Public

The Royal Dublin Course

The Royal Dublin Golf Club

Dollymount, Dublin, IE
Mally29
Anthony Moore
Ronnie
Golfer
rebeiro.hawaii
+37
18 holesPar 727,294 yds76.1/138

About this course

The Royal Dublin Golf Club holds a singular distinction: it is the second oldest golf club in Ireland. Set within the unique ecosystem of North Bull Island Nature Reserve, the links, dating back to 1885, threads through dunes sculpted by the Irish Sea. Its original architect, John Laurence Jameson, understood how to blend the game with this untamed coastal environment. While subsequent revisions, most notably by Harry Colt, have honed its strategic defense, the course retains the feeling of a classic, windswept links. Royal Dublin favors the shrewd shot maker, not the bomber. Fairways are generous in spots, but the rumpled terrain often kicks tee shots into unexpected lies, demanding creativity and adaptability. Approaches must be carefully judged, as the ever-present wind and subtly contoured greens present a constant challenge. Accuracy here is rewarded far more than brute strength. While never a host to major professional championships, the club holds a special place in Irish golfing history. Royal Dublin's membership has always prized the camaraderie of the game, a bond deepened by the shared experience of battling the elements. Tales of legendary matches, where fortunes shifted with the tides, are still whispered in the clubhouse today. Beyond the course itself, the club is known for its hearty post-round fare. The stew, a comforting blend of lamb and root vegetables, is a longstanding tradition, offering a warm reward after a bracing round on the island links.

Rankings

Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.

856

Best in World

25

Best in Ireland

3

Best in Dublin

Quick facts

Location
Dollymount, Dublin, IE
Access
Public
Holes
18
Par
72
Length
7,294 yards
Difficulty
76.1/138
Course Vaults score
8.2

Getting there

The journey to The Royal Dublin Golf Club begins at Dublin Airport, a mere twenty-minute drive to the northeast across the city's coastal fringe. From the terminal, the route traces the curve of Dublin Bay, skirting the harbor and residential neighborhoods before crossing the wooden causeway onto Bull Island - a slender spit of dunes and marram grass that feels worlds apart from the capital's bustle. The approach is deceptively modest, the road narrowing as it threads between the island's nature reserve and the links, until the clubhouse emerges along the shore, framed by the sweep of Howth Head to the north and the distant Wicklow Mountains across the water.

FAQ

Common questions about The Royal Dublin

Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.

The Royal Dublin has a Course Vaults score of 8.2 out of 10 based on 42 logged golfers.

The Royal Dublin was designed by Harry S. Colt.

Yes. The Royal Dublin is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.

Par at The Royal Dublin is 72.

The Royal Dublin plays 7,294 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.

The slope rating at The Royal Dublin is 138.

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