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Royal Portrush is the only golf course outside Great Britain to host the British Open Championship in 1951. Situated on the North Antrim Causeway coast, it occupies a triangle of giant sand hills which present magnificent views of the Donegal hills in the west, the Isle of Islay and Southern Hebrides in the north, with the Giant's Causeway and the Skerries in the east. Through a tangle of sand hills the course threads its way, with the sweeping contour of dunes lending infinite variety to the game. Constant changes of direction make the wind blowing from the Irish Sea an ever-varying challenge. Accuracy is key and wayward shots are penalized to the extreme with rough that can only be termed as punishing. The stronger player can try to shorten the dogleg to the right by taking an aggressive line with his driver. However good your drive, your approach to the green runs to the cliff's edge, making back hole locations a real test of courage. To the left there is a bunker, to the right a deep hollow whilst the back of the green overlooks the White Rocks and the Irish Sea below.
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