Portmarnock, County Dublin, Ireland
Portmarnock Golf Club
One of the great championship links of the world — Portmarnock occupies a narrow peninsula north of Dublin, where the Irish Sea shapes every hole and the wind tests every aspect of a golfer's game.
About the Course
Portmarnock Golf Club
Portmarnock Golf Club was founded in 1894 on a narrow peninsula north of Dublin, accessible at the time only by boat. The course occupies one of the finest pieces of links land in Ireland — a strip of ground between the Irish Sea and a tidal estuary, where the wind arrives from every direction and the natural terrain provides a test of the highest order.
The club has hosted some of the most significant events in Irish golf history, including the Irish Open on numerous occasions and the Canada Cup in 1960, won by Arnold Palmer and Sam Snead. It has also hosted the Amateur Championship and the Walker Cup, cementing its reputation as one of the premier championship venues in the world.
The course is widely regarded as one of the fairest tests in links golf — there are no blind shots, no gimmicks, and no luck required. Every hole demands a clear decision and precise execution. The 15th, a long par four into the prevailing wind, is considered one of the finest holes in Irish golf, and the closing stretch along the estuary is as demanding as any finish in the game.
By the Numbers
Course Statistics
Based on course length, terrain & layout
Handicap index suggested for full enjoyment
The Course
Why It Stands Out
The Fairest Test in Irish Golf
Portmarnock is widely regarded as the fairest championship links in Ireland — no blind shots, no gimmicks, no fortune required. Every hole demands a clear decision and precise execution, rewarding the best golf and exposing every weakness with equal consistency.
Championship Pedigree
The club has hosted the Irish Open more times than any other venue, the Canada Cup won by Palmer and Snead in 1960, the Amateur Championship, and the Walker Cup. Few clubs in the world can match Portmarnock's record as a championship venue.
The Peninsula Setting
Portmarnock occupies a narrow peninsula between the Irish Sea and a tidal estuary — a piece of land that allows the wind to arrive from every direction. No two rounds play the same, and the course's character changes completely with the conditions.
The 15th Hole
The 15th at Portmarnock — a long par four into the prevailing wind — is considered one of the finest holes in Irish golf. The closing stretch along the estuary is as demanding as any finish in the game, and the 18th green, set against the backdrop of the Irish Sea, is one of the great finishing holes in links golf.
The Course
Course Views
Extend Your Itinerary
Dublin & East Coast Links — A Capital Golf Programme
Portmarnock sits at the heart of Ireland's east coast links corridor. The Island is 4 miles to the north, Royal Dublin is 6 miles to the south, and Baltray in County Louth is within easy reach — making north Dublin the natural base for a capital links itinerary.
Golf Travel
How It Is Included
Portmarnock is the centrepiece of our Dublin & East Coast programme — a collection that brings together the finest links golf within reach of the capital in a single, purposeful itinerary.
To explore how Portmarnock fits into a wider route, visit our Ireland Golf Collection page or our Ireland golf tours page.
Begin Your Journey
Play Portmarnock Golf Club
Speak with our team to arrange tee times at Portmarnock and build a private itinerary across the finest links golf in Dublin and the east coast of Ireland.