Day 3: ROYAL PORTRUSH – County Antrim
As Royal Portrush Golf Club first comes into view round a curve in the
County Antrim Coast Road, it provides us with a magical sight with
its green fairways hiding among shaggy-topped dunes and the great
headland of Inishowen contrasting vividly with the low line of the
Skerries and the sea beyond. Established in May 1888 and included
in every list of the world’s top 100 courses, Royal Portrush’s Dunluce
has long been regarded as a great test of a golfer’s skill. It hosted the
British Open in 1951, when England’s eccentric Max Faulkner lifted the
trophy and there’s every chance it will be home to the prestigious
championship once again within the next few years.
There are plenty of great holes at Royal Portrush and it’s truly difficult
to choose just one. On the front nine, the 5th with its cliffside green is
a worthy contender, but on the back it’s got to be the 210 yards 14th
known as Calamity Corner. This testing par-3 calls for a long carry with
a long iron or hybrid over an 80-foot ravine to reach the green and to
slice or push the ball right will earn you an almost certain double bogey
or worse. Don’t be ashamed of taking a four at Calamity Corner- threes
are as rare as an unfriendly Irishman. Once we finish our rounds we enjoy
soup and sandwiches in the clubhouse dining room, and on the way
check out 2011 British Open champion Darren Clarke’s winner’s medal
and Rory McIlroy’s scorecard of 61 that he shot (aged 16), when he won
the 2005 North of Ireland Amateur Championship.
Overnight: Bushmills Inn (Bushmills)
Day 4: CASTLEROCK – County Londonderry
The following morning we enjoy a hearty full Irish breakfast before
checking out and taking a pilgrimage to nearby Old Bushmills – the
birthplace of Irish whiskey and the oldest licensed whiskey distillery
in the world. It celebrated its 400th birthday in 2008 and behind that
milestone is a tale of ingenuity and craftsmanship to perfect the art
of distilling. We take a tour to learn more about the whiskey-making
process, and then enjoy the best bit with a taste test in the distillery bar.
After stocking up on a bottle of Bushmills 16-year single malt (matured
for 16 years or more in a combination of American bourbon barrels,
Spanish Oloroso sherry casks and Port pipes), our fourth round awaits
at Castlerock Golf Club’s Mussenden Links situated further west along
the Causeway Coast, and only a twenty minute drive from Portstewart
and Royal Portrush. Founded in 1901, this historic links set amid tall sand
dunes besides the picturesque River Bann estuary is a worthy neighbour
of the aforementioned courses and will test every department of your
game.
Ballyliffin’s Glashedy Links (7th and 8th holes).
(Photo Credit: Ballyliffin Golf Club)
One of the standout holes is the 200 yards par-3 4th called Leg O’Mutton
which requires a tee shot struck over a burn, with a railway line lurking to
the right and a tricky pot bunker in front of a raised green. Great courses
have great closing holes and Castlerock’s short dog-leg right 18th is a
beauty. A decent drive will leave you with a relatively blind approach
with a short iron, to a tricky two-tiered plateau green with the clubhouse
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