Portstewart

[chico]

Going to Portstewart on holiday next month and taking the club's. Going to play the riverside course and 1 other. Any local knowledge on Portstewart Strand, Castlerock and the Valley course at Portrush. Thanks in advance.

 

[Berger]

The front 9 on the strand course at Portstewart is fantastic. It mostly weaves its way among the high dunes and is proper links golf. The back 9 isn't bad but isn't as dramatic or pleasing on the eye as the front. Overall its a very good course and a good test of golf.

I haven't played the other two you mentioned but I'm booked to play Castlerock in an open next month. The Valley at Portrush is supposed to be an excellent course which often gets overlooked because of the dunluce links beside it.

 

[brendy]

Castlerock is a lovely course...dont judge it on the uber weak first two holes, wait until you walk round to the 3rd teebox.

 

[huds1475]

I was supposed to be going there for a wedding last year. Was salivating the same dilemma.

Enjoy!

 

[chico]

Thanks for the replies guys. They all look decent still undecided but a bit of time to make my mind up.

 

[groundskeeperwilly]

The Valley at Portrush is good - played it last week and enjoyed it (25deg sunshine and a good stableford score so everything was in it's favour). Also played Castlerock which has a few very reachable Par 5's which I also enjoyed. Others in my group didn't like either course though so just shows how individual course love is!

 

[stevek1969]

All 3 courses are class have played them all more than 20 times and have never came of disappointed , i'd swap the Riverside for the Strand and play the Valley at Portrush which is a bargain at under £45 a round

 

[chico]

Thanks for the reply stevek1969. Playing the Riverside with my nephew because he's new to golf. Thought the others would be a bit tough for him.

 

[stevek1969]

Thanks for the reply stevek1969. Playing the Riverside with my nephew because he's new to golf. Thought the others would be a bit tough for him.

If he's new to golf maybe take him to the Town course as they call it in Portstewart, it starts of beside the water then you cross the road to the other part, great wee course, ive played it with my kids many times

 

[chico]

If he's new to golf maybe take him to the Town course as they call it in Portstewart, it starts of beside the water then you cross the road to the other part, great wee course, ive played it with my kids many times

Cheers, we played that last year when he had not long started. Might take him there first to see if he's ready for the Riverside but whatever happens I'm playing one of the good ones. Might get him to caddy for me to show him how not to do it.

 

[stevek1969]

Cheers, we played that last year when he had not long started. Might take him there first to see if he's ready for the Riverside but whatever happens I'm playing one of the good ones. Might get him to caddy for me to show him how not to do it.

Good stuff, enjoy where ever you decide to play, Castlerock is a good after 1st and 2nd holes and the welcome in the clubhouse is spot on

 

[Backache]

I had a trip to Ireland last year(well two actually but only one involved Antrim).
We played both Castlerock and Portstewart Strand, but not the Vallley at Portrush, we got lucky and played Dunluce.

My own preference would be for The Strand where the first half is really great links golf and the second half is pretty good too. But I really enjoyed both courses and you should have a great time on either.

 

[palindromicbob]

Cheers, we played that last year when he had not long started. Might take him there first to see if he's ready for the Riverside but whatever happens I'm playing one of the good ones. Might get him to caddy for me to show him how not to do it.

Riverside should be ideal for your nephew. Not a punishing course but challenging enough to be enjoyable. Try and drive the 9th .

Never played the Strand (due to in October) so can't really comment on it.

Castlerock is great course and a real challenge of golf. Would never pay the full green fee price for it though.

The Valley is a hidden gem of a course. Some great holes and is overlooked because of the courses around it. I've haven't played it since they lost a few holes to the Dunluce but heard the new holes they've added are good. It's definitely going to give you the best value for money.