Photo: Wikimedia CommonsThe Island Golf Club
Donabate, Co. Fingal · Est. 1890
The Island Golf Club sits on a sand spit north of Dublin reachable only by boat until a causeway was built in the 1970s. That isolation preserved it — The Island is a genuine links of the old school, routed through duneland with no concessions to modern course design. It has hosted major amateur championships, including co-hosting The Amateur Championship with Portmarnock in 2019, and is consistently flagged by golf media as one of the most underrated courses in Ireland. Most international visitors never find it. That is their loss.
Highlights
- Amateur Championship co-host 2019
- Old school duneland routing
- Dublin's best-kept links secret
Visitor Information
Getting There
Common questions
How do I find and get to The Island Golf Club?
The Island Golf Club is in Donabate, Co. Fingal, about thirty minutes north of Dublin Airport. The club sits on a sand spit that was once accessible only by boat; a causeway now provides road access. Follow signs for Donabate from the M1. The club can be hard to find the first time — allow a few extra minutes.
Why is The Island considered underrated?
The Island has hosted the Irish Amateur Open, served as Open Championship regional qualifying venue, and appears consistently in specialist media rankings — yet most international visitors have never heard of it. The relative obscurity is partly the location (hard to find, no GolfNow listing) and partly that it doesn't market itself aggressively. The golf is old school in the best sense: natural duneland routing, no concessions to modern design, established in 1890.
Is The Island Golf Club suitable for visitor play?
Yes — The Island welcomes visitors and books direct through the club website. A handicap certificate is required. Tee times are more readily available here than at Portmarnock or Royal Dublin.
What is the best time to play The Island?
May, June, and September are the best months. The east coast is drier than the west, making it a reliable choice even in shoulder months. Unlike Portmarnock and Royal Dublin, The Island does not attract large visitor volumes, so availability is consistently good throughout the season.
Book directly with the club — no agent, no waiting
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