Founded in 1885, Royal Dublin Golf Club is a perfect starting location for any Dublin Golf Tour, situated only three miles from the city center and just 20 minutes from the airport. It sits on the beautiful nature reserve of Bull Island and is synonymous with the beloved Irish golfer Christy O’Connor, Sr. who served Royal Dublin for more than 57 years.
Ireland’s Royal Dublin Golf Course is a traditional ‘out and back’ routing over fairly flat linksland. It owes its masterful layout to a redesign by Harry Colt in 1920. Then, in the 2000s, Martin Hawtree recently did a superb job of bringing the course up to modern standards whilst maintaining the values and legacy of Colt’s brilliance. The course now stretches a very respectable 7,269 yards, with the narrow fairways and devilishly placed bunkers making accuracy rather than length the key to scoring well.
The Dublin Golf Club was formed in 1885 and moved to its current site on Bull Island, a UNESCO nature reserve, in 1889. It was granted its “Royal” charter by Queen Victoria just three years later in 1891. The course and the clubhouse both suffered during WWI, when it was taken over as a military and musketry training facility. While the course was almost destroyed, members still managed to play throughout 1914-1919, as there was no firing on Bank Holidays.
Considered to be the spiritual home of The Irish Amateur Open, having hosted it from 2007-2016 consecutively. It was a favorite spot of famous avid and amateur golfers Bob Hope and Bing Crosby in the 1960s.
The Club has also played host to the world’s best professional golfers. In the three years 1983-85 that it hosted the Carroll’s Irish Open, it was won twice by Seve Ballesteros and the middle year by Bernard Langer.
A private member’s club it has the reputation of being one of the friendliest “Royal” clubs. It extends a warm Irish welcome to visiting golfers on the course and in the clubhouse for storied Irish craic and hospitality after the round. Royal Dublin is a “must play” on any Dublin golf itinerary.
Royal Dublin Golf Club is one of Ireland’s most prestigious and storied links courses, founded in 1885 by John Lumsden and later masterfully redesigned by legendary architect H.S. Colt. Set on the exclusive Bull Island in Dublin Bay, now a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, this traditional “out and back” Scottish-style links is a rare gem in Ireland. The island’s pristine, sandy terrain and unspoiled natural beauty create an extraordinary setting for world-class golf.
Sweeping fairways unfold along the bay, offering breathtaking views of the Dublin skyline and surrounding seascape. Shaped by sea breezes and over a century of tradition, the course delivers a refined yet challenging experience. Long revered by professionals, Royal Dublin was home to the iconic Christy O’Connor for over five decades. This is a destination where heritage, elegance, and the purest form of links golf come together in perfect harmony.
Royal Dublin’s front nine sweeps out with the prevailing south-westerly wind, offering a refined par 35 composed of three par 3s, four par 4s, and two par 5s. Highlights include the elegant yet demanding 5th, flanked by sand hills, and the 8th, a sophisticated risk-reward hole leading to a beautifully contoured green. The picturesque 9th, a testing par 3, marks the graceful turn for home.
The inward nine, a par 37, plays into the wind and opens with the commanding 10th where precision and restraint are key. After a promising stretch for scoring, the final three holes deliver a championship finish. The 16th tempts with a drivable green guarded by seven pot bunkers, while the 17th rewards pinpoint accuracy. The signature 18th, a sweeping dog-leg framed by the out-of-bounds Garden, offers a grand and memorable conclusion.
Allan O’Connor, Ireland Operations Manager
I highly recommend the Fitzwilliam Hotel, Dublin. It’s right on St. Stephen’s Green, so you’re in the heart of the city, but it still feels like a quiet, elegant escape. After a day on the course, you can unwind in style. The hotel has a Michelin-starred restaurant, Glovers Alley, offering an incredible dining experience. For a more relaxed atmosphere, Inn on the Green provides a cozy spot to kick back and enjoy a Guinness.
Near Dublin, golf courses including Portmarnock, Jameson Links, The Island and European Golf Club are must plays. These can be enjoyed alongside the vibrant culture of the Republic of Ireland’s iconic capital city.
6 nights accommodation and 5 rounds of golf
Prices starting from $5,904 per golfer
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To book a tee time at Royal Dublin, a renowned golf club in Dublin, you can do so conveniently through Premier Golf as part of a Dublin & East Ireland golf package.
As per the latest information the green fee is from €205 for 2023. At Premier Golf the green fee is always included in within the packages.
Yes, at Royal Dublin, there is a driving range available for golfers to practice and warm up before a round. Additionally, there is also a short game area where golfers can work on their chipping, pitching, and putting.
Yes, caddies are available at Royal Dublin Golf Club. The cost for a single bag caddie at Royal Dublin is €70.