Royal Portrush Golf Club (Valley)

Royal Portrush Golf Club — the Valley Links on the Causeway Coast

Tucked in the dunes beside its world-famous sibling, the Valley Links is Royal Portrush’s quieter treasure: a genuine Harry Colt links that winds through a sheltered valley of marram and sandhills, with the Atlantic never far away. Golfers who know it will tell you it is a championship test in its own right.

The Valley Links is the second course at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Portrush, County Antrim, on Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast. Designed by Harry Colt and reworked by Martin Ebert, it plays to a par of 70 over about 6,346 yards. Opened in 1936, it is a natural, dune-framed links that hosts amateur qualifying and gives visitors the Royal Portrush experience away from the crowds of the Dunluce.

Key Details

• Location: Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
• Length: about 6,346 yards (championship tees)
• Par: 70
• Designers: Harry Colt (1936), with a redesign by Martin Ebert (2015)
• Established: 1936
• Notable Events: a regular host of qualifying for the North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship

History and significance

The Valley Links opened in 1936 as Royal Portrush’s second eighteen, laid out by the great architect Harry Colt, whose 1930s work also shaped the neighbouring Dunluce into an Open venue. Threading through a sheltered valley of high dunes, the Valley has always been prized as a natural, honest links rather than a mere companion course.

Its importance grew with the 2015 redesign led by architect Martin Ebert. When two new holes were built on Valley ground to prepare the Dunluce for the 2019 Open, the Valley itself was reworked and re-routed, emerging refreshed and as good as it has ever been. It remains the club’s championship-standard second course and a regular qualifying venue for the North of Ireland Amateur.

For visitors, the Valley offers the chance to play genuine Royal Portrush links golf — the same dunes, turf and sea air as the Dunluce — in a quieter, more relaxed setting, and it is a firm favourite with members and those in the know.

Photo: Royal Portrush Golf Club (official website)

The course and how it plays

The Valley Links is a true links, its fairways running through a sheltered corridor of tall dunes that give the course its name. It is shorter and a touch more forgiving off the tee than the Dunluce, but the small, firm greens, clever bunkering and swirling coastal wind still demand precise, thoughtful golf.

Because the dunes shelter much of the layout, the wind can be deceptive — swirling rather than steady — and reading it is half the challenge. This is a course that rewards the ground game, imagination around the greens and good course management, the hallmarks of classic Colt links design.

Signature holes

The Valley has several strong holes; a couple stand out.

Hole 4

A fine par five of around 534 yards that plays through the heart of the dune valley, tempting longer hitters to take it on while the bunkering and undulating ground keep the greedy honest. A well-judged three-shotter is often the wiser route to par.

Hole 18

A strong closing par five of about 493 yards, framed by dunes and offering a birdie chance to finish for those who drive well — a fitting, uplifting end to a round on the Valley.

Why play Royal Portrush Golf Club (Valley)

The Valley Links lets you experience Royal Portrush’s celebrated duneland and links turf without the price or crowds of the Open course. It is a proper Harry Colt design, recently refreshed by Martin Ebert, and a rewarding test in its own right — ideal paired with the Dunluce for a full day at Portrush, or as a superb round in its own right on a Causeway Coast trip.

Clubhouse and facilities

Valley golfers share Royal Portrush’s excellent facilities: a welcoming clubhouse with dining overlooking the links, a well-stocked pro shop carrying the leading brands, and a halfway house for refreshments. Practice facilities include a range, short-game greens and a putting green, and experienced caddies are available to help you read these deceptive dunes.

Green fees and booking

The Valley Links is Royal Portrush’s second championship course, a fine test in its own right and a far more attainable way to play at this Open venue. A visitor round is typically around £200 in the main season from April to October, with lower rates in the quieter months and a Golf Ireland rate available on request.

Green fees are payable in full on booking, visitors are asked to be members of recognised clubs, and handicap certificates may be requested, so book well ahead. For current green fees and tee times, check the official website.

Getting there and parking

Royal Portrush sits on the Causeway Coast, about 67 miles north of Belfast, with the Valley alongside the Dunluce.

• By car: from Belfast take the M2, then the A26 to Coleraine and the A29 into Portrush; the club is on the A2 (Dunluce Road), a short distance from the town centre.
• By public transport: Translink trains run to Portrush station, a short taxi ride from the club.
• Address & parking: Dunluce Road, Portrush, County Antrim, BT56 8JQ, with ample on-site parking.

Where to stay

Portrush is the obvious base, right beside the course:

• In Portrush: a lively seaside resort with hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs minutes from the first tee.
• Along the Causeway Coast: nearby Portstewart is an easy, characterful alternative.
• For a wider trip: Coleraine or Belfast (about an hour and a quarter away) suit a multi-course tour.

Book well ahead in summer and around any championship, when the whole coast fills quickly.

What to pack

This is exposed Atlantic links golf, so plan for wind and quick weather changes:

• Waterproof jacket and trousers, plus a windproof mid-layer
• A warm layer and a hat for the coastal breeze
• Spare gloves and plenty of extra balls for the dunes and rough
• Sturdy, well-fitting golf shoes for firm, undulating links turf
• Sunscreen — the light off the sea catches you out even on cool days

Nearby attractions

The Valley sits on one of the most spectacular coastlines in the British Isles.

Conclusion

The Valley Links is Royal Portrush’s insider’s round: the same magnificent dunes and sea air as the Dunluce, in a quieter valley all its own. Play it and you will understand why members treasure it — and why no trip to Portrush is really complete without it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Valley Links at Royal Portrush?

The Valley Links is the second eighteen-hole course at Royal Portrush Golf Club, alongside the famous Open venue, the Dunluce. Designed by Harry Colt and opened in 1936, it is a genuine links routed through a sheltered valley of high dunes, playing to a par of 70 over about 6,346 yards. Reworked by architect Martin Ebert around 2015, it is a championship-standard course in its own right and a regular host of amateur qualifying.

Who designed the Valley Links?

The Valley Links was designed by the celebrated architect Harry Colt and opened in 1936, the same era in which his work shaped the neighbouring Dunluce course into an Open Championship venue. It was significantly reworked and re-routed by architect Martin Ebert around 2015, when two of its holes were used to create new ground for the Dunluce ahead of the 2019 Open. The result is a refreshed, natural links true to Colt’s original character.

How does the Valley compare to the Dunluce?

The Valley is shorter and a little more forgiving than the Open-hosting Dunluce, but it is a proper links test, not a warm-up course. Its fairways run through a sheltered dune valley, and the swirling wind, small firm greens and clever bunkering demand thoughtful golf. It offers the same Royal Portrush duneland, turf and sea air as the Dunluce, but in a quieter, more relaxed setting — which is exactly why many members love it.

How do I get to Royal Portrush?

Royal Portrush is on the Causeway Coast, roughly 67 miles north of Belfast. By car, take the M2 and A26 to Coleraine, then the A29 into Portrush; the club is on the A2, Dunluce Road, a short distance from the town centre, with ample parking. By public transport, Translink trains run to Portrush station, from where the club is a short taxi ride. The full address is Dunluce Road, Portrush, County Antrim, BT56 8JQ.

Are there other courses nearby?

Yes — the Valley sits right beside Royal Portrush’s Open-hosting Dunluce course, so a two-course day is easy. Portstewart’s Strand Course is only a few minutes along the coast, and Castlerock is a short drive away. This corner of the Causeway Coast is one of the greatest concentrations of links golf anywhere, making the Valley an ideal part of a multi-course trip.