Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links - Dublin - Ireland

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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

Right away, I must endorse the sentiments of others who believe the 18 holes here should be ranked higher – yet another case of a very good course suffering in the popularity stakes due to its close proximity to a more esteemed neighbour?

After a solid opening six holes – with OOB on the right side of the 1st marked by a graveyard (like Ballybunion) and housing to the right of holes 2, 4 and 5 – the real action gets under way at the 7th, with a sneaky little stream cutting across the front of the green.

Hole 8 is a delightful short par four that doglegs sharply left to an elevated green tucked into a sand hill and these dunes figure prominently on a number of holes at the beginning and the end of the back nine.

The round finishes with three solid holes – 16 and 18 are great driving holes with elevated tees tucked into the dunes and these are played either side of a strong par three where the tee shot must carry all the way to a pulpit green that tilts from left to right.

It’s heavily rumoured that Clontarf Golf Club in Dublin will take over the course soon – bringing a windfall to its members when they sell off their old course – and it would be advantageous if they (or whichever club moves in) were to build their own clubhouse separate from the hotel, as it's functional but devoid of golfing atmosphere.

Portmarnock Links was close to a five ball review here but I’ve gone for a well merited, very strong four ball rating.

Jim McCann

This course is developing into one of the top links courses in Ireland. It is an extremely well bunkered course with deep ravetted bunkers that punish an errant shot. I played the course in December and it was in remarkably good condition with fast, true greens, a very high standard of winter golf. In my opinion the ranking for this course should be considerably higher.