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Course of the Week: Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland

Host of The 152nd Open Championship—and one of the toughest courses on Earth.

If you’re watching The Open (aka The British Open) this weekend, you’ll be staring down the fairways of Royal Portrush Golf Club—a legendary links course on the rugged coast of Northern Ireland. It’s a course with history, wind, drama, and brutal bunkers. And if you're wondering: Yes, you can actually play it.

Here’s what makes Portrush special—and what to watch for this weekend.

The Course: Royal Portrush – Dunluce Links

• Location: Portrush, Northern Ireland

• Par: 71

• Yardage: ~7,300 yards (varies slightly for championship setup)

• Type: True links golf—wind, firm turf, wild bounces

• Designer: Harry Colt (1932 redesign)

Portrush is widely considered one of the hardest Open venues in the rotation. Tight fairways, punishing rough, and wind that never stops moving. The closing stretch (holes 15–18) is a gauntlet.

Can You Play It?

Yes. Royal Portrush is a private members club, but visitors are welcome on designated days and times. You’ll need to plan in advance, and availability is limited around major tournaments.

• Visitor Green Fee: ~£300–£375

• Booking: https://www.royalportrushgolfclub.com

• Pro Tip: Combine it with a Northern Ireland links loop—add Portstewart and Castlerock for a proper trip.

Open Championship History at Portrush

• 2019 Open Championship

  • Winner: Shane Lowry (-15)

  • Crowd favorite. Took full control in brutal Saturday weather and never let go.

• Previous Open: 1951

  • Winner: Max Faulkner

  • That’s a 68-year gap between Opens—making Portrush one of the rarer, more exclusive major venues.

Portrush will host again in 2025, so this year gives us a preview of what’s coming next.

The 2024 Open Championship: Who’s the Favorite?

The Open is known for chaos—weather, bunkers, and creative shotmaking. Here's the leaderboard heading in:

🔥 Top Favorites

• Scottie Scheffler (+500) – Best player on the planet. Wind doesn’t scare him.

• Rory McIlroy (+700) – Grew up nearby. This one would mean everything.

• Ludvig Åberg (+2200) – Stoic, stylish, and built for links.

• Tommy Fleetwood (+2500) – Still chasing his first major. Has the game for Portrush.

• Brooks Koepka (+2800) – No. 1 in majors played with a chip on his shoulder.

💰 Value Pick

• Min Woo Lee (+6000) – Short game and links experience. Dangerous if he’s in form.

What to Watch For

• Weather – Rain? Wind? Sunshine? Probably all three in the same hour.

• Rough – Thick and unforgiving. Playing from the fairway is everything.

• Local Pressure – Rory will have the loudest crowd—but with that comes nerves.

How to Watch

• U.S. TV Coverage:

  • Golf Channel: Early rounds

  • NBC: Weekend coverage and final round

• Time Zone: Portrush is on British Summer Time (BST), which is +5 hours from Eastern Time

  • So if it’s 7 AM in Portrush, it’s 2 AM ET / 11 PM PT

  • Plan to wake up early or catch replays and highlights mid-morning

Summary

Royal Portrush isn’t just this week’s Open venue—it’s one of the most scenic, challenging, and prestigious links courses in the world. You can play it if you plan ahead, and this week’s championship will show you exactly why it’s so revered.

Set the alarm. Place your bets. The final major of the year is here.

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