Note to the reader: This piece was originally penned by our Founder & CEO, Sam Baker ahead of the 2019 Open Championship.
Recently, Liz and I had the good fortune to play the Dunluce Course at Royal Portrush Golf Club in the company of Paul Rohdich, a retired policeman and 40 year member of the club. Paul not only commented on how the course has subtly evolved from Harry Colt’s masterful original design but also showed us the major changes that are being made for the return of the Open Championship for the first time since 1951.
The stunning view of White Rocks Beach from the 5th hole at Royal Portrush.
The news of any changes at Royal Portrush may be unsettling to anyone who has played the course during The Open’s 64 year absence. To be sure, it was already one of the best courses in the world and a mainstay for our travelers on their golf trips to Ireland. But when it comes to hosting a modern major championship, every course has to make a concession or two to the powers that be.
Most of the changes address the fact that all the original par-5s (2, 9, 10 & 17) were easily reachable in two by most professionals and single digit handicappers alike. They were, without question, the weakest feature of an otherwise magnificent golf course. Further, most course critics viewed 17 & 18 as a somewhat boring finish compared to the rest of the course. This was compounded by the fact that the 18th green, located between the clubhouse and the starter’s building, could not accommodate the massive infrastructure required for the modern Open Championship.
Wilma Erskine, long-time Club Secretary at Royal Portrush, joins On the Tee with H&B to discuss The Open and the recent changes to the Dunluce Links.
Farewell Big Nellie, Hello New Holes
The most drastic alteration was to eliminate those last two holes, use them for the tented village and site the finish on what was now the 16th, a superb dogleg right par four with exceptional bunkering. This required adding two new holes which run out and back from the current 6th green over ground which is now part of the Valley, the club’s second course. The new 7th will is an uphill par-5 of approximately 600 yards followed by a new 8th which will is a long uphill par-4 with a slight dogleg. The current 7th is now the 9th hole and the course proceeds from the there. The work was carried out by Mackenzie & Ebert, the same firm responsible for the transformation of Turnberry’s Ailsa course, and the outcome is seamless. Put simply, the new holes appear to have been there from the beginning.
A notable consequence of eliminating the 17th hole, however, is the loss of the iconic “Big Nellie” bunker, arguably the largest in all of Ireland. In tribute, a giant pit was constructed on the right side of the 7th fairway, exactly where you’d expect a sliced drive to end up. The new bunker is dubbed “Wee Nellie” and, like its predecessor, should be avoided at all costs.
In addition to the new holes, the 2nd hole is being lengthened by 40 yards by moving the green back and slightly to the left. The former 10th (now the 12th) gains similar length with the construction of a new back tee situated on the hillock above and to the left of what is now the 11th green.
More Calamity at Calamity Corner
The only other significant change is to add 35 yards to the intimidating uphill par-3 16th, known as “Calamity Corner”. It seems the R&A believes the hole, in its former form, would not inflict enough of a “Calamity” to the modern golf professional. Having failed to reach the putting surface in my youth numerous times with a 3-wood in my hand, this decision further magnifies the fact that Rory and his mates play a game with which I have never been familiar.
The view away from the green at Calamity is far less intimidating than looking toward it.
Time will tell whether the changes to Dunluce make the course better, worse or about the same for those golfers who make the pilgrimage to Portrush as visitors. Those who are curious what else they may find during that visit should have a look at our complete guide to Royal Portrush. I’ve always felt the best hole on the course is the 4th, which in my view is one of the best par-4s I’ve ever played anywhere. The fact that the R&A had the good sense to leave it untouched, along with much of the rest of the course, suggests to me that the major changes will be for the better.
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