More On Portstewart's Distinctly Different Nines

With extensive coverage of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, I'm sure we'll get to see much of Portstewart.

The aerials are stunning.

But in case you are watching and wondering more about the course, Alistair Tait at Golfweek has some observations from on site.

In particular, the front nine features the more dramatic dunesland and re-routings were even considered to showcase those holes more. Tait explains:

While Portstewart’s closing holes are well situated for tournament play, Moss said other routings were considered that would have given more television airtime to the Strand’s jaw-dropping front nine, which begins with that opening tee shot played from a seaside bluff.

In 1981 the club acquired some dramatic dunesland, and five years later it developed seven new holes, which became Nos. 2-8 on the Strand. Those holes were a big factor in making Portstewart a must-play for international visitors.

“Building those holes changed the whole dynamic of Portstewart Golf Club, because this was really dune country,” Moss said.