Royal Portrush
Royal Portrush (Dunluce) is the fifth-best course in GB & I according to Golf World's 2004 Top 100 list. It features 15 fabulous links holes and a closing trio that - although solid enough - aren't quite on the same stunning terrain as the ones that went before.
Though golf has been played there since 1888 the credit for the current layout belongs to Harry Colt, who visited prior to World War 2 and again prior to the 1951 Open Championship - the only time the event has been held outside Scotland or England.
Bernard Darwin was moved to remark that Colt had built himself a monument "more enduring than brass" and it was said to be the architect's own favourite - though he is quoted as saying Swinley Forest was his "least bad course" and others on his resume include Muirfield, Royal Lytham, Sunningdale (New) and St George's Hill.
It would be hard to create dull holes with such perfect dunes, rising and falling in great peaks and valleys, but it is the touch of a master to make so much of them, with virtually every shot challenging the swing and delighting the senses.
It was dull overhead for photos but if the sun was only going to come out for two minutes on St Patrick's Day at Portrush it couldn't have picked a better place than the sixth tee, allowing this shot of the fifth green with the castle ruins just visible in the background, above the gorse to the left of the flag:
It was windy enough to blow you off your feet, as some of these pictures show ;)
Back on the tee, David lets rip:
And Scotty:
Someone had to go in the bunker of the 17th:
Though golf has been played there since 1888 the credit for the current layout belongs to Harry Colt, who visited prior to World War 2 and again prior to the 1951 Open Championship - the only time the event has been held outside Scotland or England.
Bernard Darwin was moved to remark that Colt had built himself a monument "more enduring than brass" and it was said to be the architect's own favourite - though he is quoted as saying Swinley Forest was his "least bad course" and others on his resume include Muirfield, Royal Lytham, Sunningdale (New) and St George's Hill.
It would be hard to create dull holes with such perfect dunes, rising and falling in great peaks and valleys, but it is the touch of a master to make so much of them, with virtually every shot challenging the swing and delighting the senses.
It was dull overhead for photos but if the sun was only going to come out for two minutes on St Patrick's Day at Portrush it couldn't have picked a better place than the sixth tee, allowing this shot of the fifth green with the castle ruins just visible in the background, above the gorse to the left of the flag:
It was windy enough to blow you off your feet, as some of these pictures show ;)
Back on the tee, David lets rip:
And Scotty:
Someone had to go in the bunker of the 17th:
posted by Andy Levett at 9:48 am
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