Two other great links courses are nearby
The Portmarnock Resort north of Dublin, which is near two great Irish links courses, has completed a multi-million-euro renovation of its Jameson Golf Links.
The result is that the small town of Malahide, population 18,608, a short train ride from downtown Dublin, is about to become a golf destination in its own right.
Located on a spit of land east of Malahide, the resort’s Jameson Golf Links is next door to the 130-year-old Portmarnock Golf Club perennially ranked among the best in Ireland.
The recently renovated resort course is named for the Jameson distillery family.
Those two courses are both handy to the nearby 134-year-old Island Golf Links, ranked among the top 10 courses in Ireland. The Island Golf Links hosted the Royal & Ancient Club’s Amateur Championship in 2019 in conjunction with the Portmarnock Golf Club.
The modifications recently completed at the 7,081-yard, par-71 Jameson links include the elevation of many tee boxes and greens to bring sea views to more of the course as well as create panoramic views of north Dublin’s Velvet Strand and the famous island known locally as Ireland’s Eye.
Most of the work on the course has taken place on the final ten holes. Both the 12th and 14th holes – previously par fours – have been redesigned as par fives, while the once par-five 13th hole is now a challenging par four.
Changes to the previously dogleg 6rh hole – now transformed into a straighter par four following the development of a new fairway, green complex and grass pathways – has allowed for the movement and enlargement of the course’s irrigation lake, greatly increasing water collection capabilities and sustainability.
The result is a course that marries golfing challenge to the environment and a visually stunning coastal experience for the player, the resort said in a news release.
The Jameson Golf Links branding reflects the close connection between the town of Portmarnock and the famous whiskey family who lived in the original Portmarnock house in the nineteenth century and who introduced golf to the area by landscaping a small course on the estate.
The Portmarnock Resort’s proximity to Dublin makes it a convenient base for visitors who want to combine a luxury golf package with exploring Ireland’s nearby capital city.
The Jameson course is also open to non-guests, which means that guests at the four-star Grand Hotel at the eastern edge of Malahide, barely two miles away, can play the course. The Grand is offers affordable B&B packages and has a spectacular breakfast buffet, including a full Irish breakfast.
The town of Malahide, which avoided the urban sprawl of Dublin, thanks to a large forest preserve buffer, has a surprisingly diverse array of ethnic restaurants, including Thai and Indian, as well as a fair share of pubs, the most popular of which being Gibney’s. of Malahide.
Next door to the Jameson course is the Portmarnock Golf Club, which dates to 1894. It’s rated among the top courses in Ireland. The Irish Open, the R&A’s Amateur Championship, the Canada Cup and the Walker Cup all have been contested on the 7,500-yard coursse.
The R&A is investigating the possibility of hosting the British Open or the British Women’s Open Championship at Portmarnock Golf Club.
The Island championship links course near Malahide, is bordered on three sides by the sea. Not far away, on Bull Island, a UNESCO nature reserve in Dublin Bay, is still another course, the Royal Dublin Golf Club’s links course.
Dan Vukelich is the online editor of Alabama Golf News. Reach him at dan@alabamagolfnews.com
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Featured image courtesy of the Portmarnock Resort
