“He is here.” says the bartender and points dramatically at a black Mercerdes. We have started the day in the club shop filled with motorcyclists. Apart from the Open and the Irish Open this is the big week of the year at Portrush – The North West 200. The roads are closed between Portrush-Portstewart and Ballysally for the annual road race for superbikes, at a top speed of 200mph. Today we are playing golf. The district’s pride and joy, and number one son and entertainer is Darren Clarke. In the entrance stand The Claret Jug and gold medal from 2011. We head off for the 1st tee where the Starter sends us off without delay. A test swing is like a gift from the gods. A cold, icy wind is blowing under blue skies and today we encounter evil flag placements. The 1st and 2nd pass without catching one’s attention but the 3rd – a par 3 – is a classic one-shotter from the 1951 Open – LINKS75 class. The 4th is a monstrous par 4 that never seems to end with the flag hidden behind a sand dune – Darren class. We climb up to the tee and are met by the foaming sea. An eternity away lies Antarctica. The 5th – a par 4 – has a delightful view, and although the wind freshens up LINKS75 is content the whole way forward as our thoughts go back to 1951 and Max Faulkner.
5th green, Royal Portrush
The 6th – Harry Colt’s – is again a one-shotter of highest LINKS75 class. The 7th – a long par 4 – is also of Open standard. The 9th and 10th are two straight par 5s that allow us to rest a little before picking up speed again. We even find time to lie down at the 10th tee and just enjoy – a classic Open venue that should be reborn. The 11th – a par 3 – meets the 15th on the other side of the rose bushes and has a gigantic sighting marker between the greens.
11th &15th, Royal Portrush
The 13th – a par 4 – faces uphill out towards the sea and finishes with a devilish green area. Behind the flag lies a deep hollow. We play short and enjoy our bogeys – pleasure. Crescendo – Calamity – a 202-yard par 3 with a steep ravine filled with elephant grass to the right and Bobby Locke’s hollow to the left – LINKS75 stays glued to the green.
14th, Royal Portrush
The 15th downhill towards the 11th green and sighting marker forms a classic Links circle. The final holes are played without fuss with big smiles on our faces despite the traditional road and car park hazards on the 18th. Rory shot 28 on the last 9 here when he sat the course record of 61. He was only 16. In the bar we compare our links hearts with Svensk Golf – a list filled with joy. We finish where we began – in the shop – where Darren’s Scotty stands awaiting the next Open.
Take Portrush back to your heart R&A – LINKS75 has already done so.
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