The club was founded in 1894 and started off as 9 holes at the existing location of The Old Course. This was upgraded to 18 holes in 1934.
In 1920 the club built another clubhouse at Strand Head and a Willie Park Jr. designed 18 holes was built, and called The Strand Course.
In 1986 the club purchased land in the sand dunes known as 'Thistly Hollow'. This allowed seven new stunning holes to be built in these towering dunes and in natural links land. These new holes were designed by club member Des Giffin.
Bernard Cassell pictured playing his tee shot on the par three 3rd hole.
Giffin did a tremendous job with the design, and the integration between old and new is seamless.
This makeover on The Strand Course left an extra 9 holes from the original layout, which was expanded to 18 holes in 2001. This is now currently The Riverside Course.
The 'river', which runs alongside the Strand as well, is the Bann River.
The dunes are quite dramatic, and frame the holes beautifully.
Spectacular scenery. So spectacular in fact, that part of Season 4 of hugely popular TV show, Game of Thrones, was filmed on the Strand Beach, just near the course.
For those that watched the show, it was here that Jaime and Bronn came ashore on Dorne. They fought and killed some Dornish men as they sought to bring Jaime’s “niece” Myrella back from Dorne to King’s Landing.
Linton Hayres tees off on the par four 11th hole.
A feature of these links courses is the "Blind Shots". These poles are used to indicate the position of the green.
Not an encouraging sign, these hobbit hole style weather shelters are an indication of the conditions regularly faced in these parts.
There are further plans to introduce for holes into the "dune" areas, and holes 17 & 18 appear to be those that will eventually make way.
A really enjoyable, but tough start to the tour, as the wind was strong, rain showers were sweeping through, and jetlag was high.
Rob Dudfield was the winner of the day, congratulations Rob.
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