Much has changed in this part of Dublin in recent years so let us begin by establishing the facts. The Portmarnock Resort & Jameson Golf Links was formerly known as Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links.
The hotel and course are found adjacent to the seaside village of Portmarnock (and the eponymous golf course), just to the north of Dublin and within a few miles of the Irish capital’s airport.
The golf course was originally designed in 1995 by European Golf Design (led by Stan Eby, to be precise) and held the signature of Bernhard Langer.
This stretch of linksland is part of the Jameson (as in the whiskey) family’s estate, offering views out to sea and of Ireland’s Eye, the tiny island that sits just off the cost above Howth (from the old Danish word for ‘head’).
The golf course has recently been significantly renovated and – it should immediately be said – significantly improved. Officially unveiled in October 2023, it has come with a new name – Jameson Golf Links.
The Irish architect Jeff Lynch of ReGolf was engaged by the new owners, the Gagliardi family, in 2019. His aim was to heighten the course’s connection to the sea and set about elevating multiple tees and greens on the back nine.
“I believe we have delivered a handcrafted landscape for the golfer and the environment that all involved can be proud of,” said Lynch.
Each of the last 10 holes has been altered in some way, starting with the 8th, which has a new green complex and fairway. That is followed by a striking new par 3, with the tee set high in the dunes. The 12th and 14th, previously par 4s, are now a pair of par 5s: the 12th featuring a dramatic ‘volcano’ green from which views toward Lambay and the Dublin skyline can be enjoyed.
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The 13th is now the hardest hole on the course and from there the course turns back towards the hotel. The 15th is a par 3 played towards the sea and then there is one final surprise to experience.
The 17th was previously a tough, long par 3. Now it is a risk-reward par 4, angling from right to left, with a semi-blind fairway behind a dune leading to a dramatic green. It is an excellent matchplay hole and a key component of what is now a seriously sporty and challenging closing stretch.
Not only has Lynch used the site’s dune’s to much more satisfying and engaging effect, he has also shaped the greens with huge skill. The biggest compliment you can pay is that they look neither new nor contrived as you approach them.
Jameson Golf Links has a championship feel and stretches to 7,266 yards from the back tees when required.
Director of Golf Paul McCanny PGA arrived at the resort in 2021 and oversaw the project alongside Links Superintendent Fintan Brennan.
Speaking to The PGA, he said: “When the Gaglardi family took over, they fell in love with the place. We wanted to improve the challenge of the golf course. We have a unique feature on the east coast where we have a really nice dunescape. A lot of courses don’t have great views of the sea or have the undulations or the dunes. We really wanted to take advantage of that and enhance the course routing, creating a better variation of shots and challenging the golfer all the time.
“We have to think about who our customers are going to be. People want to come and enjoy their golf while being challenged; they don’t want to be beaten up. The world has changed in terms of golf,” said McCanny.
In its previous guise, Jameson hosted the 2008 and 2009 Ladies Irish Opens on the Ladies European Tour, and more recently the Challenge Tour’s 2021 Irish Challenge.
There is little doubt it retains the appetite to test the best and it would seem an effective way of showcasing to the wider world the positive changes to what was already a very good links course.
Portmarnock Resort has also seen extensive hotel renovations made in recent years, bringing Dublin’s only coastal resort to a new level of luxury. It is the perfect base for a golf trip. As well as Portmarnock, which is likely to host an Open Championship in the not-too-distant future, you have Royal Dublin, on Bull Island, just a little further south.
Within two miles to the north, albeit involving a half-hour drive as there is water to negotiate, is The Island and next to it Corballis Links.
That is quite an array of seaside golf.
The headline act remains and will likely always be Portmarnock. Its Red, Blue and Yellow nines are virtually interchangeable in terms of quality and it will be a fabulous host for the Open when the time comes.
The changes in elevation are subtle but the land always does just enough to create advantageous angles, slightly uneven stances and fascinating contours on and around the greens. Many of them are slightly raised and some very small. Like at so many of our great links, a common feature is to be peering after your approach shots for several seconds wondering if the ball has stopped rolling yet. And it usually hasn’t.
A good way of thinking of Portmarnock is as Ireland’s answer to Muirfield. It is difficult to think of a higher or more accurate compliment.
When the final putt is holed, there is no better place to reflect on your day’s golf than back at the Portmarnock Hotel’s Jameson Bar before retiring in comfort to your bedroom. This is what all golf trips should be like.
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More info on the Portmarnock Resort & Jameson Golf Links
The resort is a 30-minute journey from the heart of Dublin and 20 minutes from the capital city’s international airport – provides a perfect base for golfers on the north Dublin coast.
Winter stay-and-play packages are available offering one night, one round of golf and breakfast from €187pp (November – March). Prices cost from €385pp between April and October.
For more information on Portmarnock Resort, and Jameson Golf Links, visit their website here.
The Ultimate Jameson Irish Links experience
Stay, play, and indulge at the elegant Portmarnock Resort while enjoying access to some of the most iconic golf courses in Ireland. This carefully curated 6-night experience is tailored for groups of four or eigth and includes everything you need for a seamless and unforgettable golf getaway.
There are several itineraries available that involve visits to some of the best links courses in Ireland – including Portmarnock, Royal County Down, Royal Dublin, The Island and County Louth. Learn more here.
NCG Top 100s Rankings
The Portmarnock Resort ranks very highly on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Resorts list – standing well inside the top 20 on the list. On its own, the recently-renamed Jameson Golf Links also sits highly on the NCG Top 100s: Ireland list. It sits comfortably in the top 30, alongside some of the big names that been around for much longer!
NOW READ – NCG Top 100s: Portmarnock Resort page / NCG Top 100s: Jameson Golf Links course page
CHECK OUT – NCG Top 100s: GB&I Resorts ranking / NCG Top 100s: Ireland Courses ranking
Now have your say on the Portmarnock Resort
Have you ever been fortunate to stay at the Portmarnock Resort or play on the new Jameson Golf Links? Will it be on your list now? Let us know your thoughts with a post on X, formerly Twitter!
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