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4.1
9 Reviews (9)
5 Stars
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4 Stars
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1 Stars
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Conditions
4.1
Value
4.1
Layout
4.1
Friendliness
4.2
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.9
100.0%
Recommend this course
9 out of 9 reviews
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About

Holes 18
Type Semi-Private
Par 72
Length 7118 yards
Slope N/A
Rating N/A

Course Details

Year Built 1992
Golf Season Year round
Architect Willie Park, Jr.

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - £40 (medical certificate required)
Clubs Yes
Pull-carts Yes

Practice/Instruction

Caddies Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Walking Allowed Yes
Dress code Appropriate golf attire.

Food & Beverage

Bar, Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities, Locker Rooms

Reviews

4.1
9 Reviews (9)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 638
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Golf Advisor
Previously Played
Windy weather
Walked

Mad respect for Portstewart

Every time I come back to Portstewart, the Strand wins me over just a little more. I used to be one of the haters who thought the back nine was a major letdown. I'm getting wiser with age. This links is one of the Emerald Isle's strongest. The first two tee shots might be the best combo in golf with No. 1 overlooking the beach and No. 2 an intimidating shot into monstrous dunes. The back-nine holes near the river are more beautiful than I remember. What the last three holes lack in aesthetics, they make up for in difficulty, and can quickly turn the momentum in a match. The food in the clubhouse is top notch, so stick around after golf for a bite.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 25+
Skill Beginner
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Cold weather
Walked

Greatest first tee in golf

So Royal Portrush held The Open, so Royal County Down is 'the best course in the world', so Adare Manor will host the Ryder Cup - yeah, yeah, yeah. No golf course in Ireland, or indeed the world, has better views or better links golf than Portstewart.

The beautiful Strand beach, the bay, the River Bann, Mussenden Temple perched precariously on the cliffside looking like it could topple into the icy Atlantic any moment, the rolling hills of Donegal. This is the greatest opening shot in golf, this is breathtaking Irish beauty, this is Portstewart.

Rewrite your bucket list now.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 378
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 10 Contributor
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Walked

Front nine is breathtaking; rest of course hold its own

Portstewart Golf Club's Strand Course has long had the reputation of having one of the most spectacular front nines in all of golf. And that's definitely true. From the opening elevated tee shot, with views of the seas and the dunes below, it doesn't get any better. And it's a fairly difficult test, too, as you work your way up and down the dunes. Throw in the wind, and you've really got to be on your game. The back nine doesn't match the scenery of the front, but it's also quite good, and challenging, too. The last couple of holes, compared to the opening holes, might not have that wow factor, but they are solid nonetheless. And again, they're certainly not easy.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Great time

Really enjoyed the course. Front nine better and strong finishing three holes. Some great views. Had a great caddy named Kevin and he worked very hard. Weather conditions weren't the best. I would play this course again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 638
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Golf Advisor
Previously Played
Cold weather
Walked

Host of the 2017 Irish Open

Portstewart's Strand links will finally step out of the shadow of Royal Portrush by hosting the 2017 Irish Open.
There are such differing opinions about the routing. Like many others, I find the flatter back nine to be a letdown after nine holes of romping through dunes as good as any in Ireland. Traveling in my foursome was a Canadian golf architect who - when looking at the last nine from that perspective - found the course to be just as strong during both loops. Pick whatever perspective you wish.
Work being done in advance the tournament has added a few new back tees and some tweaks in spots. The changes should only enhance one of Northern Ireland's must-play links.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 19
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Walked

Disappointment

With Royal Portrush we looked to this course based on reviews as one of our top targets in our group's trip to N Ireland golf. Of all the courses this was our biggest disappointment. The opening hole provided a spectacular view of the course and coastline and we were optimistic about a greta experience.

Immediately we discovered that the green's conditions were terrible because they had very recently been aerated. We should have known this because they were punching the practice green while we were teeing off. This made putting a real challenge. To me that is unconscionable to have done at the high of the season.

