It may not carry the same prestige as some of Ireland’s most famous golf courses, but does The Island belong the same conversation as many of the great Irish links?
Founded in 1890, The Island is one of the Republic of Ireland’s oldest links courses. It won’t surprise you to learn The Island in Ireland was once located on an Island.
Over time, it has been shaped into the modern championship layout we see today. Despite being situated just outside Dublin, for many The Island has long flown under the radar when compared to heavyweights like Portmarnock or Royal Portrush.
And the NCG Top 100s Podcast discussed its place within the Irish golf landscape.
“For reasons I don’t understand, because I don’t understand the history of it well enough, it doesn’t carry the same weight in Irish golf society as Portmarnock does, for example, or Royal Portrush,” podcast regular Dan Murphy said.
“It seems to be a little bit more rural, more of a backwater in terms of Irish golf. Whatever the reason, I don’t think people regard it in the absolute top echelon of Irish golf.
“But I’m here to tell you that it absolutely is in that category, as far as I’m concerned.”
Unlike the popular links courses of Ireland’s west coast, this is a course rooted in suburban Dublin, and host Tom Irwin believes that is part of the charm.
“I think that it’s one of those places where you go and you think, ‘well, hang on, how come more people are not banging on about this?’” he said.
“Obviously, it is sort of lacking a royal moniker. It doesn’t feel like it’s on the American tourist trails. It perhaps hasn’t got the same kind of romance about it as places in the Ring of Kerry and the idea of drinking pints of Guinness in colourful pubs, playing Irish music.
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“It’s not quite that element of Ireland. It’s suburban Ireland on the outskirts of Dublin.
“So it’s a joy for all those reasons, because it feels like you’re finding something new when you get there.
“And what you find when you get there is an incredible bit of dune land. It’s a links that’s in the best Irish traditions, of enormous dunes you play between, not least on the first and the 18th – just unbelievably spectacular holes.
“At its best, I think it is as good as anywhere. We’ve been there twice. The first time we went, we played in a genuine storm. It was bucketing it down for our entire round and we never even discussed coming off, because it felt like you were finding something good.
“And the second time we went, we got an absolutely beautiful evening ahead of last year’s Open, and again, [we] just didn’t want to leave because it is a sensational golf course.”
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST
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NOW HAVE YOUR SAY
Do you think the Island belongs in the same conversation as other great links course in the Republic of Ireland? Which is your favourite Irish links? Let us know by leaving a comment or a by getting in touch with us on X!
