The Royal Dublin Golf Club

North Bull Island, Dollymount,

Dublin 3, Co. Dublin

  • Office

    +353 (0)1 833 6346
  • Pro shop

    +353 (0)1 833 6477
  • Fax

    +353 (0)1 833 6504
  • Golf pro

    John Dwyer (PGA, Head Golf Professional).

About the course

  • The Course:

    18 holes. Seaside links. Gently undulating terrain - easy to walk.

  • Surroundings:

    Coastal duneland.

  • Designer:

    Original Harry Colt design dates from 1921. Modifications by Martin Hawtree (2002).

Back
tees
Club
tees
Front
tees
Metres
6309
5741
5425
Par
72
70
74
SSS or slope
73
70
73

Location

Latitude:

53.356698

Longitude:

-6.170657

How to get there:

8 km E of Dublin

From the M50 motorway north of Dublin take exit 3 (M1 / M50 intersection) onto the N32 direction Malahide. After 4.8 km turn right at roundabout into Grange Road, heading south. After 1 km turn right into Kilbarrack Road, and then first left into Raheny Road. After 1.6 km (past church in Raheny) turn left into Watermill Road. After o.8 km turn right at traffic lights into James Larkin Road and follow road with North Bull Island on your left. After 1.8 km turn left and go over the Wooden Bridge. After o.8 km golf is on your left.

The Royal Dublin Golf Club

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.

Est. 1885

The Royal Dublin Golf Club: Located close to the shoreline of Dublin Bay, a large sand bar known as Bull Island plays host to two links golf courses. St Anne's Golf Club occupies the northern half of the island, while the better known and more prestigious Royal Dublin occupies the island's southern half.

The current design of Royal Dublin dates from just after the 1914-18 War, when Harry Colt restored the course following a few years in the hands of the military. The sand dunes he had to work with are relatively modest in size, but from them the great man fashioned a top-quality layout. This classic out-and-back course is full of strategically placed bunkering, roller-coaster (but often tight) fairways and threatening water ditches.

From the course you will enjoy views onto Dublin Bay from the more elevated tees. At the most southerly, clubhouse end of the course, the Port of Dublin also provides a backdrop to some holes, with its ferries, cranes and power-station all in the picture.

List of courses: Around Dublin

Visitors

Who can play and when?

Visitors welcome on weekdays (except Weds), Saturdays (4pm-5:30pm) and Sundays (10am-12pm).

Must book in advance. Handicap required.

Green fees

Visitor fee, 18-holes (mid-March thru' Oct): Mon-Thur €180; Fri-Sun €205.

Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2023].

Other information

Soft spikes only. Players generally walk this course.

Practice facilities

Good

Did you know?

The land on which Royal Dublin and neighbouring St Anne's Golf Club are based has an interesting past. Previously nothing existed here except a few sand banks that were usually submerged under the sea. In 1823 a sea wall was built out from the shore at Clontarf to the west. Once the wall was completed, sand began to build-up behind it. By the late 1800s an area of sand dunes covering more than 600 acres had been created.

Queen Victoria conferred the Royal prefix on Dublin Golf Club in 1891, at a time when Ireland was part of the United Kingdom (1801–1921). By royal prerogative, two Irish golf clubs can use the "Royal" title, namely: Royal Curragh and Royal Dublin. | Royal Dublin has hosted many top level championships including the Irish Open on several occasions (recent winners: Seve Ballesteros in 1983 and 1985, Bernhard Langer in 1984).

Published ranking

Ireland's 39th best course (Golf World, 2023).

Where2Stay

  • Clontarf Castle Hotel4-star

    Castle Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin 3

    + 353 (0)1 833 2321

    Visit website

    Clontarf 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.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 10 km:

      Royal Dublin; St Anne's; Portmarnock; Portmarnock Links.

    • Golf within 30 km:

      The Island; Roganstown; St Margaret's; Castleknock; Luttrellstown Castle; South County; Grange; Powerscourt; Woodbrook.

  • The Clarence4-star

    6 - 8 Wellington Quay, Dublin

    +353 (0)1 407 0800

    Visit website
    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 10 km:

      Royal Dublin

    • Golf within 30 km:

      Portmarnock; Portmarnock Links; St Margaret's; Luttrellstown Castle; Grange; Powerscourt.

Find a course

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Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

Who's Who

Céline Boutier: with many successes as both an amateur and professional golfer, Boutier added a major championship title to her impressive résumé at this year’s Evian Championship.

Alex Cejka: buffeted by rain and high winds, especially on the high-scoring final day, Čejka prevailed over Pádraig Harrington in a playoff at Royal Porthcawl, to scoop the Senior Open Championship title.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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