Can You Play Royal Portrush on GOLF+ VR? Here's How

Yes, Royal Portrush Golf Club — including both the Dunluce Links and Valley Links courses — is available on GOLF+ VR. Host of The Open Championship in 2019 and 2025, this Northern Ireland links is one of the most authentic links experiences you can have in VR. You can access it as individual DLC for about $10-12 per course, or through the GOLF+ Pass subscription ($9.99/month).

Royal Portrush is a big deal for the GOLF+ catalog. It is not just another course addition — it is a genuine links that hosted two Open Championships in six years. And in VR, the links experience translates better than almost any other course type.

Course Quality Assessment

The GOLF+ team built both Dunluce and Valley Links at Royal Portrush. These are separate DLC purchases. Dunluce is the famous championship course. Valley Links is the shorter, more traditional links that the locals play.

Dunluce Links is the priority. The course features rolling fairways, rumpled terrain, and ever-changing coastal winds — all of which read beautifully in VR. The depth perception on the blind shots is a major advantage. The 5th hole at Dunluce is a blind par-3 over a dune. On a 2D sim, you aim at a marker and hope. In VR, you can see the dune profile and know whether you have enough carry.

The 14th hole — “Calamity Corner” — is the signature. It is a long par-3 with a diagonal carry over a deep chasm. In VR, standing on that tee box looking at the carry is genuinely intimidating. The depth perception makes you feel the distance in a way that no screen can replicate. It is the closest thing to standing on the real tee box that most people will ever experience.

The wind model on Royal Portrush is critical. The real course sits on the Northern Ireland coast and gets battered by Atlantic winds. GOLF+’s wind model handles it adequately but not perfectly. The wind feels like a uniform push rather than the gusting, swirling chaos of the real links. It is close enough to be fun but not close enough to call it realistic practice.

Valley Links is the hidden gem. It is shorter, tighter, and more traditional. The course was added to GOLF+ in early 2025 and has become a favorite among regular players. It is easier than Dunluce but more technical. If you buy one Royal Portrush course, buy Dunluce. If you buy both, you will not regret the Valley Links addition.

How to Access

Individual DLC ($10-12 each): Buy Dunluce Links and/or Valley Links as standalone courses on the Meta Quest Store or in-game.

GOLF+ Pass ($9.99/month or $99.99/year): Subscribe for access to all courses including both Royal Portrush layouts.

Is It Worth It?

Royal Portrush Dunluce is an essential buy for links golf fans. It is the best Open Championship venue available on GOLF+ VR for players who want an authentic links test. The blind shots, the coastal wind, the rumpled fairways — it all works better in VR than it does on a screen.

Valley Links is a bonus for players who want more Royal Portrush after mastering Dunluce. It is excellent but not essential.

If you can only buy one links course on GOLF+, buy Royal Portrush Dunluce over St Andrews. It is the better test and the more interesting design.

For the full list of top courses on the platform, see the best courses on GOLF+ VR guide. For the platform breakdown, read the GOLF+ VR review.