Getting In The Mood: Royal Portrush Edition
The Irish Open returns to one of the world's great courses in Royal Portrush this week, with a solid field that includes 10 major winners, including Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Keegan Bradley. This is also an opportunity for Portrush to show the R&A if it's capable of hosting another Open Championship, which last visited Northern Ireland in 1951.
Golf Channel will be airing coverage in the U.S. at 6 a.m. PT Thursday and Friday, and starting at 5:30 a.m. PT on the weekend. Whether you've been there or not, or just remember it from recent Senior Opens, it's a fantastic links worth watching.
Here's a European Tour preview story on the field and expected massive galleries.
Philip Reid explains the history of the event and its much anticipated return to the north.
In the years from 1927 to 1953, an informal rota of using courses North and South operated and, then, after a 10-year hiatus, the tournament returned (under the Carrolls International banner) and was played exclusively in the South (mainly at Woodbrook) before the Irish Open was properly revived in 1975.
Since then, 11 courses, all in the South, have played host to the championship . . . and, so, its return to Northern shores, for the first time since Belvoir Park in 1953, is both apposite and timely.
Brian Keogh on the 100,000 plus expected for the week.
Deborah McAleese explains how Northern Ireland is preparing for the Queen's visit along with the Irish Open, and notes that Bill Murray is among those scheduled to play the pro-am.
The club has posted a couple of image galleries, with this excellent course overview and hole-by-hole option found in the lefthand column.
Ran Morrissett's GolfClubAtlas.com review has some super insights and images of the Dunluce course.
The club's member site also features this super newsreel video of Max Faulkner winning the Open Championship there in 1951.
Finally, there's an excellent Renton Laidlaw narrated "Hidden Links Golf Tours" video that is just under four minutes and tremendous fun, including a tour inside the Doctor's Locker, a look at one of golf's great halfway houses (but not halfway on the course), and plenty of fun course insights.
Monday, June 25, 2012 at 10:35 PM
Reader Comments (20)
Enough said.
I'll take the other side of Nubi's trade, slightly prefer Dunluce to RCD. Robert, be sure to take time to play the Valley as well, superb track. Valley reminds me of Red at Bethpage, the less famous sister that may just be better looking once the clothes come off ;-) The course I most enjoyed in my time there was Castlerock. And for some superior "value" check out Ardglass.
Cannot wait to watch this! Kudos to Keegan for going over and playing it.
You're aware that Keegan Bradley has significant Irish (County Cork -colours = Red) connections -hence I assume the (part) reason for his visit.
I loved Castlerock on my last trip. Would go back there over Portstewart any time. Back in '91, on the road between Belfast and Portrush we played a round in a driving rainstorm at Ballycastle. Swinging bridge, short but right on cliffs overlooking the sea. Awesome.
The Bushmill's distllery tour is also a mustn't miss.
We played it early, had the place to ourselves, some member caddies, good test of golf but not like going 18 rounds with Mike Tyson, quiet lunch in the bar afterward, what's not to like? All things considered it was my favorite. I enjoyed Portstewart but it was definitely further down the list.
I need to make a plan to go back and will notate Ballycaste as one to look up. Thanks.
Gonna be real interesting to see how Rory performs, pretty sure he has the course record at 61?
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/golf/18599659