One of the world’s best links courses returns to the Open rota, with Royal Portrush hosting golf’s oldest Major championship for the first time since 1951. Portrush has a great lineage – its original design was done by Old Tom Morris, then it was reworked by H.S. Colt in the 1930s, with a new routing created. More recently, architect Martin Ebert added two new holes (the sixth and seventh) using land from Portrush’s neighbouring Valley course to replace its previously weaker 17th and 18th holes.
“The course’s greatest strength is its setting,” Ebert says. “The dramatic elevation changes lead to exhilarating shots.”
Other than those changes, the remaining 16 holes are largely the same played over the 1951 Open. Sixty-eight years later, an even stronger links will host just the second Open Championship not on Scottish or English soil.
Here’s a look at every hole at Royal Portrush:
No.1, par 4, 421 yards (385 metres):
(All hole photography by David Cannon/Getty Images)
No.2, par 5, 574 yards (525 metres):
A view from the fairway at Royal Portrush’s second hole.
An aerial layout of Royal Portrush’s par-5 second hole.
No.3, par 3, 177 yards (162 metres):
The third green, with the 15th hole ‘Skerries’ behind in the distance.
No.4, par 4, 482 yards (441 metres):
An aerial view from behind the fourth green.
The approach to the fourth green.
No.5, par 4, 374 yards (342 metres):
The tee at the beautiful par-4 fifth.
The approach at No.5.
An aerial behind the fifth green, looking down the sixth fairway.
No.6, par 3, 194 yards (177 metres):
Looking from behind the green at the par-3 sixth hole.
An up-close look at the sixth green, one of many impressive H.S. Colt greensites.
No.7, par 5, 592 yards (541 metres):
Stretching along seaside real estate, the new par-5 seventh – built using land from the Valley course’s fifth and sixth holes – is a stunner.
Looking up the fairway to the green at No.7.
No.8, par 4, 434 yards (397 metres):
The new par-4 eighth hole – also rebuilt by the Mackenzie and Ebert team – runs parallel to the coastline.
A closer look at the approach into the eighth hole.
No.9, par 4, 432 yards (395 metres):
The ninth green, captured with a rainbow in the background.
No.10: par 4, 447 yards: (409 metres):
The undulating green complex at the 10th hole.
No.11, par 4, 474 yards (433 metres):
The sun rises at the par-4 11th hole on the Dunluce Links.
No.12, par 5, 532 yards (486 metres):
A view from the tee at the par-5 12th hole.
A view of the approach, and the menacing bunkers guarding the way at the 12th hole.
No.13, par 3, 194 yards (177 metres):
The tee shot at the 13th.
No.14, par 4, 473 yards (433 metres):
A close-up look at the 14th green.
No.15, par 4, 426 yards (390 metres):
A view from the tee at the 15th hole.
An aerial view of the 15th.
The 15th green.
No.16, par 3, 236 yards (216 metres):
An aerial behind the famous 16th green at Royal Portrush.
