The Island Golf Club

Course Type:

Links

Founded:

1890

Designer:

Eddie Hackett, Fred Hawtree

Holes:

18

Yardage:

6820

For close to one hundred years the only way to get to The Island was by row boat. And for the first half-century you needed an invitation.

Originally the private preserve of a clutch of well-to-do Dublin bachelors, The Island almost went bankrupt in the 1950s, and has only reasserted itself as one of Ireland's premier courses in the last five years.

But if you think The Island's history is topsy-turvy -- wait until you play the links. It's an up-and-down journey over some of the world's most rambunctious linksland. Raw and stirring, The Island would not be out of place on Ireland's wild west coast, and there are a number of singular golf holes that burn into the memory.

Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links

Course Type:

Links

Founded:

1996

Designer:

Bernhard Langer

Holes:

18

Yardage:

6500

This superb links golf course was designed by Bernard Langer. The course is set on the same area of land that Old Portmarnock is built on. The course is part of the wonderful Portmarnock hotel. The hotel and golf course live up to their deserved reputaion "Where nothing is overlooked but the sea".

Royal County Down Golf Club

Course Type:

Links

Founded:

1889

Designer:

Tom Morris, Donald Steele

Holes:

18

Yardage:

7065

Golf World ranked Royal County Down number 2 in the Top 100 British Isles courses for the past four years. The surrounding area is as scenic as the song goes "Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the see".

"The key part of a good score here is to be straight off the tee" - as best said by Tom Watson. Home of the Walker Cup in 2007.

The Slieve Donard Hotel

"Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea" (Percy French)

Nestling at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa stands in six acres of private grounds, and is one of Northern Ireland's most popular hotels.

Following a recent major £15 million development, extension and refurbishment programme, this superbly maintained Victorian hotel is now home to one of Europe's finest resort Spas, and is equally suited to a short break, residential conference or grand event.

Take a walk through the hotel grounds and you're on one of the world's top golf courses, Royal County Down, or stroll along golden sands swept by bracing sea breezes. Or explore the unique features of this one hundred year hotel, which evokes memories of the golden age of railway...

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The Davenport Hotel

The O'Callaghan Davenport Hotel offers sophisticated Irish elegance in an excellent location beside Merrion Square in the heart of Dublin City. The hotel's historic façade was originally a church and dates to 1863. A well known landmark in Dublin City, the O'Callaghan Davenport has 114 fully air conditioned guest rooms.

Broadband is available throughout the hotel. The Gandon Suites can cater for 250 delegates theatre style and 400 for banquets. The suite has natural daylight and is fully installed with state of the art audio visual equipment.

The O'Callaghan Davenport offers a variety of options for smaller meetings, including the old world charm of the Boardroom. Large conferences may be conveniently split between all O'Callaghan Dublin hotels as they are closely located and electronically...

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The Merrion Hotel

Dublin's most stylish and luxurious five star hotel, The Merrion is located in the city center opposite Government Buildings.

Created from four restored Georgian Townhouses, many of the 143 bedrooms and suites overlook period landscaped gardens. Remembered historically as the birthplace of the first Duke of Wellington, the hotel houses one of Ireland's most impressive collections of art and antiques.

Guests can choose to dine in The Cellar Restaurant, which offers simple Irish cuisine expertly executed while Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, with its 2 Michelin stars, offers more formal gourmet dining.

Bars include The Cellar Bar set in the original 18th Century wine vaults and the intimate cocktail bar, No 23. During the spring and summer months, guests can relax out on the Garden Terrace while the...

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Ryder Cup 2010

On Friday, 28th September 2001, the Ryder Cup Committee made the historic announcement that the 38th Ryder Cup Matches would be held at The Celtic Manor Resort in the autumn of 2010. For the first time, the famous match play tournament will be held in Wales and the event is destined to become one of the most significant occasions in the country's illustrious sporting history.

A central component of Wales' successful bid was The Celtic Manor Resort's commitment to build a golf course to host the Ryder Cup.

A stroke play tournament will typically present a golf spectator with an enormous range of viewing options and opportunities. The format of the Ryder Cup, however, with just twenty four players performing over three days, tends to limit the scope for spectators, especially given the huge number of golf fans that wish to witness the matches taking place first hand.

To address this, the designers have sought to ensure that the course offers better viewing than at any previous Ryder Cup match.

Away from the course, the excellent transport links that the region already enjoys are being augmented by the construction of a new road that will connect The Celtic Manor Resort to the A449, meaning that the influx of spectators will not result in undue traffic congestion.