Brittas Bay, County Wicklow, Ireland
The European Club
Pat Ruddy's masterwork on the Wicklow coast — The European Club is one of the most admired links designs of the modern era, a long, natural course built with a devotion to the game that is felt in every hole.
About the Course
The European Club
The European Club was created by Pat Ruddy, one of Ireland's most celebrated golf writers and architects, who purchased the land at Brittas Bay in County Wicklow and spent years crafting a links course of genuine championship quality. Opened in 1992, the course has earned a devoted following among serious golfers and is consistently ranked among the finest links in Ireland.
The course occupies a magnificent stretch of natural duneland on the Wicklow coast, where the Irish Sea provides a constant backdrop and the natural terrain has been used with a minimum of artifice. Ruddy's design philosophy — that a great links should feel as though it has always been there — is evident throughout, and the course has a maturity and character that belies its relatively recent origins.
The European Club is notable for having 20 holes — two additional holes, the 7a and 12a, were added to give golfers the option of a longer round. The course is long, demanding, and uncompromising, but it rewards the golfer who plays with intelligence and patience. The stretch of holes along the beach — particularly the 7th, 8th, and 13th — are among the most memorable in Irish golf.
By the Numbers
Course Statistics
Based on course length, terrain & layout
Handicap index suggested for full enjoyment
The Course
Why It Stands Out
Pat Ruddy's Masterwork
Pat Ruddy — golf writer, architect, and devoted links purist — spent years crafting The European Club from raw duneland on the Wicklow coast. The result is one of the most admired links designs of the modern era, a course that feels entirely natural and entirely right.
The Wicklow Coastline
The European Club occupies a magnificent stretch of natural duneland on the Wicklow coast, where the Irish Sea provides a constant backdrop. The stretch of holes along the beach — particularly the 7th, 8th, and 13th — are among the most memorable sequences in Irish golf.
20 Holes of Links Golf
The European Club is one of the few courses in the world to offer 20 holes — two additional holes, the 7a and 12a, were added to give golfers the option of a longer, more complete round. It is a detail that reflects Ruddy's commitment to giving golfers the fullest possible experience.
Uncompromising Championship Length
At over 7,300 yards, The European Club is one of the longest links courses in Ireland. It is demanding and uncompromising, but it rewards the golfer who plays with intelligence and patience — a course that reveals more of itself with every visit.
The Course
Course Views
Extend Your Itinerary
Dublin & Wicklow Links — An East Coast Programme
The European Club sits on the Wicklow coast, an hour south of Dublin. Portmarnock and the east coast links are within easy reach, making Wicklow a natural extension of any Dublin-based golf itinerary.
Golf Travel
How It Is Included
The European Club is a key component of our Dublin & East Coast programme — a collection that brings together the finest links golf on Ireland's east coast in a single, purposeful itinerary.
To explore how The European Club fits into a wider route, visit our Ireland Golf Collection page or our Ireland golf tours page.
Begin Your Journey
Play The European Club
Speak with our team to arrange tee times at The European Club and build a private itinerary across the finest links golf on Ireland's east coast.
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