Battle of the Links: Which is better, Royal Portrush or Royal County Down?

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In fact, it's a bit like asking who is the greatest golfer of all time: Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods?

Depending on who you ask, the decision will vary, but in all the debates, we tend to overlook an important point.

Because no matter which one you prefer, the differences between Nicklaus and Woods are relatively infinitesimal.

But the difference between Nicklaus and Woods and the rest of the world's golfers — yes, even other major champions — is huge.

The simple fact is that Nicklaus and Woods not only led the streets and avenues ahead of everyone else, they put Route 66 between themselves and everyone else.

The story is much the same for two of Northern Ireland's greatest courses, and we'll be taking a closer look at them before returning there for the Open in 2025, but can we decide which one is the best?

First up is Royal Portrush, which is of course the only Northern Ireland course to host the Open.

Long shadows, morning dew and vast dune vistas create a stunning canvas for golf and photography. pic.twitter.com/QCdfAadMWc

— Royal Portrush GC (@royalportrush) December 28, 2024

It was first held in 1951 when England's Max Faulkner won the title and saw an emotional return in 2019.

Rory McIlroy was the hero of the week, but he managed to miss out on the cut after a disastrous first round. Instead, Republic of Ireland's Shane Lowry lifted the claret jug in glorious scenes.

Portrush is a great layout on the North Coast. It was created by Harry Colt (who was also responsible for Wentworth West) and twists and turns in every direction.

The coastline here is famous for the Giant's Causeway and the filming location for Game of Thrones, and the golf course definitely lives up to its name as it's a massive golf course.

Two new holes were constructed ahead of the 2019 championship and they fit perfectly into the original 16 holes, creating a supreme test of dune-swept fairways.

The most notable of these is the fifth hole, a dogleg par 4 that leads to the ocean. Aggressive players can attack areas off the green near the dogleg, but shorter hitters can use contours to sweep the ball down the roller coaster fairway to nearly the same spot where bigger hitters are aiming.

The key test of the back nine is the par-3 known as Calamity Corner. It requires a powerful blow to the top of a high dune. Anything short or right will land you in deep trouble. It was the hole that sealed McIlroy's fate in 2019, when he four-putted while suffering a mental breakdown.

Further south, near the town boundary of Newcastle, is Down Royal County.

If heaven had a golf course, I'd want it to look like Royal County… pic.twitter.com/BFT0EBsVPc

— Jamie Kennedy (@jamierkennedy) November 22, 2024

It has hosted the Walker Cup and Irish Open in the past (most recently in September 2024), but a lack of space around the course and a lack of facilities in Newcastle has meant it has never hosted the Open.

It does have some blind spots that some people don't like, but it's also regularly ranked first or second on lists of the best courses in the world, let alone Northern Ireland.

This is another truly striking scene, and arguably one of the better visual ones, with vast expanses of sand dunes, the ocean lapping against the beach next to the first, second and third holes, and the Morne Mountains providing stunning views background.

The second tee is a majestic site with the tee box set above the sand, the fairway beyond and the green nestled among the dunes.

The par-3 seventh hole is another exciting test. The green is protected by a series of deep bunkers, but the stunning dunes and mountains in the background can easily make a distracted golfer make a mistake.

Our conclusion? This is a difficult task.

Royal Portrush is the right test for the British Open, but Royal County Down is only slightly better.

Read more: Hawaii Golf – 7 Must-Play Golf Courses in the Aloha State