Played the Royal Portrush ‘Valley’ course on a blustery April day, but don’t let the locals hear you call it ‘The Valley’ as it is an entirely different golf club called ‘The Rathmore’ albeit owned by Royal Portrush… it’s only the posh boys from there who call it the ‘Valley’. Was told by a Royal Portrush member that although the ‘Rathmore’ was perceived as easier it had its challenges so entered the gates with a bit of wariness.
The course layout had changed recently with the 1st now being the 10th and a few others changes with a long explanation at check-in about the changes which of course did not mean anything to me except my playing partner who was a member of Royal Portrush and had played there before.
So off to the 1st - ‘Tramway’, a sweeping right to left par 5 with a huge sand dune that needed an easy 60yd carry to get over… guess who didn’t. Yep.. 50yd pitch later I still had a long way to go to reach the green. 4 iron shots later (I chose to keep the fairway woods in the bag to avoid the bunkers left and right) I reach the green and two puts later walk away with a concerning 9. Seems the member was right after all.
Off to the par 3 2nd - ‘Manns’ (I wonder what the origins of some of these hole names are - will need to do some research). An elevated tee down to a well protected green on both sides, either go short or long but not left or right to keep out of trouble. I chose to err on side of caution and club up and sure enough went long. A chip and a couple of putts later we go on.
Along par 4 and par 5 follow with both Preeti straight forward without too many hazards and roughs without the dreaded fescue so you can play out of them. You can see the ravine of the 16th on Royal Portrush Dunluce course off to the right as you walk along the par 4 - my adventure on that hole a few days earlier coming rushing back… #shudder
The next 3 holes (6-8) increase in length from a tricky par 3 to a tricker par 4 to a seemingly endless par 5. All holes where you could score well if you kept it straight and on the fairway.
The par 3 9th is an awesome hole with water danger at the front and thick mounded fescue at the back protected by a bunker on the left. Play right my son said my partner (he’s only a few years older than me the cheeky git). My trusty 7Wood enables be to hit the 170yd green and walk away with a par. Playing partner not so lucky after finding trouble on the left and then right and 3 putting. Ok old man, you needed the exercise I retorted to in response to the ‘son’ comment earlier.
The 10th (that used to be the 1st) ‘Zara Bolton’s’ (a former president of the club and told a prominent figure in Irish golf) is a short par 4 and relatively straightforward… I can see why they swapped the tees as an easy first somehow makes the course less imposing.
The next few holes are straightforward as long as you keep away from the bunkers and thick rough until you come up to the par 3 15th the appropriately named ‘The Cradle’. Slightly elevated tee at which you need to hit through a narrow ‘V’ between 2 huge fescue filled sand dunes. Go right and you have a tricky downhill up and down. Go left and you are in a valley and need to hit high with spin to keep the ball on the green. Just be happy if you walk away with a 4 if not on the green from the tee.
The last 3 holes are in a small loop past the new housing on the left of Portrush with the the Atlantic coast straight ahead of the 16th - ‘McDowells’s’ named after Irish golfer and US Open winner in 2010, Graeme McDowell. It’s his home club and he has a permanent car parking space by the door of the clubhouse.
The 16th is a short par 4 but plays longer as the fairway rises about 50-60ft and you cannot see the flag. Once you get to the green, the view takes your breath away awaits a view across the bay to Portrush town centre to the left and the Atlantic straight ahead. This is the only home that overlooks the Atlantic on the course which is a bit disappointing for an Irish links course.
The par 3 17th & par 18th see you back at the starter hut.
Off to the clubhouse - the one on the right (the one on the left is the ladies clubhouse) which from the outside looks a bit tatty but has obviously had a modern makeover inside with a 2 bars - one with huge TV screen showing golf and tables / cubicles for eating/drinking and a separate main bar on the car parking space side.
I heard that the outside decking overlooking the 16th is a great sun trap in summer where you can enjoy your drink/food, soaking in the sun and watch the golfers tee off on 16th only a few yards away. I can envisage a lot of barracking on match days from that popular vantage point.
I didn’t experience the changing room or showers as we didn’t have much time before our dinner booking but imagine these would be modern and plush going on the makeover inside the clubhouse.
On the whole a decent course and in my opinion the course is not really worth the hundreds of pounds that it would cost you to play this course. Personally I would spend the extra pounds and go and play the Dunluce course (unless you are fortunate to play with a member like I did).
Hope you enjoyed the review.
Date Tuesday, 21, April 2026
