Northern Ireland Trip Report - The Open 2019

[NorthernHills]

As the Open has just taken place, I thought there would be some interest in our experience travelling and playing in Northern Ireland during Open week. We were a group of 8 travelling from the UK, we arrived on Thursday night, leaving Sunday afternoon. Itinerary was:

• Thursday night- Arrive, collect rental cars travel to accommodation

• Friday- Attend the Open at Royal Portrush

• Saturday- Play the Strand course at Port Stewart

• Sunday- Play Castlerock and then fly home

 

Overall this was an amazing few days in a truly spectacular part of the country. Everyone we met was very friendly and helpful and the whole area is a real hidden gem. Would thoroughly recommend to anyone planning a trip to the UK.

 

Logistics and Planning:

 

We flew to Belfast City with British Airways, clubs could be checked as luggage without any additional cost and the flights were uneventful. We rented a car from the airport as it’s about a 1hr 10 drive to the Portrush area. Lesson learned here was to always go for a van, we got an SUV that turned out to be smaller than planned and a very big squeeze!

Open tickets I sorted a year in advance on the official website, we got a taxi there and back and it all ran seamlessly. Tee times at Portstewart and Castlerock I arranged directly with the incredibly helpful people in the reservation offices at the club. Again all worked seamlessly

We stayed in an AirBnB in Coleraine which is a town about 10 minutes from Portrush, it’s a good location as it’s about equidistant between the 3 golf clubs but it’s not on the coast/scenic

 

Royal PortRush- The Open:

We arrived on Friday in time for the first tee off at 06:30. I’ve been to 4 Opens and this was by far the best experience. The course is challenging and the scenery absolutely stunning with it being on the coast. Particular highlights include the 5th hole by the sea and the long par 3 16th. We bounced round various holes and saw all the major players and although it was busy, it didn’t feel like it was absolutely rammed. Weather was better than planned with some rain in the afternoon (15:00 onwards) but nothing drastic. Would love to go back and play the course as it’s a fantastic track

 

PortStewart Strand Course:

Saturday we played the Strand Course at Portstewart. It’s not cheap (£175) but the first 9 holes within the dunes are honestly some of the best I’ve ever played. The first hole in particular is stunning a 430 yard par 4 with an elevated tee position overlooking the beach and cliffs. The whole front 9 wind through massive dunes and give you an impression of being alone on the course. The back 9 is probably slightly less dramatic, but still a great Links challenge. You really have to think your way round with the driver staying in the bag often the sensible option! Other highlights include everyone at the club being incredibly friendly and helpful and the halfway house being ridiculously well priced (4 Guinness and 2 Sandwiches was less than £15!) Weather held out for us and it’s probably my favourite course of all time based on the first 9 alone

 

Castlerock:

Castlerock is a more low key experience than Portstewart being a real members club in a small village. However it’s a fantastic test of true links golf, especially on the day we played it with strong winds and a little bit of rain. It was more rock hard than Portstewart meaning that around the greens especially invention was very much required! The first 5 holes are tight against the railway line with the course opening up after that point. The course is very well bunkered and in the wind posed a really difficult challenge. Again members were all extremely friendly and I’d massively recommend adding this onto your itinerary if you are in this part of the world.

 

[NorthernHills]

Messed up the photos!

1) 5th Hole at PortRush

2) Putting green at PortStewart

3) 1st Tee at Castlerock

[troublelove]

Awesome, thanks for sharing. We are planning our first trip to Northern Ireland/ Ireland next year so its great to hear of someone else's positive experience.

[Chanceman]

+1 for Castlerock.

Ardglass, down the street from Royal County Down, is also worth playing.