Portstewart joins list of the North’s jewels

If impressions count, then it is hard to explain just how impressed I was with Portstewart for the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, writes John McHenry.

As a venue, it more than justified its section for the Irish Open as a golfing test to one of Europe’s strongest fields — but more than that, it also demonstrated to a world-wide TV audience that there is more to golf in Ulster than just the more famous Royal Portrush and Royal County Down Courses.

Framed by towering dunes, Portstewart has it all. It is more stunning than its illustrious neighbours and this week the players have been treated to the best conditioned links course I have ever played (including Open Championships) or experienced.