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, ranked No. 7 in Golf Digest’s latest World 100 ranking, 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 neighboring Valley course to replace its previously weaker 17th and 18th holes.
“The course’s greatest strength is its setting,” Ebert told Golf Digest’s Mike Stachura. “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:
No. 2, par-5 574 yards:
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:
The third green, with the 15th hole ‘Skerries’ behind in the distance.
No. 4, par-4 482 yards:
An aerial view from behind the fourth green.
The approach to the fourth green.
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No. 5, par-4 374 yards:
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:
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:
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:
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:
The ninth green, captured with a rainbow in the background.
Inward nine:
No. 10: par-4 447 yards:
The undulating green complex at the 10th hole.
No. 11, par-4 474 yards:
The sun rises at the par-4 11th hole on the Dunluce Links.
No. 12, par-5 532 yards:
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.
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No. 13, par-3 194 yards:
The tee shot at the 13th.
No. 14, par-4 473 yards:
A close-up look at the 14th green.
No. 15, par-4 426 yards:
A view from the tee at the 15th hole.
An aerial view of No. 15.
The 15th green.
No. 16, par-3 236 yards:
An aerial behind the famous 16th green at Royal Portrush.
A view from the par-3 16th hole.
The undulating green at the 236-yard par 3.
No. 17, par-4 408 yards:
The approach to the par-4 17th hole.
No. 18, par-4 474 yards:
Royal Portrush’s home hole.
The run-up to the finisher.
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