The 153rd Open Championship takes place at Royal Portrush this year and here is everything you need to know about the course.
The top names in golf have one final chance to grab 2025 Major glory in July when the 153rd Open Championship takes place at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.
Here are a few facts about the tournament and a guide to all 18 holes that the players will have to tackle at the County Antrim track.
Where will the 153rd Open Championship be played?
The 153rd Open will be held at Royal Protrush Golf Club, Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
When will the 153rd Open Championship be played?
The 153rd Open will begin on Thursday 17th July and be played over four rounds, ending on Sunday 20th July.
Has the Open been played at Royal Portrush before?
This will be the third occasion that Royal Portrush has hosted the Open.
The first was when Max Faulkner claimed a two-shot victory over Argentina’s Antonio Cerda in 1951 and then Shane Lowry was the most recent European winner of the Claret Jug, after he claimed a six-shot success over England’s Tommy Fleetwood in 2019.
How long is the course at Royal Portrush?
The Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush measures 7,381 yards and is a par 71 layout, with 11 par fours, three par fives and four par threes.
Course Guide
Hole 1 – Hughie – 420 yards, par 4
Expect plenty of players to take things easy off the tee as they look to lay up short of the bunker on the left side of the fairway. Reaching the green by avoiding the false front and the deep bunker on the left will then become the priority in the quest to make a solid start.
Hole 2 – Giant’s Grave – 575 yards, par 5
The first par-five on the course should be easily reachable in two if one of four bunkers can be avoided. The putting surface is at the mercy of those who have found the fairway, but the undulating green presents its own problems.
Hole 3 – Islay – 176 yards, par 3
There is only one bunker to negotiate on the first par-three of the course, but steep slopes surround the green so finding the centre of the putting surface is advised regardless of pin placement.
Hole 4 – Fred Daly’s – 502 yards, par 4
Out of bounds on the right and bunkers on the left put the emphasis on accuracy from the tee but avoiding the sand hills that surround the green will also be key on one of the course’s toughest holes. Par is always a good score here.
Hole 5 – White Rocks – 372 yards, par 4
Big hitters will be keen to flex their muscle and look to drive this green but there is out of bounds beyond the putting surface so it is not a risk-free tactic. An eagle is a potential prize for the brave and accurate, but there could be plenty of double bogeys too.
Hole 6 – Harry Colt’s – 193 yards, par 3
There are no bunkers to negotiate on the second par-three of the course, but the fact the green has a deep false front and narrows significantly at the rear means a shot to the heart of the putting surface will be the order of the day.
Hole 7 – Curran Point – 607 yards, par 5
A bunker down the right has to be avoided on what was the toughest scoring of the three long holes when Lowry won in 2019. There is still the chance to get to the green in two despite the hole measuring more than 600 yards, but that won’t happen if accuracy is neglected so it will not be rewarding if players try to take on too much.
Hole 8 – Dunluce – 434 yards, par 4
Players will have to decide whether they are going to take on the dogleg or lay up behind the fairway bunkers, but there is plenty of trouble on the left that has to be avoided at all costs. The green is protected by one bunker but there will be plenty to think about as players approach the turn.
Hole 9 – Tavern – 432 yards, par 4
Avoiding the bunkers on the left and the heavy rough on the left will be key to success on the final hole of the front nine, so we could see plenty of irons taken from the tee. Avoiding the run-offs to the front-left and to the right of the green will have to be avoided.
Hole 10 – Himalayas – 450 yards, par 4
Steep sand hills mean cutting across the corner of the dogleg will not be an option. A drive down the left side of the far will give the best view of the green, but there are lots of undulations on the narrow and long putting surface.
Hole 11 – PG Stevenson’s – 475 yards, par 4
This was the toughest hole six years ago and plays as a par five for members. It is an intimidating tee shot with trouble on both sides of the fairway but it widens as the hole swings right so those cutting the corner can be rewarded. Enough length is required on approach to navigate the significant false front.
Hole 12 – Dhu Varren – 532 yards, par 5
This was the easiest hole in 2019 and provides an excellent birdie chance with the demanding closing holes just around the corner. Just don’t get cocky and find yourself in one of the bunkers on the right as that could mean you squander a great opportunity to improve your score.
Hole 13 – Feather Bed – 199 yards, par 3
The key here will be club selection if the wind picks up, although Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo aced it in the opening round six years ago. Any errors can be punished if players find one of the nine bunkers that surround the green.
Hole 14 – Causeway – 466 yards, par 4
One of the toughest tests on the course, bunkers on each side of the fairway have to be avoided. The fairway narrows as it winds to the green which falls away from the left, front and back so the approach is particularly demanding.
Hole 15 – Skerries – 429 yards, par 4
This par-4 doglegs from right to left and has one of the course’s most generous fairways. The second shot will be downhill to the green which slopes severely to the right and front, while it is well guarded by bunkers on the left.
Hole 16 – Calamity Corner – 236 yards, par 3
The signature hole which is an extremely tough par three. Anything short of the green can find thick rough and the elevated putting surface is exposed. There were only 24 birdies over four days at the 2019 Open.
Hole 17 – Purgatory – 409 yards, par 4
The green is driveable as the fairway slopes significantly downhill, but the problem is that the tee shot is blind and deep bunkers lie in wait close to the green on both sides. Those deciding to opt for accuracy and put faith in their short-game skills may receive greater rewards.
Hole 18 – Babington’s – 474 yards, par 4
This is a great, challenging final hole with out of bounds to be avoided on the left and thick rough and bunkers lying in wait for those who bail out to the other side. There is a deep bunker to the front right of the green and a steep drop-off can trap those to the left.
- SCCG Management. The Gambling Industry’s Global Connector. Access Here.
- Source: https://blog.betway.com/golf/royal-portrush-course-guide/
