Portstewart Golf Club
| Club information | |
|---|---|
  Location in Northern Ireland | |
| Coordinates | 55°10′16″N 6°43′30″W / 55.171°N 6.725°WCoordinates: 55°10′16″N 6°43′30″W / 55.171°N 6.725°W |
| Location | Portstewart, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland |
| Established | 1894, 121 years ago |
| Total holes | 54 |
| Tournaments hosted |
The Amateur Championship (2014) British Ladies Amateur Golf Championship (2015) Dubai Duty Free Irish Open (2017) |
| Website | portstewartgc.co.uk |
| Strand Course | |
| Designed by | Des Giffin |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 7,054 yards (6,450 m) |
| Riverside Course | |
| Par | 68 |
| Length | 5,725 yards (5,235 m) |
| Old Course | |
| Par | 64 |
| Length | 4,822 yards (4,409 m) |
Portstewart Golf Club consists of three 18-hole courses situated in the town of Portstewart, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Golf was first played there as far back as 1889.
The three courses are: the Strand Course (par 72), a championship course, the Riverside Course (par 68) and the Old Course (par 64), which is where the club was founded in 1894.[1]
The late 1980s saw major development of the Strand course with the layout updated and seven new holes added. In 1992 the new Strand course, designed by Des Giffin, opened for play.[2]
The Golf Club holds what is often suggested as the finest opening hole in Ireland.
Portstewart Golf Club will host the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in 2017, setting up a three-week spell of links golf culminating in the Open Championship.
History
The club was founded in 1894 and started off as 9 holes at the existing location of The Old Course. This was upgraded to 18 holes in 1934.
In 1920 the club built another clubhouse at Strand Head and Willie Park Jr. designed 18 holes and this is known as The Strand Course. In 1986 the club purchased land in the sand dunes known as 'Thistly Hollow' which allowed seven new stunning holes to be built in these towering dunes and in natural links land, these holes were designed by club member Des Giffin.
Due to this makeover on The Strand Course left an extra 9 holes from the original layout, which was expanded to 18 holes in 2001 and this is known as The Riverside Course.
Tournaments
The club held a qualifying round for The Open Championship in 1951 when it was played at Royal Portrush. The club played host to the Irish Amateur Championship in 1992, and has hosted other events such as the Irish Professional and Irish Amateur.
The British Girls Championship was also hosted in 2006, won by Belen Mozo of Spain. In 2010 the club hosted the Lancome Irish Women's Close Championship.
Most recently it has hosted The Amateur Championship in 2014, won by Bradley Neil of Scotland [3] and the British Ladies Amateur Championship in 2015, won by Céline Boutier of France.[4]
In 2017, Portstewart will host the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, from the 6-9 July setting up a three-week spell of links golf culminating in The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.[5]
References
- ↑ "The Courses". Portstewart Golf Club.
- ↑ "Portstewart (Strand), Northern Ireland". Top 100 Golf Courses of the World.
- ↑ "Bradley Neil wins 119th Amateur Championship". R&A.
- ↑ "Celine Boutier wins at Portstewart". The Ladies' Golf Union.
- ↑ "Portstewart to host Dubai Duty Free Irish Open 2017". European Tour.