Ranked 7th on Golf Monthly’s most recent Top 100 Courses listing, the Dunluce at Royal Portrush is one of the great links courses of the world.
It’s a classic Harry Colt design with impressive recent improvements by Martin Ebert. From July 17-20, Portrush will play host to The Open once again following Shane Lowry’s emphatic win in 2019.
Ahead of The 153rd Open Championship, we decided to dig into our archive in the search for key information that will help you prepare for the final men’s Major – whether you are picking your best bets for the Open Championship or just looking to immerse yourself in the majesty of Royal Portrush.
Gary McNeill, head professional at Royal Portrush since 1999, shared his thoughts on the course ahead of the 2019 Open Championship – providing an excellent insight into what players and spectators can expect as battle commences for the Claret Jug…
Royal Portrush Course Guide: 153rd Open Championship Venue
Gary McNeill
Gary McNeill has been the Head Professional at Royal Portrush for more than two decades and has even played as a marker at the 148th Open Championship in 2019. Gary had a stellar amateur career before turning professional in 1993, and has won multiple titles on the Irish PGA circuit.
First and foremost, the setting at Portrush is absolutely spectacular. This is a beautiful golf course and a beautiful part of the world.
The north Antrim coast is stunning. I think one of the things to note is there are quite a number of changes in elevation on the course, allowing both players and spectators to take in the striking views across the course, the sea and the coastline.
On top of that, you have a fantastic design; a Harry Colt classic that has no two holes running consecutively in the same direction.
The holes are always twisting and moving and turning. The players will have to deal with wind coming from different directions all the time as they go from hole to hole.
The wind will generally come north-westerly and that’s probably as challenging as it can be.
You start on the 1st with the wind coming a little left to right and helping ever so slightly, and then it’s very much left to right as you work your way out over the first five holes. But really there are no easy winds because of…
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