Great Value

Skerries Golf Club

Skerries, Co. Dublin · Designed by W.C. Pickeman (1906) / Eddie Hackett (1971)

Skerries Golf Club was founded in 1905 — the original nine holes designed by W.C. Pickeman, then captain and honorary secretary of Portmarnock Golf Club, on land leased from the Holmpatrick estate. The course opened on 14 April 1906. Eddie Hackett expanded it to 18 holes in 1971, giving the layout its current character: mature trees, undulating parkland terrain, and fast greens on a par-73 course of 6,690 yards.

The name Skerries comes from the Old Norse word sker — a small rocky island or reef — which accurately describes what sits offshore: five islands including Rockabill, the lighthouse rock that holds the largest colony of breeding roseate terns in Europe. On a clear day from the higher ground of the course, the Mourne Mountains are visible to the north and Howth to the south across the Irish Sea. This is genuinely coastal in character despite being classified as parkland — a seaside town course in the proper sense, not a suburban layout that happens to be near the coast.

Skerries Mills, a short walk from the harbour, is one of the most significant heritage sites in Fingal: milling history here traces to the 12th century when Augustinian monks of Holmpatrick owned the land. The site now has two restored working windmills and a watermill. The harbour is still a working fishing harbour. Twenty-five minutes from Dublin Airport on an unclogged road, Skerries makes a natural first or last round on an Irish trip for golfers who want to see somewhere genuinely Irish rather than a suburb.

Highlights

Eddie Hackett 1971 design
Fingal coastal character
25 min from Dublin Airport

Good to know

→Skerries Mills (two windmills + watermill, 12th-century origins) is the best heritage site in north Dublin. It's a 5-minute walk from the harbour and genuinely worth an hour.
→The harbour has working fishing boats and a good fish-and-chip shop — the kind of Fingal coast visit that feels nothing like a Dublin suburb.
→Rockabill lighthouse offshore holds the largest roseate tern breeding colony in Europe. Birdwatchers come here specifically for it from late April to August.
→Skerries is a natural first round for golfers flying into Dublin before heading north to Baltray (County Louth) or Portmarnock.
→The drive north from the airport on the R132 takes 25 minutes in light traffic — arriving golfers who want to avoid Dublin city completely should head straight here.

Visitor Information

Getting There

30min drive

Common questions

What is Skerries Golf Club like?

Skerries is an established parkland course in the seaside town of Skerries on the north Dublin coast, with sea views across Dublin Bay and towards the Mourne Mountains on clear days. It is a comfortable, well-run club at good value — a natural option for golfers based near Dublin Airport who want a local round rather than a city drive.

Is Skerries a good choice for golfers near Dublin Airport?

Yes — Skerries is thirty minutes from Dublin Airport and sits alongside the coastal road north through Balbriggan and Drogheda. It is good value parkland with sea views and consistent availability. For golfers arriving the day before or departing the day after a week in the west, it fills a practical slot without excessive travel.

How do I book Skerries Golf Club?

Online through GolfNow. Availability is consistent — same-week bookings are usually no problem.

What is the town of Skerries like?

Skerries is one of the most pleasant small coastal towns north of Dublin — good restaurants, a working harbour, and a short walk to Skerries Mills, a restored complex of five windmills and a tidal watermill. The Red Island golf area has a cliff walk. It is a worthwhile overnight stop for golfers travelling the coastal route to or from Belfast.