Royal Dublin

Royal Dublin Golf Club was founded in 1885, making it one of the oldest golfing venues in Ireland.  The club moved to its current location on Bull Island four years later, where the course has remained ever since. Harry Colt designed the links as we know it after the First World War, with Martin Hawtree providing a modernising input in recent years.  The great Christy O’Connor Sr called Royal Dublin his home and was the club professional for many years. During that time, he played in ten consecutive Ryder Cups (opens in a new tab) for Team GB&I.  Royal Dublin has played host to the Irish Open on the DP World Tour on six occasions, most recently in 1985, where Seve Ballesteros won the event for a second time.

Hawtree’s work saw some extensions to tee boxes, making the course play almost 7,300 yards from the tips. The front nine is considerably shorter and it usually plays with the prevailing wind at your back, making it even shorter. The turn for home signifies the start of the brutal battle to reach the clubhouse, with the wind then into your face. Get your scoring done on the front nine and try and hold on to it on your way in!  The opening hole is a straight away par 4 to get things going at Royal Dublin. It is followed by the par 5 2nd, the easiest hole on the course. At just 489 yards, this is one where most could reach in two, especially if the prevailing wind is at your back. The 4th is the first par 3 on the course, and plays back into the wind. At more than 180 yards from the tips, fairway woods and hybrids can be taken from this tee.  The 5th is the hardest hole on the front nine, and it is followed by the par 6th, the longest hole at Royal Dublin at almost 600 yards from the tips. The 7th and 9th are both par 3s, with the former touching 210 yards from the back tees. 8 is another tricky par 4 of more than 400 yards, with the 9th being a shorter par 3, and playing at the northern boundary of the course, signalling the turn for home. That’s where it starts to get tough, as you turn back into the prevailing wind. The only real respite you have on the back nine comes at the 16th. Until then, good luck!  10, 13 and 15 are all par 4s of more than 450 yards. However, the last of those is usually played with the prevailing wind at your back, making it slightly easier. In between those are the par 5 11th and 14th holes, both of which are more than 550 yards from the tips. 11 has five bunkers dotted down it, while 14 has six bunkers and a narrow ditch running in front of the green. The 12th is a 200-yard par 3 which plays to a green guarded by three large bunkers.  The respite comes at 16, which at just 305 yards, is easily the shortest of the par 4s at Royal Dublin. The most memorable hole on the course is surely the last. You can see the green from the tee on this long par 4. But the problem is that the large practice ground lies between you and the target. There are shades of Hoylake about the resultant right-angle dogleg. It ensures you must tiptoe your way home with an internal out-of-bounds to your right for the duration of the hole. It’s a nerve-shredding way to finish.

Michael Atkinson: Greens are where this course comes live, relatively flat links otherwise, but the greens are outstanding.

Lewis Marr: The new bunkering really amplifies the relatively flat landscape. A very enjoyable and playable links that was in excellent condition.

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Where is Royal Dublin Golf Club located?  
Royal Dublin Golf Club is situated on Bull Island, to the east of the Irish capital city. It is one of two golf courses located on the island, along with St Anne’s Golf Club. North Bull Island itself is a nature reserve, and is only accessible by two roads – one at the south side of the island and one to the north side. The centre of Dublin, the Irish capital, is just five miles to the west.  Dublin is also the home to the nearest airport and train stations for those visiting Royal Dublin Golf Club. Dublin Airport, situated in the north of the city and just ten miles from the course, is the biggest and busiest airport in the country, with more than 20 million passengers travelling through each year. Connolly Station, the main station in Dublin, is just over five miles away. Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Ireland venues nearby?
There are plenty of courses on the NCG Top 100s: Ireland list based in and round the Irish capital city. Portmarnock and Jameson Links - two neighbouring venues are within 10 miles, while another pair of neighbours - The Island and Corballis Links - are less than 15 miles from Royal Dublin. Further afield (but only slightly), the likes of Killeen Castle, Powerscourt (West), Druids Glen, the K Club's Palmer North and the Montgomerie Course at Carton House are all within 30 miles of Royal Dublin.
What golf facilities does Royal Dublin offer?  
Along with the stunning championship golf course, Royal Dublin also has plenty of practice facilities to offers its guests and members. There is a full-size driving range at the south side of Bull Island, along with a chipping green and putting green. A practice net with mats is also on hand for those who only have a few minutes to get some practice in before taking to the course. 
What are the green fees at Royal Dublin?  
The price of a green fee at Royal Dublin changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.   For more information on current green fees at Royal Dublin, visit their website here (opens in a new tab).   Visit Royal Dublin's website here (opens in a new tab). Go back to the NCG's Top 100s Homepage.