First Impressions From Portrush

The epic links is rounding into perfect shape as The Open nears. A look at conditions, a pair of holes, and the spectating experience. Plus, the Met Office and its low confidence rain forecast.

Breaking: Royal Portrush will be play firmer than it did six years ago. The bar was not especially high since cars had to be pulled out of mud just blocks from the course and 15-under-par won thanks in part to a holding course.

The hillier-than-it-looks links does not need to be running to accentuate the bouces, angles or trouble. Sunday’s warmth and bright sun showcased an east wind that should help offset any rain coming before Thursday’s opening round. Portrush will never see the deep-fried conditions on display at Renaissance Club—where Chris Gotterup prevailed in the Genesis Scottish Open and will be joined at Portrush by Nicolai Højgaard and Matti Schmid as the final Open Qualifying Series’ graduates.)

Scotland’s lack of rain appeared to expose Renaissance’s greater mix of turfgrasses. A nice way of saying that a lot of grass sure looked dead on Sunday. Conversely, Portrush features one of the most pristine, predominantly fescue courses on the planet. As much as 75% of putting surface turf is composed of fine fescue. That stuff can withstand just about anything while needing very little moisture to bounce back.

Here at Portrush, Sunday’s robust spectator turnout offered a study in various shades of pink skin—a.k.a. sunburnt red—while the course only showed a few minor signs of light carmelizing. Portrush’s turf wears its sun cream but still has a nice base tan thanks to its superb conditioning by Graeme Beatt. But the native areas off the fairways? Deadly. As with last time here, plan on this being a GIR war of attrition.

During my Sunday Portrush stroll, most of the fans and marshals wanted to know where all the non-Scottish Open players were. I pointed to the range. Then I explained how today’s athletes need to dial in their numbers and only need to see each nine once before hitting send. But we all agreed that those who did play Sunday were picking up valuable local knowledge. Based on the few greens I walked on, no two seemed quite the same firmness-wise. Some sit higher, some sit lower and one has been remodeled since last with new green firmness. In a few cases, it was enough to influence the approach shot.

Here’s a quick look at the fourth hole, its boundary line, and the new Dunluce Lodge:

I revisited the fascinating fifth hole today while it was playing straight downwind. The 372-yard hole turned into a long par 3 today since it was practice and because players like to hit the accelerator before (possibly) throttling back starting Thursday. Today, that approach was practically an automatic choice and the sixth tee got a lot of action as a result.

It’s 332-yards to reach the green with ample (but largely obstructed) fairway to lay up in. There are just so many dimensions to the fifth for a player and that might also explain the rationale—after intense consulting with their team—to say, “Ah &^% it, let’s just drive it.”

Here’s a look from the 5th fairway that got much of Sunday off. But it’s a good indicator of the remarkable turf quality and where things are with firmness. Plus, it’s a fun approach and green to look at as long as you put fingers over each of the 48 white boundary stakes right behind it.