To make matters worse the fairways were pretty dried out giving the course an almost desert like feel. I noticed few if any sprinklers in the fairways and our caddy told us they hand water all the fairways! It was clear that the course was in need of more aggressive maintenance.

That said there were certainly some marvelous holes including the finishing holes that seemed to be in better shape.

With other very good courses in the area, if one needed to cull a course from the program, I would pick this one.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 21
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Ontario Advisor
First Time Playing
Average weather
Walked

Often overlooked but shouldn't be missed

Portstewart managed to be my favourite all around experience of my trip. The golf staff set me up with a last minute game with a few members who warmly welcomed me to their group. From the high first tee, the views across the dunes are stunning. The course meanders through the dunes, though it lacks the wild twists and elevation changes of Carne and Enniscrone. Everything about it is well balanced. It’s tough but not excessively punishing; it requires well placed drives to setup the ideal approach, but you can still be creative and make a decent score without the perfect shots. The ebb and flow of the course won’t frustrate you and wear you down. The modern club house and facilities are beautiful but the club keeps the welcoming Irish charm. With two other courses on the property, this seems to be a stop suited for everyone.
The front 9 is wilder and more of a challenge than the back, but you've got to remain altert and focused to score on the flatter and seemingly more straightforward 9.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Walked

A lot of fun

The front nine here is exhillerating with huge dunes. The first tee shot is as good as it gets hitting down hill to a right to left dogleg. The back nine is flatter but still challenging. The course palys hard and fast. I thought hole #8 was the best hole on the course with a blind tee shot (aim at the rock that matches the tee your playing from) to a fairway that slopes righ to left. The second shot about 130yds is all carry, a very unique hole.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Average weather
Walked

Tale of Two Nines

The Strand Course is quite different front to back. The first hole offering a daunting tee shot from a severely elevated tee , with great views of the surrounding area. The front nine offers a great real of elevation change with interesting and challenging holes. We truly enjoyed it. The back nine however was a little mundane and appeared to be an afterthought and not anything like the front. Overall a good day of golf with my buddies, but uninspired finish. The course was either loved or hated by the group.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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Golf Packages

Royal Portrush Golf Package

FROM $487 (USD)
NORTHERN IRELAND | Enjoy 7 nights bed & breakfast at the Bushmills Inn and 5 rounds of golf at The Strand course at Portstewart Golf Club, Dunluce Course at Royal Portrush Golf Club, Valley Course at Royal Portrush Golf Club, Castlerock Golf Club, The Riverside Course at Portstewart Golf Club.

Ballyliffin & Rosapenna Golf Package

FROM $407 (USD)
NORTHWEST IRELAND | Experience first-class links layouts at Ballyliffin Golf Club, playing 2 championship courses, this trip sure won’t be short of quality golf. Alongside a round on St Patricks Links and Old Tom Morris Links at Rosapenna, you’ll be thrilled coming home to the wonderful spa at Ballyliffin Lodge Hotel. Spend your days out playing and your evenings relaxing with this package in North West Ireland.

Royal County Down Golf Package

FROM $577 (USD)
NORTHERN IRELAND | Enjoy 7 nights bed & breakfast at the Slieve Donard Resort and 5 rounds of golf at Annesley Links at Royal County Down Golf Club, Ardglass Golf Club, Championship Links at Royal Country Down Golf Club (x2 rounds), and Royal Belfast Golf Club.

West Coast Scotland Hidden Gems Golf Package

FROM $327 (USD)
SOUTHWEST SCOTLAND | Enjoy 7 nights' accommodations at Piersland House Hotel and 5 rounds of golf at Western Gailes Golf Club, Dundonald Links, Gailes Links, Prestwick Golf Club, and Kilmarnock Barassie Golf Club.

West Coast Scotland Open Championship Golf Package

FROM $697 (USD)
SOUTHWEST SCOTLAND | Enjoy 7 nights' accommodations at the Marine Hotel in Troon and 5 rounds of golf at Old Course at Royal Troon Golf Club, Prestwick Golf Club, Ailsa Golf Course at Trump Turnberry, a Luxury Collection Resort, Dundonald Links, and Western Gailes Golf Club.
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