Golf Links Rd,
Portmarnock, Co. Dublin
Office
+353 (0)1 846 2968Pro shop
+353 (0)1 846 2634Fax
+353 (0)1 846 2601Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Francis Howley (Head PGA Professional)The Course:
27 holes. Seaside links. Gently undulating terrain - easy to walk.
Surroundings:
Coastal duneland.
Designer:
Original layout by founders George Ross (Capt) and William C. Pickeman (Secretary), assisted by Scottish professional Mungo Park (who stayed for a year as the Club's first pro). Third nine added by Fred Hawtree (1971); modifications to the Championship layout by Fred's son Martin Hawtree (2002).
Above distances are for the Championship course (Red & Blue nines). The Yellow-nine (at 3,461 yds from back tees) is slightly shorter than the other two nines.
53.407498
-6.124148
19 km NE of Dublin
From the M1 motorway north of Dublin, take the Skerries / Donabate exit (R132) and follow direction Swords R132 / N1. After 2.7 km at 3rd roundabout (Malahide Rd roundabout) turn left onto the R106 direction Malahide / Portmarnock. After 2 km, at Statoil Filling Station in the centre of Portmarnock, turn left into Golf Links Road. After o.8 km you'll reach the gatehouse to Portmarnock GC.
Portmarnock Golf Club (Old course): Amongst the many seaside links golf courses of Britain and Ireland, there is clearly an elite dozen or so. If each of the respective nations had to pick their standard bearer, then Ireland would need look no further than Portmarnock. Together with the other standard bearers, Portmarnock is characterised by a wonderful layout of understated simplicity, which belies its undoubted golfing challenges.
Portmarnock is home to 27 excellent links golf holes. The Red and Blue-nines make up the Championship Course, while the Yellow-nine (added in 1971) also lays down a thorough test of your shot-making and all round game. The course at Portmarnock Golf Club is often called the "Old" course, distinguishing it from its neighbour, the more recently established Portmarnock Links course, which is attached to the Portmarnock Hotel.
Here at Portmarnock you tee it up alongside the Sluice River, and embark on one of Ireland's essential links golf experiences. Along the way are some of the finest revetted pot bunkers you'll find anywhere, and there's plenty of them, scattered alongside the tumbling fairways and around the fabulous greens.
While the sand dunes may not be the most impressive in golf, they are big enough to give good definition to each hole. Sea views are occasional, rather than ever-present, with the best of them coming at the long, spectacular and knee-trembling par-3 15th. The course is pristinely maintained, but retains a thoroughly natural look, and an abundance of timeless charm.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends; more restricted on Saturdays.
Must book in advance. Proof of handicap required.
Credit cards accepted. Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2020].
Players generally walk this course. Caddies available if pre-booked.
Good
Portmarnock's Championship course (the Red and Blue nines) has hosted many top level golf tournaments, not least the Walker Cup in 1991, and several Irish Open Championships over many years For more details see Top Golf Tournaments at Portmarnock GC, Old course.
To the north east of Dublin lie the Howth and Portmarnock peninsulas. The latter, with the Irish Sea on one side and a river estuary on the other, is almost entirely occupied by two excellent links courses. The southern section of the 2-mile long peninsula is home to the 27-holes of the Portmarnock Golf Club. Above it sits the 100 years younger Portmarnock Links. Both courses occupy sandy links terrain, which was originally part of the Jameson Estate ... that's Jameson of Irish whiskey fame.
World: 48th best course in the world (GOLF magazine, 2020/21).
GB&I: 15th best course in Britain & Ireland (Golf World, 2020/21).
Ireland: 3rd best course in Ireland (Golf World, 2019).
Portmarnock, Co. Dublin
+353 (0)1 846 0611
Visit websiteThis luxury 4-star hotel combines modern elegance with the grandeur of a 19th century home once owned by members of the Jameson Whiskey dynasty. The hotel’s design ensures all guest rooms have a view over the Irish Sea, the hotel gardens or onto the 18-hole Portmarnock Links golf course.
Portmarnock Links
Portmarnock; Royal Dublin.
The Island; St Margaret's; Luttrellstown Castle; Grange.
Castle Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin 3
+353 (0)1 833 2321
Visit websiteClontarf Castle is a luxurious Irish castle hotel, dating (in parts) from the 12th century. It is located just two miles from the heart of the city and only five miles from Dublin Airport.
No
Royal Dublin; St Anne's; Portmarnock; Portmarnock Links.
The Island; Roganstown; St Margaret's; Castleknock; Luttrellstown Castle; South County; Grange; Powerscourt; Woodbrook.
Tournaments:
Women’s major championships: the month of June sees two women’s majors: the US Women’s Open (June 3-6), with A Lim Kim defending, and the Women’s PGA Championship (June 24-27), with Sei Young Kim defending.
Senior PGA Championship: the revered Southern Hills in Oklahoma hosts the 81st staging of this event (May 27-30); Ken Tanigawa holds the title from its last playing in 2019.
Who's Who:
Phil Mickelson: in winning the 2021 PGA Championship, the world’s most famous “leftie” became the oldest winner of a golf major championship.
Hideki Matsuyama: became the first Japanese professional to win a men’s major championship, when he triumphed in this year’s Masters Tournament.
New 27-hole golf complex to be built in southern Belgium
A new golf complex in southern Belgium, close to the border with Luxembourg, will start construction in June 2021.
American Dunes opens for play following Nicklaus transformation
Nicklaus Design has transformed the former Grand Haven Golf Club in Michigan into the American Dunes Golf Club, a new public course that is now open for play
New course opens for play at Barnbougle
Bill Coore designs 14-hole layout with “sporty” holes on dune ridge above Lost Farm (golf carts allowed).
Gamble Sands opens short course:
David McLay Kidd’s 14-hole QuickSands short course has opened for play at Gamble Sands in Brewster, Washington.
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