TheBossGolfs: Ireland (Day 1) Portmarnock Golf Club

The Portmarnock Golf Club was the first of 14 courses on this Epic Ireland Golf experience. This classic Irish links course established in 1894 feels very natural and more like the course was discovered rather than built. Portmarnock is consistently ranked amongst the top golf courses in the world. The course is built on a slender sandy peninsula just outside of Dublin and is framed by water on all three sides. The design has lower dunes and less elevation changes compared to other courses. Golfers will feel more connected to the land and the subtleties of this course. PGC is very exposed to the wind and can make the course particularly challenging very quickly. I, fortunately, played the majority of the round under a one club breeze. This straightforward course offers scenic views of the sea and a terrain that is easy to walk. The ease of walking was helpful, particularly after an eight-hour flight with unexpected travel interruptions and a twenty-minute drive from the Dublin airport to the course. The staff at Portmarnock are outstanding and well prepared to greet players arriving directly from the airport or preparing to depart Ireland. The golf club does not feel as grand based on dune size as some other courses you might play during your trip but consider it a Dublin must-play. The course is a perfect introduction to Irish Links golf. It is possible to shoot a decent score on a calm day, but this course begins to show its teeth with the slightest breeze.

Portmarnock has hosted various professional events over its long history, and has had great players win from Ben Crenshaw and Phil Mickelson to Seve Ballerteros and Bernard Langer. Golf Digest Ranks Portmarnock Golf Club as the 40th best course outside of the US and 115th in the World.