block sea views while sheltering parts of the course. The 5th is a short par four from an elevated tee to a green framed by dunes and deep bunkers. The following par-three 6th climbs slightly to a partly hidden green, with a dune tongue masking its right edge.

The course also changed as Royal Portrush prepared for The Open's return. Two former Valley holes supplied ground for Dunluce's new 7th and 8th. Mackenzie & Ebert then formed three replacement Valley holes, including a finish with views towards the beach and sea, and restored an original Portrush hole. The result retains Colt's enclosed links character while carrying a newer closing sequence.

Why Add This Course to Your Golf Experience

Royal Portrush Valley gives a Causeway Coast itinerary another highly ranked round at the same historic club, without demanding the profile or pace of Dunluce. It also has its own competitive role, hosting one of the two qualifying rounds for the North of Ireland Open Championship each year.

The course has served as Rathmore Golf Club's home since 1947, adding a strong local identity. Kinfern can include it as a rewarding second round at Portrush or as a considered alternative when building a balanced coastal schedule.

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