The Royal Dublin Golf Club is a brilliant addition to an Ireland golf holiday, especially for UK golfers who want historic links golf with easy access to Dublin. Set on North Bull Island in Dublin Bay, the course feels wonderfully natural and exposed, yet it is only around 4.5km from Dublin city centre and roughly 20 minutes from Dublin Airport.

Founded in 1885, Royal Dublin is steeped in Irish golf history. The club moved to Bull Island in 1889 and received its royal designation in 1891, making it one of the country’s great old clubs. The links was originally designed by H.S. Colt, whose work still gives the course its classic strategic feel.

For golfers, Royal Dublin is a proper links test. The course sits on sandy ground within a UNESCO nature reserve, with firm fairways, deep bunkers, low dunes, coastal grasses and wind from Dublin Bay all shaping the round. It is not about simply hitting it long; good positioning, controlled ball flight and smart approaches matter throughout.

Royal Dublin works perfectly as part of a Dublin golf break, pairing naturally with Jameson Golf Links, Portmarnock Golf Club, The Island and St Anne’s. After golf, Dublin adds restaurants, pubs, culture and easy evenings out, making this a very practical short-break destination from the UK.

For golfers who want classic Irish links golf without travelling far from the city, The Royal Dublin Golf Club is a superb choice.