on an annual basis as annual ticket holders. Most
of the members of the “Syndicate” were already
members of The Royal Dublin Golf Club which was
founded in 1885. However, The Royal Dublin Golf
Club forbade golf on Sundays and this rule was not
to the liking of members of the “Syndicate”.
In September 1887 four men rowed across the
channel which separates the North Dublin village of
Malahide from the spur of land to the north known
locally as the Island. Their mission was to survey the
wilderness and assess its suitably as a golf links.
Once the “Syndicate” had negotiated a lease of
the land with the Cobbe Estate, a local landowner
was engaged to mow the fairways and greens with
a scythe in preparation for a mowing machine.
The early course, comprising eighteen individual
holes, was laid out generously in terms of land as
the founder members, precluded from any serious
earth-moving, followed the valleys between the
sand hills. The course has altered several times since
that time, however, to become the championship
course of today.
Martin Hawtree has recently made course design
changes ensuring that its true nature and character
are enhanced.
In the words of DG Ireland, Editor, Kevin Markham
describes the course in our 2019 “This is a links
course of infinite variety and intrigue. Every hole
is different, yet each one bursts with shape and
drama. Nowhere is this more apparent than on
the opening run of eight consecutive par fours.
They entertain and challenge in equal measure by
combining long and short holes with blind shots,
big dunes, ridges, hollows and the unexpected –
the 5th and 8th most notably. You will be absorbed
right from the opening tee shot, driving towards
the distant sea and Ireland’s Eye. The back nine
are even better as you’re drawn out to the sea for
the second time. And this is where you’ll enjoy
some of the history of the course, with the 11th
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