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Portmarnock Golf Club

Portmarnock, Co. Dublin · Designed by W.C. Pickeman · Est. 1894

On Christmas Eve 1893, two insurance executives named W.C. Pickeman and George Ross rowed across from Sutton to inspect a peninsula they had heard about. What they found — a narrow finger of land between the Irish Sea and a tidal estuary, covered in natural dune links — became Portmarnock Golf Club. The course opened on 26 December 1894. It is one of the founding stories of Irish golf, and the course they built has held its place among the finest in the world ever since.

Portmarnock is defined by its routing. The peninsula means no two consecutive holes play in the same direction — there are no prevailing wind corridors, no safe side of the course. The wind reshapes every hole from round to round and sometimes from hour to hour. Bernard Darwin, the great golf writer, said of the closing stretch: "I know of no greater finish in the world than that of the last five holes at Portmarnock." Henry Cotton, three-time Open Champion, called the 14th the best hole in all of golf. These are not casual opinions.

For 127 years the club admitted men only. In May 2021 the membership voted 83.4% in favour of admitting women — a decision that not only ended a long controversy but reopened Portmarnock to hosting the biggest events in the game. The R&A has since indicated interest in bringing The Open to Portmarnock, which would make it the first venue outside the UK to host the championship.

Holes worth knowing

115th (par-3, ~204 yards): Plays along the shore from an elevated tee to a low-lying green flanked by three pot bunkers. Into the prevailing headwind it is one of the most demanding short holes in Ireland. Considered by many to be among the finest par-3s in the world.
214th (par-4, 411 yards): Henry Cotton — three-time Open Champion — called this the best hole in all of golf. A downwind drive to a small, heavily bunkered tabletop green that demands exact placement off the tee.

Highlights

Irish Open and Walker Cup host
Peninsula links between sea and estuary
20 minutes from Dublin Airport

Good to know

→A valid handicap certificate is required to play. Visitors are welcome April through October on weekdays and selected weekends — book well in advance through the club directly.
→Malahide village is 10 minutes away and one of the best eating spots near Dublin. Old Street is the standout restaurant; Gibney's is the pub.
→The course is currently booked out well ahead — if your dates are in peak summer, check availability for the following season. It fills faster than most people expect.
→The peninsula means wind from every direction. Check the forecast but be prepared for it to change. The course plays completely differently in a westerly versus an easterly — that variety is the point.
→The walk from Malahide to the Portmarnock coastline along the Velvet Strand is one of the better coastal walks near Dublin if you have time before or after your round.

Visitor Information

Getting There

20min drive

Common questions

What is Portmarnock Golf Club like to play?

Portmarnock is a pure links test — no gimmicks, just eighteen strong holes on a narrow peninsula between the Irish Sea and a tidal estuary. The wind arrives from multiple directions depending on the day. It has hosted the Irish Open, the Walker Cup, and other major international events. Wind management and shot shape are everything here.

How do I book Portmarnock and do I need a handicap?

Book directly through the Portmarnock Golf Club website. A handicap certificate is required; men 24 or under, women 36 or under. Portmarnock is popular with international visitors — book early for peak season.

Is Portmarnock close to Dublin Airport?

Yes — Portmarnock is about twenty minutes from Dublin Airport, making it one of the most accessible top-ranked links in Ireland. The DART train runs to Portmarnock station from Dublin city centre in around thirty minutes.

What other courses are near Portmarnock?

The Island Golf Club is less than ten minutes away and is one of Ireland's most underrated links. Royal Dublin is twenty minutes south on Bull Island. St Anne's shares the Bull Island site at lower cost. These three form a natural one-trip circuit for east coast golfers.