The experience of playing golf at Royal Portrush

Scottie Scheffler lifted the Claret Jug at Royal Portrush in July 2025. Several months later, Golfshake Ambassador Andy Picken had the chance to play this revered golf course and he has described the experience for us.

Having first played Royal Portrush in 2018, my excitement levels were off the scale at the opportunity to return. It was one of my favourite golfing experiences ever and the review I created reflected this as it detailed every hole. 

I intend that this review of the playing experience will take more into account how it feels to play the venue, the preparation process and the logistics involved, as this is such a bucket list type location that few golfers will get to experience at first-hand.

My love affair with Royal Portrush was enhanced after I watched every minute of the 2019 Open won by Shane Lowry on the TV and started to get a much better understanding of the incredible golfing architecture that Portrush offers.

I did the same for the 2025 Open watching the awesomely consistent Scottie Scheffler. 

When I received the invitation to revisit, I cannot accurately describe my sense of excitement and anticipation. I rarely lose sleep over golf, but this place is very special.

Just How Special is Royal Portrush?

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Having consumed a monumental Irish breakfast at the Dunluce Lodge, I wandered out to take a last view of the Martin Ebert putting green as I waited to board our coach for the short journey to the home of the 2025 Open.

The morning light provided sunshine over the Scottish islands of Jura and Islay. Donegal was also in view. Each sea facing room at Dunluce Lodge has binoculars helpfully available in the windowsill. 

We drove to Dunluce Castle to allow some photography that captured the grandeur and jaw dropping beauty of the golf course and its coast from the A1. Despite having seen this perspective of the course before it still caused me to gasp out loud in appreciation. This is also a spot that would be recognised by fans of the epic TV show Game of Thrones.

The golf course lay crumpled and tousled in front of me and my mind wandered to its origins. I am no geologist but found it necessary to research exactly what gives this part of the world its uniquely beautiful and rugged history.

The Skerries stand proudly in their role of erosion prevention that has been successful for 60 million years. Molten rock was squeezed between existing folds of rock allowing them both to be cooked and crystalised into Jurassic mudstone with its unique ability to prevent the power of the Atlantic Ocean from damaging the beach and its dunes.

Having been here before, I gave myself extra time to prepare for the round to come. The clubhouse is simply wonderful, with memorabilia at every turn that deserved my full, undivided attention. There was no need for any food from the sumptuous clubhouse due to the earlier breakfast at the Dunluce Lodge.

I love the artwork of Lee Wybranski and had with me a t-shirt illustrated with his wonderful rendition of Calamity Corner for the 2025 Open. It seemed completely appropriate for this to be illustrated with the view I was grateful to receive from my suite at Dunluce Lodge. 

As I wandered through the hallowed halls of the clubhouse, I was drawn to some epic original artwork created by Lee that is now on permanent display. His 2019 image is stunning and displayed closely to his 2025 image.

Prior to examining his social media accounts, I had not realised that another original artwork by Norman Wilkinson was displayed close to his originals of the Royal Portrush layout.

Wilkinson was commissioned to produce an image for use as a railway poster to promote the venue. These golf related posters are the reason Lee began a career in golf related art. 

I love the work of Wilkinson, who was prolific and operated globally. He was also the genius who invented the ‘dazzle’ camouflage system that was used to hide ships from wartime attacks. 

One of my other golfing heroes was Dr Alister MacKenzie, who also developed the use of camouflage in a wartime setting to save lives. Many of the techniques he detailed were later incorporated into his golf course designs by creating areas of visual deception with false fronts to greens.

Preparing to Play Royal Portrush

An hour passed in the blink of an eye, and I then started to get my game face on prior to the 11.14 tee time.

The locker room and changing area is excellent. The atmosphere is one of hushed, excited tones and multilingual voices and accents. This is a busy venue with many golfers being brought here by coach. 

I nervously visited the putting green and tried to tame this unforgiving implement one more time. Frustratingly the balls I struck had a mind of their own and I was struggling to understand and apply the pace of the green surfaces. They are impeccable as you would expect. The full range is being renovated after the Open, but the short game practice area was a delight. 

Epic bunkers that have steps have always had a dread for me, give them a name and it provides them with a personality allowing my ball to be magnetically attracted to its footprint. I could feel the tension in my swing as the clock ticked toward the starter's briefing so I decided to give myself the fullest challenge I could face by entering the cavernous bunker and giving myself a series of awkward lies. 

A couple of confidence inducing well executed shots were quickly replaced by a ‘hosel rocket’ that almost decapitated a nearby Austrian golfer who accepted my apologies with a grin.

Royal Portrush Offers The Perfect Welcome

I gave up the practice regime with a glance at the Rolex clock on the starter's building and made my way to the side of the tee box to be greeted by the jovial starter and his assistant. 

Mr Starter began his well-rehearsed routine with a homily to always try and avoid the rough and always remain in the shorter grass to score well. Easier said than done!

All players receive a goody bag containing a course planner, scorecard and tees. I had already helped myself to a pocket full of the branded tees from the pro shop that is also a must visit prior to play.

We were playing with a single forecaddie per group, and we were introduced to Mike. 

A gnarly, scratch golfer wearing shorts and socks with calf muscles to make Phil Mickelson envious. Shaking his hand was like grasping the skin of a shark and his grip was vice like. He had a twinkle in his eye revealing that this was his last round of the season prior to him flying out to sunnier climes for the winter. Possessing a warm, Irish humour, his presence added such value to the enjoyment of the round and the quality of the golf we as a group were able to play.

Within two holes he had assessed each golfer and their level of playing ability and was able to alter his guidance to suit. A skill that few possess.

As the round evolved, he developed into a tutor and mentor and even provided some necessary instruction on the best techniques for extraction of a ball from the grasping, wrapping wicked rough that provides the exquisite framing to each of the golf holes.

Stepping on The First Tee at Royal Portrush

The opening hole at Royal Portrush has out of bounds left and right, famously causing Rory McIlroy to record an 8 at the start of his 2019 Open campaign. I decided that despite my editor sending me a note reminding me of this fact 10 minutes prior to the tee time, I should think of more positive thoughts.

My mind was drawn to the thoughts of Mr Bernard Darwin, who attended Royal Portrush for the 1951 Open, having never seen it before. His comment in The Times newspaper of 3rd July 1951 was simply: "I find it hard to imagine a more admirable test of golf."

I decided to ask my playing partners to video my tee shot and a straight drive ultimately had me walking towards the 2nd tee with a tap-in bogey secured and a smile from ear to ear. 

We had been blessed with a clear, cold overcast day and it was going to be a joy. It was!

Do You Want to Play Royal Portrush?

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

For those wishing more detail about the actual course layout, I would ask you to read the previous review as it is detailed and should contain all you need to know. 

Should you want to know more about Royal Portrush, please visit their official website, and if you wish to experience this incredible venue yourself, then our travel partners Golfbreaks have the best deals and packages.