The Royal Portrush Golf Club was founded in 1888 as The County Club. It became The Royal County Club in 1892 under the patronage of the Duke of York and assumed its present name in 1895 under the patronage of the Prince of Wales. In 1951 the club hosted The Open Championship, the first time the event was held in Northern Ireland. The club has also hosted the Senior British Open Championship between 1995 and 1999 and again in 2004. The club was also host to the 2010 Palmer Cup. Darren Clarke (a club member, Open winner and Ryder Cup stalwart) named Royal County Down Golf Club his favourite golf course in the world.
The second course at Royal Portrush is the Valley Links and is used mostly by members of the 'town' club Rathmore and the ladies and juniors of Royal Portrush. It is shorter and considered less demanding than the Dunluce Links. Rathmore clubhouse and the lady’s clubhouse are situated adjacent to the first tee. A six-hole pitch and putt course, named Skerries, starts from the same location.
