STAYING THERE

Bushmills Inn (bushmillsinn.

The R&A’s website has an interview with McIlroy playing the par 5 7th on a breezy day. After a drive and a two-iron, McIlroy finds himself 121yd short of the green and decides to play “a chippy seven-iron – I haven’t done that in a while”. It sounds like seaside golf as we know it, and promises well for creative shoemaking in the Open.

Many ups and downs later, we reach Portrush’s most famous hole,

Calamity, a do-or-die long par 3 over a chasm of terminal rough, with a crosswind. There was no need to tinker with this hellhole for the Open, but they lengthened it anyway, to 237yd. Aim left.

For afforda affordable alternatives to the Dun Dunluce, there is no need to leav leave the premises. The adj adjoining Valley course, whe where Rathmore Golf Club plays on flatter and more shelte sheltered ground, is just right for a fr friendly foursome after the emotion emotional rollercoaster of a morning round on the Dunluce.

Next st stop, Portstewart, less than four miles along the coast. Its 54 holes inclu include the most spectacular opening te tee shot followed by the most excit exciting stretch of links golf you are eve ever likely to encounter anywhere anywhere.

This is the front nine of The Strand, which hosted the

Irish Op Open two years ago. The pulse sl slows as the course makes its way down to the banks of the river B Bann, and the closing holes are for forgettable. Never mind: 12 holes of o excitement are more than eno enough to take away.

The muddy mu waters of the Bann separate P Portstewart and

Castlerock, where the Mussenden course would be a star golfing attraction in less exalted company. Here it plays third fiddle to its prestigious n neighbours, and plays it well. Don’t expect ex any easy holes, however. A As Lee Westwood reminded us, golf is not an easy game. Tha That’s why we play it.