Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links - Dublin - Ireland

3rd Dublin - Best in Area 21st Ireland Ranking
Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links,
Portmarnock,
Co. Dublin,
Ireland

  • +353 (0) 1 846 0611

  • Paul McCanny

  • Bernhard Langer, Stan Eby

  • Paul McCanny

Portmarnock is the ancestral family estate of the famous Jameson whiskey family. The Jameson’s once had a nine-hole golf course here and the land is now incorporated into the Portmarnock Golf Club and the Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links.

This is the links that Bernhard Langer designed in conjunction with landscape architect Stan Eby and, in 1996, the Golf Links opened for play. The course borders its illustrious neighbour, Portmarnock Golf Club, but the two courses are separately owned and managed.

For such a new layout, the Hotel Links is a very understated course. There is nothing showy about the design; the natural links land is used simply and effectively. The first eight holes play across gently-undulating ground with definition provided by varied grasses and pot bunkers. Then, around the turn, a cluster of shaggy sand dunes provides a much more pronounced aspect.

We think that Langer and Eby have developed one of the best and most challenging new courses in Ireland; it’s joyous to play a youngster that is so natural and honest. Langer’s comment on his creation was: “There are very few locations in Europe which could have allowed me the opportunity and landscape to design such a classic championship links. I hope all those who play it discover its magic and its challenging beauty.” We thoroughly agree.

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Reviews for Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links

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Description: For such a modern layout, the Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links is a very natural and understated course. There is nothing showy about the design; the natural links land is used simply and effectively. Rating: 8.1 out of 10 Reviews: 39
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Steve Whitby
Played 36 hole on 23rd May2011 this has to be one of the best links in Ireland awesome fast greens brilliantly enjoyable test of golf
May 27, 2011
10 / 10
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Clayto Jones
This is a wonderful course. On the very wet afternoon (June 2008), when I played it in a two-ball, the fourclowns ahead would not let us through. We had almost six hours in the wind and rain to study it!It is a deeply serious links and I shall return when my bones have thawed and the memory of a tee-shirted ass who took 8 practice swings each time has dimmed.CW Jones, Bendigo, Australia.
November 28, 2010
8 / 10
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Fintan Brennan
Why is this links rated so low? We have played a number of times in the last few months and this course ticks all the boxes each time, when half the courses higher on the list are almost unplayable.This course can do it in the summer as well hosting the Ladies Irish open for the last two years.The putting surfaces are the best in Ireland all year round , fast and true.The playability of this links is such that it is a fair challenge for every H/cap range.And then relax in the bunker bar.
March 28, 2010
10 / 10
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Ronan O'Driscoll
The Portmarnock Links is a wonderful test of golf and in these difficult times must be the best value for a top quality links course anywhere on these islands. Any visitor to the Dublin area will not be disappointed. Jump off the plane and you're on the first tee in 15 minutes.The course hosted the Irish Womens' Open in 08 and 09 and would be worthy of the mens irish open any time. The drive at the 16th is sensational, with a 200 yard carry over 'death valley'. There are lots of really good doglegs and the par3's are superb. It's a must, and almost as good as it's world class big brother next door.
March 08, 2010
8 / 10
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paulfagan
just played this course last friday 4th dec.This course is in excellent condition greens were superb, fairways very good..dry...thats rare this time of yr for any golf course!!the bunkers are cruel, however, fair...every time my ball went into a bunker it rolled to the middle..the way it should be on a links course.all in all i found this course to be an excellent test of golf and in my opinion under rated!! Cant wait to play off the new first tee behind the 18th green...looks like a great hole from there.
December 07, 2009
10 / 10
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Kevan Voce
Played the hotel and the Old in successive days and to be honest both as good as each other. The Hotel (please think of a better name) is in my opinion the most under-rated course in Britain & Ireland. Played end of Sept amd the greens were like lightening. Many great doglegs, elevated testing greens with great run-off areas (similar to Deal) - all-in-all a good challenge. For a weekend trip 36 at the Hotel and Old sandwiched between ten pints of the black stuff in Dublin is very, very hard to beat.
October 12, 2009
10 / 10
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Cedric
October 13, 2009
Agree about the black stuff... But the Old clearly has the edge in my opinion.
kevin
The Links Portmarnock is one of the best courses i have ever played.Tight fairways,tricky dog legs, long and elevated par three's and some well placed canyon like bunkers(not to mention the irish sea breeze) makes it extremely challenging for any golfer,this course could easily be home to the next Irish Open.the course is also set in a breathtaking location,The elevated tee's along the coast gives u a magnificent view of the irish sea, it's coastline and surrounding islands.full credit to the green keeping staff who obviously spend many long hours keeing this course in pristine condition.A MUST PLAY FOR ANY GOLFER!
August 06, 2009
10 / 10
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Michelle Hanley
Although the bar and locker room facilities may not match some of the newer resorts around the area, the friendly staff and excellent pro shop more than compensate. The Golf Links is excellent, firm fairways, fast greens and great bunkering throughout....proper links golf!
June 01, 2008
10 / 10
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jack Condon
June 02, 2008
Could not agree more, great welcome from the Shop Manager who gave us a full run down on where to eat and drink in Malahide, Robert in the locker-room dried and stored our clubs after a downpour and a young lady in the shop got a taxi for us in 5 mins. And a GREAT golf course.
Noel
A truly great course encompassing everything one could want from a links course; the sea, the wind, rough, and lightning fast greens. The greenkeeping staff deserve all the compliments they get, as do the clubhouse staff who couldn't be more helpful. I will be returning in the very near future.
June 01, 2008
10 / 10
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Cédric
It would have definitely been a 5 ball review for me if it wasn’t for the clubhouse and the Pro shop, which separated from the Hotel, looked a bit run down and old despite a very warm welcome. The planed intendance modifications (new golf club moving in?) might just give this place what it lacks: golfing spirit. The course indeed deserves a higher position than its actual one, no doubt about that! It doesn’t feel at all like you are playing a new course where a lot of earth has been moved, indeed this course could have been there for 100 years if one didn’t know any better. There are no real world class memorable holes on this track but a succession of very good ones, especially from the 7th and onwards. Cedric
May 01, 2008
6 / 10
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