Overview
Portmarnock sits on a slender tongue of duneland north of Dublin, with the Irish Sea on three sides – a natural links site as good as any in the country, and one that has hosted more championship golf than anywhere else in Ireland. Nineteen Irish Opens, the 1960 Canada Cup, the 1991 Walker Cup and two British Amateurs have been played across its firm, fast fairways. The catch for the visiting golfer is access: the club opens to visitors only from April to September, it was fully booked through to the end of September 2026 well in advance, and a round is not cheap – the 2027 green fee is €530 for eighteen holes, though that does include lunch.
The course and notable holes
The Championship Course plays to 7,463 yards, par 72, from the back tees, with the sea and out-of-bounds never far away and shorter tees for every standard. A further nine holes were added in 1971, giving the club 27 in total, but it is the original eighteen that carry the reputation.
A few holes stand out:
- 5th (Par 4): Harry Bradshaw named this the best hole on the course – a demanding tee shot over a shallow inlet to a well-guarded green.
- 15th (Par 3): Added to the layout in 1927, it is now one of the most famous short holes in Ireland: perched by the shore, fully exposed to the wind, and all about club selection.
- The finish: It is the closing stretch people remember. The golf writer Bernard Darwin said he knew ‘no greater finish in the world’ than the last five holes at Portmarnock, and along the sea, in a breeze, they still decide plenty of matches.
A storied past
The club traces back to the 1850s, when the Jameson distilling family laid out a private course on their St Marnock’s estate. The club proper opened on St Stephen’s Day 1894 with nine holes designed by the Open champion Mungo Park, and reached eighteen by 1896. The clubhouse built that year burned down in December 1905; the red-brick replacement that still stands opened in October 1906.
Portmarnock hosted the first Irish Open in 1927 and has staged it nineteen times in all, along with the Walker Cup in 1991 and the British Amateur in 1949 and 2019. In 2021 the members voted to admit women as full members, a change that took effect in 2022.
Visiting and booking
As a private members’ club, Portmarnock keeps visitor access tight, and booking well ahead is essential.
- Season: Visitors are welcome from 1 April to 30 September only; the club is closed to visitors the rest of the year.
- Tee times: On set days – Monday 10:00–14:00, Tuesday 08:30–14:00, Thursday 08:30–12:00 and 13:30–16:00, Sunday 12:00–15:00 (May–September) or 13:00–16:00 (April). Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and bank holidays are members only.
- Booking: Reserve online through the club website, or call +353 1 846 2968. Demand is high – the 2026 season sold out well in advance – so book as far ahead as you can.
- Green fees: The 2027 rates are €530 for 18 holes, €635 for 27 and €720 for 36, all including a two-course lunch (a non-championship 18 is €480). Whatever you play, lunch comes with it.
- A walking course: Portmarnock is walked, not driven. Buggies are reserved for members under strict conditions and are not available to visitors, so come prepared to carry or take a caddie.
- On the course: Pace of play is monitored by ClubUp GPS, and slow groups may be asked to move on. Mobile phones are not permitted on the links.
- Dress code: Collared shirt, golf shoes, and tailored trousers or shorts. Denim, tracksuits and collarless shirts are not permitted.
- Accessibility: The first tee is reached via a paved, wheelchair-friendly path, and the clubhouse lounge has step-free access.
Facilities
The clubhouse dining room, the Presidents Room, looks out over the links, and there is a pro shop with club hire and caddies to arrange. (One point of confusion worth clearing up: the nearby Portmarnock Resort & Jameson Golf Links, once the Jameson family home and now a hotel with its own course and the historic Jameson Bar, is a separate place a little way up the coast – not the golf club.)
Nearby Attractions
A round at Portmarnock pairs well with a broader north-coast day:
- Ardgillan Castle – A manor house with formal gardens and woodland walks, a short drive north.
- Balbriggan – A seaside town with a long promenade, independent cafés and coastal walks.
- Burrow Beach – A sheltered sandy beach for a post-round walk, with views back toward the links.
- Portmarnock Beach and the Velvet Strand – Flat, firm sand a short way from the clubhouse, good for a brisk coastal stroll. (Portmarnock Beach)
Practical Information
| Service | Details |
|---|---|
| Season | Visitors 1 April – 30 September; closed to visitors October–March |
| Green Fees (2027) | €530 (18 holes), €635 (27), €720 (36) – all include lunch |
| Booking | Online via the club website or call +353 1 846 2968 |
| Parking | Free on-site |
| Accessibility | Step-free clubhouse lounge; paved path to the first tee |
| Contact | Email: info@portmarnockgolfclub.ie |
Getting There
Portmarnock is about a 15-minute drive from Dublin Airport, with clear signage from the coast road. Portmarnock railway station is a five-minute walk from the clubhouse, and several Dublin Bus routes serve the area.
Book as far ahead as you can – a year is not too early – bring your walking legs, and plan to finish with the lunch that comes with your green fee before the walk back along the dunes.