Salute McDowell's U.S. Open win with a links golf trip to Portrush, Northern Ireland

The final pairing at the U.S. Open of Dustin Johnson and Graeme McDowell featured two players from two of the world’s finest golf destinations.

Johnson of course, is from Myrtle Beach, S.C. McDowell hails from Portrush, a can’t-miss stop on your Northern Ireland golf vacation for both its Dunluce links and fine port town along Eire’s northern shore.

If McDowell’s Pebble Beach triumph has you eager to experience the best of Northern Ireland golf (and it’s arguably Ireland’s finest pocket of links - right there with the southwest), Carr Golf is offering a six-round, six-night package that features the best links of the north. McDowell’s home club Royal Portrush headlines the package, along with Royal County Down, and also includes Ardlgass, Castlerock and Portstewart. You’ll also head back over the border into the Republic of Ireland to experience remote Ballyliffin, which is the isle’s northernmost golf course and feels like it’s on another planet.

I’ve played them all except Portstewart, and they’re as good (and tough) a five-course set in any links pocket in the world that I’ve seen, so click here for more information.

And if you’re looking to read and see more, here’s some stuff from my trip:

Spotlight on Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coastal Route.

Best of Northern Ireland in photos.

Southwest Ireland vs. Northern Ireland.