Hole-by-hole tour of Royal Portrush's Dunluce links, site of the 2019 Open Championship
The Open in 2019 will be as triumphant as ever, as the claret jug returns to Royal Portrush for the first time since 1951. For Northern Ireland, it represents a comeback for the once-embattled nation onto the world stage. Royal Portrush hosted the 2012 Irish Open on the European Tour (the first time the country held it since 1953) as well as multiple Senior British Opens in the 1990s, but the return of the Open Championship is exponentially more significant.
The great links courses of Northern Ireland were founded in the late-1800s around the time the rail line made its way up the coastline and Portrush was founded in 1888. It was bestowed "royal" designation four years later by the Duke of York. The course was most significantly designed by H.S. Colt, but today the Dunluce links is a little bit different now than when it was last in the spotlight in 1951. In order to make room for tournament infrastructure and provide a more dramatic finish, new holes were built and the 17th and 18th holes were lost. Five new greens, eight new tees, 10 new bunkers and two brand new holes, the 7th and 8th, were created on land formerly part of the Valley Course (considered one of the better "relief" courses in Ireland).
The course is named "Dunluce" for the castle ruins that dangle above the cliffs just east of the course and can be seen from the 5th hole. But the most famous may be "Calamity Corner," which is now the 16th hole. It's one of the most intimidating shots in golf as a par 3 played to a green that hugs a steep dropoff on the righthand side.
Green fees for visitors to the Dunluce links are £220. Here's a hole-by-hole photo guide.