Located
on the Northside of Dublin, 12 miles from the city centre,
Portmarnock Golf Club is one of Ireland's top rated golf links.
A
small peninsula jutting out into the Irish Sea provides the
ideal terrain for links golf: low sand dunes, small green
hollows, long valleys and surrounded by sea on three sides.
A feature of the course is that no two successive holes play
in the same direction thereby making the ever-present wind
a significant factor for every hole. The 15th hole is regarded
by Arnold Palmer as the best par-3 in the world.
The
course is steeped in history, the first nine holes being formally
opened on Stephen's Day 1894. When this became eighteen holes
two years later, its rapid rise in prestige and reputation began.
It has hosted events such as the Canada Cup, the Walker Cup
and twelve Irish Opens.