Photo: Kally Dru · Pexels License
Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland
Portstewart Golf Club (Strand Course)
The Strand Course on the Causeway Coast — dramatically redesigned in 1992 through the highest dunes in Northern Ireland, and a two-time Irish Open host.
Course overview
Portstewart Golf Club's Strand Course was redesigned to championship standard by Des Giffin in 1992, building on earlier work associated with Willie Park Jr. The redesign incorporated the spectacular opening sequence across the highest sand dunes on the Causeway Coast, with the first seven holes routed through and beside towering dune ridges above the Atlantic. The Strand Course hosted the Irish Open in 2017 and 2018, establishing itself as a genuine championship venue on the Northern Irish coast alongside Royal Portrush.
The essentials
- Architect
- Willie Park Jr.; Des Giffin
- Established
- 1992
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 6,509 m
- Handicap
- HCP 0–24
- Location
- Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland
Character & atmosphere
The opening seven holes through the Causeway Coast's highest dunes define the Strand Course — Atlantic exposure, dramatic elevation changes, and tight dune corridors make this one of the most demanding and visually spectacular links in Northern Ireland.
Highlights
Why play here
- Designed by Willie Park Jr.; Des Giffin, opened in 1992.
- Sea views feature throughout the round.
- A championship-calibre test that has hosted professional golf.
Signature Hole
1
The opening tee shot descends through a spectacular dune valley above Portstewart Strand, with the Antrim coast visible in both directions. The first seven holes route through the highest dunes on the Causeway Coast, and the 1st encapsulates the drama of the 1992 Des Giffin redesign — no other opening hole in Northern Irish golf makes an equivalent first impression.
Facilities
Practical guidance
Plan your visit
How to get there
Belfast International Airport is around an hour's drive from Portstewart. Car hire is the most flexible option. The A26 and A29 provide a direct route north to the Causeway Coast.
Where to stay
Portrush is the natural base for a Northern Ireland golf trip, positioned immediately adjacent to Royal Portrush — with both the Dunluce Links and the Valley Links on site — and within easy reach of the full Causeway Coast links corridor. The town has a traditional seaside resort character that suits the golf setting.
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Northern Ireland
Explore Causeway Coast
Northern Ireland's dramatic north Antrim coast, home to Royal Portrush.