Northern Ireland’s north coast has an unusually high concentration of serious links golf for its size, and most of it is within a short drive of Portrush.
In Portrush itself
Royal Portrush Golf Club is the headline act — the Dunluce Links has hosted The Open three times (1951, 2019, 2025) — but the club grounds hold more than one course. The Valley Links is the home course of Rathmore Golf Club, a separate club sharing Royal Portrush’s land since the mid-20th century; it’s where Graeme McDowell learned to play before winning the 2010 US Open. There’s also the Skerries, a shorter 6-hole course within the grounds, good for beginners or a quick warm-up round, with views over East Strand and Dunluce Castle.
Further along the coast
- Portstewart Golf Club — three courses including the Strand, which hosted the 2017 Irish Open.
- Castlerock Golf Club — two courses, the better-known Mussenden named for its clifftop neighbour.
- Bushfoot Golf Club — links course at Portballintrae, Causeway views.
- Ballycastle Golf Club — 18 holes at the eastern end of the Causeway Coastal Route.
- Gracehill Golf Course and Roe Park Golf Course — a little further afield, both worth the detour.
Home of champions
Portrush’s own major champion is Graeme McDowell, who learned the game at Rathmore before winning the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach — Royal Portrush’s name got a further boost worldwide when he credited his home course. Darren Clarke, originally from Dungannon in Co. Tyrone, won The Open at Royal St George’s in 2011 and later became Royal Portrush’s home professional. Northern Ireland’s third major champion, Rory McIlroy (from Holywood, Co. Down), won The Open at Royal Liverpool in 2014 and has sponsored the Irish Open through his own foundation — all three remain closely tied to the area’s golf scene.
