Portpatrick Dunskey

Portpatrick Dunskey Golf Club sits on the southwestern coastline of Scotland, high atop the cliffs and overlooking the Irish Sea. 

Think Pennard or Sheringham, that is the sort of terrain we are talking about with Portpatrick Dunskey, sitting atop the cliffs. 

The Dunskey Course is short of 6,000 yards, but remains a real challenge due to its tight fairways, undulating greens, blind shots and of course, the wind coming in off the sea. 

Visit the Portpatrick Dunskey website here. 

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The Portpatrick Dunskey Golf Club was one of the first to be founded in Scotland following the turn of the 20th Century, originating in 1903. 

The original 18-hole course was then extended in 1913, shortly prior to the First World War, with the 9-hole layout measuring just 1,500 yards at the time. 

Over the years, the Dunskey Course has also been lengthened, with the club eventually purchasing the land from the Dunskey Estate in the 1980s.

The Dunskey Course at Portpatrick Dunsey Golf Club is simply stunning. Sitting atop the cliffs on the southwestern corner of Scotland, the course is simultaneously entertaining and challenging, especially when the fierce wind blows from across the Irish Sea. It might be less than 6,000 yards, but if the wind is blowing, then the Dunskey Course can be as tough as any. 

On a clear day you will enjoy magnificent views from the 13th tee of the Irish coastline to the west, the Isle of Man to the south and the Mull of Kintyre to the north. 

The layout begins with a pair of medium-length par 4s which run in opposite directions. That gives you a chance to deal with the wind in different ways early on – something you might need to work out throughout the round! The opener is just shy of 400 yards, but has a generous fairway of your opening tee shot. The 2nd is slightly shorter at 375 yards, and with no sand in view at all, this could be an early birdie, if the wind is with you! The 3rd is the longest hole on the Dunskey Course, and one of just two par 5s in play. 545 yards from the tips, and after the tee shot, you might not know where you are going. Play over the ridge into the valley below, which will then set you up for a blind approach to a green that runs away from you. A very tough hole if you’re playing it for the first time, and worthy of its Stroke Index 1. 

The first of the quartet of par 3s comes at the 4th. It is 160 yards, and it is all carry over a ravine. Take a club more if you’re unsure. The 5th is the longest par 4 on the course, the only one pushing past the 400-yard mark. It might be long, but at least it is straight, and there is no fairway sand to worry you. Two bunkers sit in front of the large, square putting surface. The 6th is a dog-leg left, and at 380 yards, it still requires a sold tee shot down the right side of the fairway. From there, the approach is played to a green guarded by two more greenside traps. At 165 yards, the par 3 7th doesn’t seem that bad. However, you simply cannot miss left as your ball will run down the hill and leave you with a treacherous up and down. 

A trio of par 4s take you around the turn on the Dunskey Course, starting with the longest of those, the 380-yard 8th. The fairway slopes from right to left so aim down the right side. Again, there is no sand by the green, so this is a green light to attack. Birdie chances come at 9 and 10 as well, with the former just 310 yards off the back tees. Avoiding the three fairway bunkers on the right side is the key off the tee, with a further trap down by the green. The back nine begins with a tricky par 4, one of 330 yards. If you can avoid the OOB down the left side, then this is a great birdie chance. 

The 11th is the first of two par 3s on the back nine, and arguably the signature hole on the Dunskey Course. It plays just over 160 yards from the back tees, and yet can be anything from a wedge to a driver depending on the wind. The green is thin and shallow, so club selection is crucial. 12 is the most difficult hole on the back nine, playing uphill so it feels longer than its carded distance of 390 yards. Three fairway bunkers are in play, including one that is hidden on the left side.  

Once you have enjoyed the views from the 13th tee, then it is back to business. This is the start of the scoring run on the Dunskey. 13 and 14 are both just 295-yard par 4s, offering up a real birdie chance on both. The former has a wide fairway, and a square green that can be attacked if you’re feeling confident. 14 is slightly more difficult as it plays back uphill for the second shot, but again, this is a great chance. The 15th is then the shortest hole on the course at just 105 yards. Although small, you cannot see the surface of the green from the tee box, and it is a surface that kicks from right to left towards the bunkers. 

The closing stretch features two very different par 4s, before the course finishes with a par 5. 16 requires a solid tee shot, before you then hit a blind approach shot towards the green, one that might sit further back than you first think when looking at the marker post in the fairway. The 17th is only 300 yards, and another good birdie chance on the way home. Two fairway bunkers sit on the right side, while anything too far left will be lost. A good drive gives you a chance, if you can find the right tier on the green. The closing hole on the Dunskey Course is a long par 5 of 535 yards. OOB runs down the entirety of the left side thanks to the driving range, but that doesn’t mean you can go right off the tee either... It is another two-tiered green to finish, this time from right to left.

Where is Portpatrick Dunskey located?

Portpatrick Dunskey Golf Club is situated on the southwestern coast of Scotland, in the county of Dumfries & Galloway. It is to the north of the town of Portpatrick, with Dunskey Castle less than a mile away, hence the name of the club. The course overlooks the Irish Sea, and over the Northern Ireland on a clear day. The A77, which runs from Glasgow down to Portpatrick, is the main road servicing the town and the golf club. The tow of Stranraer is only seven miles to the northeast of the golf club.

Stranraer is also home to the nearest train station to Portpatrick Dunskey Golf Club. Like the town, it is seven miles to the northeast of the venue, with trains running to and from Ayr on an infrequent basis. For international visitors to the region, Glasgow Prestwick Airport is 65 miles to the northeast, with Glasow Airport – the second busiest airport in Scotland – closer to 100 miles away in the same direction.

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Scotland venues nearby?

Although Portpatrick is tucked into the southwest corner of the country, there are still some venues on the NCG Top 100s: Scotland list within reach. Stranraer, which is eight miles away, is the closest, while Trump Turnberry - with the Ailsa Course and the King Robert the Bruce Course – is within 50 miles to the north.

What golf facilities does Portpatrick Dunskey offer?

Along with the 18-hole Dunskey Course, Portpatrick Dunskey Golf Club is also home to the Dinvin 9-hole layout, which is the perfect place for a warm-up before taking on the Dunskey Course. There is also a driving range which splits the two courses, running down the side of the 18th of the Dunskey, along with a putting green by the first tee.

What are the green fees at Portpatrick Dunskey?

The price of a green fee at Portpatrick Dunskey changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.

For more information on current green fees at Portpatrick Dunskey, visit their website here.