Portmarnock Resort Unveils Historic New ‘Jameson Golf Links’
By Matt Coles
The Portmarnock Resort have unveiled the new name for their remodelled championship course, one with great historic importance.
The renowned Portmarnock Resort, formerly Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links, has unveiled its recently remodelled championship golf course under a new brand name, but one of great historical importance – Jameson Golf Links.
The unveiling of the Jameson Golf Links (previously Portmarnock Links) took place at a launch event involving members of the golf world, media and local dignitaries on Tuesday, October 3.
The rebrand follows the multi-million euro renovation of Bernhard Langer’s original 1995 design, masterminded by Jeff Lynch, director and senior architect at (re)GOLF, and his team on a site inextricably linked to the famous Jameson whiskey dynasty – a family who played an instrumental part in introducing the game of golf to Ireland.
In the 1850s, John Jameson built his own private course on the site which would have been used by friends and family coming from Scotland. Three of the Jamesons, including John, are laid to rest in the graveyard to the right of the first hole, and the old family home – St Marnocks – now forms part of the Portmarnock Resort, Dublin’s only coastal resort.
Enhancements made to the course include the ambitious elevation of greens and tees from the eighth hole all the way through to its breathtaking finishing stretch. Visitors can now marvel at picture-postcard views of Portmarnock’s Velvet Strand beach, the Dublin city skyline and the famous uninhabited island – known as Ireland’s Eye – which greets visitors as they land in nearby Dublin Airport.
Paul McCanny, director of golf at Portmarnock Resort, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be re-launching our world-class golf offering as the Jameson Golf Links at Portmarnock Resort, along with our onsite hotel brand as Portmarnock Resort. Ireland is globally renowned as a golf destination and we are proud to boast Dublin’s only coastal golf and hotel resort, just a few miles from the capital’s international airport.
“With an exciting new brand and a re-invigorated layout, we cannot wait to welcome travelling golfers from across the world to stay at Portmarnock Resort and enjoy this incredible stretch of golf-rich coastline.”
The rerouting of certain holes has led to several significant changes on the final ten holes. The previously dog-legged eighth has been transformed into a straighter par four following the development of a new fairway, green complex and grass pathways – as well as moving an irrigation lake which has greatly increased the course’s water collection capabilities and sustainability credentials.
Both the 12th and 14th holes – previously par fours – have been redesigned as par fives, with the raised green area on the former providing incredible views of the Velvet Strand, Howth Head, Lambay and Ireland’s Eye.
In between those new par fives, the once par-five 13th is now a very challenging par four, becoming the course’s stroke index one in the process. The 15th has been shortened from a par four to a par three, and plans are in place to change the 17th from a par three to a par four in early 2024 to provide another birdie opportunity over the closing holes.
On course changes have also prompted the creation of a new on-course beverage and snack service located close to the eighth, ninth, 14th and 15th holes. Away from the golf course, those visiting the new-look Portmarnock Resort will also experience a recently upgraded and award-winning hotel, which blends modern elegance with a fascinating history, encapsulated by the quaint Irish charm of its famed Jameson Bar – which in 2022 was commended in the Icons of Whisky Ireland Hotel Bar of the Year Awards.
Mitch Gaglardi, managing director of Sandman Hotel Group UK & Ireland, said: “We have invested heavily in both Portmarnock Resort and Jameson Golf Links in recent years, to create an unrivalled stay-and-play golf experience along this great stretch of Dublin coastline.
“It was an honour and privilege to welcome dignitaries and members of the golf media and community to our launch event, and I would like to put on record my thanks to the team at Portmarnock Resort for their help on the ground in making this launch the success it was.”
Due to its locality, the resort – a 30-minute journey from the heart of Dublin – provides a perfect base for golfers looking to explore the vast array of world-class links courses along the north Dublin coast – including Portmarnock Golf Club, The Island and Royal Dublin. For more information on Portmarnock Resort, and the ‘new’ Jameson Golf Links, click here.
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Matt Coles
Mention a European country, and Matt will tell you which resorts make the National Club Golfer Top 100s: European Resorts list. He might even throw in who designed the golf course and how many rooms the hotel has got at each one…
Matt got into the game of golf from a young age, following his old man to the local golf club. He fell for the sport, and now can’t seem to go a day without thinking about how to improve his game (Thanks Dad!). Matt has been a member of Howley Hall GC in Leeds since 2020, and is just about managing to maintain a single-figure handicap. He likes to remind people that he once broke 75, but won’t tell people that it was on a shortened course during the winter.
He moved to Leeds after graduating from the University of Central Lancashire with a First Class Honours degree in Sports Journalism. Matt joined NCG after almost five years travelling the world with the Professional Squash Association, working on events in all four corners of the globe.
Matt currently plays a Cobra King LTDx driver and RadSpeed 3-wood. TaylorMade monopolise the rest of his bag, with a SIM UDI, M5 irons and both Milled Grind and HI-TOE wedges, along with a Monza Redline putter. He uses a Vice Pro Plus golf ball, because he’s a bit different…
Away from golf, Matt is a Manchester United fan, and a keen runner, having ran the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon (his first and possibly last), in May 2023.
