Brittas Bay Club (formerly The European Club)
Brittas Bay, Co. Wicklow · Designed by Pat Ruddy (1992); redesign by Kyle Phillips (reopening 2027) · Est. 1992
Why this Edge Score: Pat Ruddy's world-renowned Wicklow links, long a consensus Ireland top-ten and a Tom Watson favourite, is being reborn as the Brittas Bay Club under a redesign by Kingsbarns architect Kyle Phillips. We hold its high place on enduring reputation; it is closed for redevelopment and due to reopen in spring 2027.
This is the world-renowned Wicklow links that Pat Ruddy designed, built and owned as The European Club, on the duneland at Brittas Bay an hour south of Dublin. Opened to acclaim in 1992, it broke from Irish tradition with big, muscular holes through the dunes, railway-sleepered bunkers and a famous twenty greens, and became a fixture in Ireland's top ten - by several rankings, its top five - and a favourite of Tom Watson.
In 2025 the Conlan family bought the course from Ruddy and commissioned Kyle Phillips, the architect of Kingsbarns, to reimagine it. The links has been renamed the Brittas Bay Club and is closed for a major redevelopment - a revised routing, a reconfigured par and a new clubhouse - with reopening due in spring 2027. We keep it in our rankings on the strength of its enduring reputation; note that it is not currently open for play.
Highlights
- Built by Pat Ruddy; being reimagined by Kyle Phillips
- Renamed the Brittas Bay Club, reopening spring 2027
- A Tom Watson favourite; consensus Ireland top-ten links
- Beachside dune holes 7-14 along the Irish Sea
Good to know
- →The course is closed for a major redevelopment and is due to reopen as the Brittas Bay Club in spring 2027 - check brittasbayclub.ie before planning a visit.
- →It is an hour south of Dublin on the M11, easily paired with Druids Glen, Powerscourt or the Wicklow mountains for an east-coast day.
- →Bring enough ball for the closing stretch - the sleepered bunkers and dune faces are unforgiving in a sea wind.
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