Royal Portrush confirmed as the venue for the 2019 Open. http://www.theopen.com/News/News/2015/10/Royal-Portrush-to-host-The-148th-Open-in-2019
Wonder how the new holes will look like, article from Sky
Royal Portrush will undergo a significant transformation ahead of the return of the Open Championship to the venue in 2019.
The R&A have announced that the world's oldest major will be held on the Dunluce Course for the first time since 1951, and work is already under way on preparing the layout for the challenge.
Renowned course architect Martin Ebert, who is based at Portrush, will oversee the numerous changes which include the construction of two new holes after the proposals were agreed by the club's members.
The overall length of the course will be increased by just under 200 yards to 7,337 yards, while a number of new bunkers will be added to bring the total to 62 - still the lowest bunkers of any course on the Open rota.
An R&A statement read: "Course preparations and the work to create the two new holes on the renowned Dunluce Links are well underway.
"The new seventh and eighth holes will utilise land from the adjacent Valley Course to develop a new par-five, playing down into the valley encompassing that course's sixth hole, and then a par four, playing back over its fifth hole into some beautiful duneland.
"Both holes will have an immediate air of maturity using some of the most stunning land at Royal Portrush. The new holes will replace the current 17th and 18th holes on the Dunluce Links, freeing up that land to be used to accommodate the spectator village and championship infrastructure.
Two new holes will be created and played as the seventh and eighth in 2019
"As well as creating two new holes, a series of other changes are being made to the course to enhance the challenge that will face the world's top golfers while remaining true to the ethos of Harry Colt's original design.
"The most significant changes will be to move the second green to lengthen the par-five hole by around 40 yards and on the current 10th hole, which will be the 12th at The Open, to alter the line of the hole and extend it by 50 yards.
"Elsewhere, the existing eighth green (the 10th at The Open), which was not designed by Colt, will be reshaped and several new back tees will be created."
Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke said: "The global impact and the financial benefits to Northern Ireland are immeasurable. We've had some good times and bad times here, but to have the biggest and best tournament in the world here is certainly a very proud moment for us all and it can only showcase the beautiful part of the world we have here.
The current 17th and 18th holes will make way for the spectator village
"Coming here is a huge step of trust, to bring it back here for the first time since 1951, and I think Martin Ebert, who will discuss the changes that he's making, is going to make an already fantastic golf course an even better one.
"When it comes to that final score on Sunday afternoon I think it's going to be very, very close to what Max Faulkner won on three under on that Sunday in 1951, and I hope I'm on four under!
"There's no finer words in our sport than standing on the 18th green on a Sunday than being told you are the champion golfer of the year. I was fortunate to have that and it was a moment that I will forever treasure."
