Elm Park Golf and Sports Club

Elm Park occupies a compact parkland site in the Donnybrook neighborhood of south Dublin, approximately three miles from the city center. The club was founded in 1925, with the course designed by Patrick Merrigan, an Irish architect active in the early twentieth century. The layout sits on relatively flat terrain bordered by residential areas, making efficient use of limited acreage through a routing that features several parallel fairways and strategic bunkering. The course measures modest in length by contemporary standards, emphasizing accuracy and course management over distance. Mature trees line many holes, and the property's urban setting creates an intimate playing environment where shot placement matters considerably. Several holes require precise iron play to elevated or well-protected greens, and the compact nature of the design means wind can influence play despite the tree cover. Elm Park has served as a venue for various Irish amateur competitions over the decades, contributing to the competitive golf culture in the Dublin region. The club operates as a members' facility with a traditional Irish golf club atmosphere, offering both golf and other sporting amenities as its full name suggests. The course provides a straightforward parkland test that reflects the constraints and character of urban Irish golf design from the interwar period, maintaining its role as an accessible venue for Dublin golfers seeking regular play close to the city.