Even though all of our golf destinations are worthy, RPR is truly iconic. Golf was first played on the site in 1888 and in 1929 Harry Colt created the Dunluce Links which opened for play in 1933. Host to many championships, RPR has the distinction of being the only club in the past 100 years to hold the Open Championship outside of the nine Scottish and English courses on the R&A rota (can you name them? Answer below), first in 1951 and more recently in 2019. The Open will return in 2025.
Located on the north coast of Northern Ireland we had high hopes given the weather forecast said warm, dry and little wind. We got 1 1/2 out of three. It wasn’t warm, it was dry and there were some cool gusts but given the possibilities, it wasn’t all that bad.
Arriving early has its costs – literally.
RPR climbs and descends the dunes along the ocean with no two holes traveling in the same direction.
The rough was cut, thankfully, last week and apparently won’t see a mower until next year’s Open is concluded. Even so it was penal. Yikes.
RPR was a treat to play, notwithstanding the slowly descending temperature and chilly breeze. Lots of great memories. It definitely merited a top three position on our golf played to date list.
Tomorrow is a Pit Day when we plan to explore Derry/Londonderry (that’s the proper, official name to avoid any bias). Probably cover more steps than an average round of golf!
Although the Open Championship has been played at many venues since its inception in 1860, until the reintroduction of Royal Portrush, the R&A had settled on a rotation of nine courses to host the tournament: Carnoustie, Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool, Royal Latham & St Annes, St Andrews, Muirfield, Royal Troon, Turnberry, Royal St Georges.
The Bennetts On Tour 