HawkeyeMS
Ryder Cup Winner
The Dunluce links at Royal Portrush sits on the coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. This was my first experience of links golf, I had expectations of fast, firm undulating fairways curtained by thick rough and hard fast greens. I wasn’t disappointed, except that the greens weren't as fast as I had expected.
What I hadn’t been expecting was the narrowness of the fairways. The first hole is straightforward, the fairway dropping from the tee and raising back up to the green. As on all holes, a small collar of first cut is flanked by thicker but wispy rough which if you’re lucky isn’t too punishing but this quickly gives way ball eating clag you really want to try to avoid. The first 4 holes, while being narrow, are visible from the tee so you know what you have to do. Number 5 on the other hand is a dogleg right, it’s not a long hole but the direct line from tee to green is a 200yd carry over thick rough. There is apparently a fairway but it is only really visible from the green which sits on the edge of the dunes, go long and you’re on the beach (and OOB).
The course weaves its way through spectacular dunes, when you look at it you marvel at the imagination of the architect to be able to create this beautiful course in the first place.
The hole I had been told most about was the 210 yard Par 3 14th called “Calamityâ€. The prevailing wind is into the tee and on a windy day it’s hard to imagine I have enough club to reach the green. Missing right leaves you with a shot back up to the green from 40 feet below, if you find the ball. This hole is the home of the “Bobby Locke Hollow†where, during the 1951 Open Championship, the great man deliberately played to a hollow on the left of the green all 4 days, and made par each time.
As you plot your way through the dunes you find yourself spending more time looking around and less time thinking about your golf, I actually found myself wondering if this might be the most picturesque place on earth.
As you make your way down 16 and 17, the Valley Links is visible to the right, built into the dunes you can see the wooden doorways of what I can only imagine are shelters, on a calm sunny day as it was when I played, they make you grateful that the weather has been kind while serving as a reminder of what might have been.
Playing the course is as much of a battle of mind as it is of skill, if you can block the copious amount of rough out of your mind you stand half a chance of committing to the shot and keeping it in play, the words of Old Tom Morris seem appropriate; “Far & Sureâ€.
I am not the most travelled golfer by any stretch of the imagination and whenever I am asked the question “What is your favourite courseâ€, I have never really been able give an answer, now I can – The Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush, by a country mile.
Every serious golfer should pay it a visit.
What I hadn’t been expecting was the narrowness of the fairways. The first hole is straightforward, the fairway dropping from the tee and raising back up to the green. As on all holes, a small collar of first cut is flanked by thicker but wispy rough which if you’re lucky isn’t too punishing but this quickly gives way ball eating clag you really want to try to avoid. The first 4 holes, while being narrow, are visible from the tee so you know what you have to do. Number 5 on the other hand is a dogleg right, it’s not a long hole but the direct line from tee to green is a 200yd carry over thick rough. There is apparently a fairway but it is only really visible from the green which sits on the edge of the dunes, go long and you’re on the beach (and OOB).
The course weaves its way through spectacular dunes, when you look at it you marvel at the imagination of the architect to be able to create this beautiful course in the first place.
The hole I had been told most about was the 210 yard Par 3 14th called “Calamityâ€. The prevailing wind is into the tee and on a windy day it’s hard to imagine I have enough club to reach the green. Missing right leaves you with a shot back up to the green from 40 feet below, if you find the ball. This hole is the home of the “Bobby Locke Hollow†where, during the 1951 Open Championship, the great man deliberately played to a hollow on the left of the green all 4 days, and made par each time.
As you plot your way through the dunes you find yourself spending more time looking around and less time thinking about your golf, I actually found myself wondering if this might be the most picturesque place on earth.
As you make your way down 16 and 17, the Valley Links is visible to the right, built into the dunes you can see the wooden doorways of what I can only imagine are shelters, on a calm sunny day as it was when I played, they make you grateful that the weather has been kind while serving as a reminder of what might have been.
Playing the course is as much of a battle of mind as it is of skill, if you can block the copious amount of rough out of your mind you stand half a chance of committing to the shot and keeping it in play, the words of Old Tom Morris seem appropriate; “Far & Sureâ€.
I am not the most travelled golfer by any stretch of the imagination and whenever I am asked the question “What is your favourite courseâ€, I have never really been able give an answer, now I can – The Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush, by a country mile.
Every serious golfer should pay it a visit.
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