Founded in 1885, The Royal Dublin Golf Club is Ireland's second oldest golf club.
Designed originally by the legendary Harry Colt, the links was extended for the modern era in recent years under the guidance of renowned golf architect, Martin Hawtree.
Christy O'Connor and Royal Dublin
Irish people have a special place in their heart for sporting heroes. Christy O'Connor is one such hero. He blazed a trail through the world of professional golf in the 1950s, '60s and '70s. The first golfer ever to win a five figure sum in Europe, Christy represented Great Britain and Ireland on ten consecutive occasions in the Ryder Cup and played for Ireland in a remarkable 15 World Cups, famously winning in 1958.
Christy O'Connor joined Royal Dublin in 1959 as club professional, and his association with the club continues to this day. In 1988, the members expressed the esteem in which they hold this great golfer by conferring Honorary Life Membership on Christy. Nearly forty years on, Christy's eagle-birdie-eagle finish to win the Carroll's International at Royal Dublin in 1966 still ranks as the finest finish to any Irish professional golf tournament and is a special memory.
Rising Star
t is only a few years since Niall helped the Boys team at Royal Dublin to win the Fred Daly Trophy. Niall has since gone on to greater things and is the current holder of the Brabazon Trophy.
The highlight of his career to-date was in September 2009 when he was the sole Irish representative on the British & Irish Walker Cup team who played against the United States in Merion Golf Club. Niall played in all of the rounds and finished with the best individual score of any of the British & Irish players. He then went to the European Tour Qualifying School and successfully won his card on the European Challenge Tour for 2010.
He has now joined the professional ranks and recently made his debut on the tour in South Africa.
The Royal Dublin Golf Club was instituted at a meeting held at No. 19 Grafton Street in May 1885. The formation of Ireland's second oldest golf club was pioneered by a Scottish banker - John Lumsden. Originally called Dublin Golf Club, (it received its Royal designation in 1891 - when there were 250 members paying £2 annual subscription - the entrance fee was 8 guineas), it was located near the Magazine Fort in the Phoenix Park. After a year the Club moved to Sutton and finally in 1889 moved to its present home here on the Bull Island, (the name is derived from the locality, Clontarf, which in Gaelic is Cluain Tairbh meaning the Bull's Meadow).
Captain William Bligh of 'Mutiny on the Bounty' fame was, in the early 1800s, one of those invited to solve the long standing problems of providing shipping with a safe, straight and deep approach into Dublin. As a result, it was decided to build a sea wall three kilometres out from the shore. The resulting sand bank, Bull Island, still continues to grow. The timber bridge was built in the autumn of 1819 and the Great North Wall, more popularly known as the Bull Wall, was completed by 1823.
Royal Dublin owns the entire links which covers some 65 hectares. The Bull Island is a bird sanctuary and a special amenity area with major scientific importance because of its variety of plant and wildlife (particularly hares).
Bunker at 1st hole, c. 1895
During the First World War, the course was taken over by the military and used as a rifle and artillery range. After the War, the clubhouse was in a very dilapidated condition and the course devastated. With £10,000 compensation, the clubhouse was re-constructed and the links re-designed by H.S. (Harry) Colt, the world famous golf course architect from Sunningdale, in 1920.
On the night of August 2nd 1943 the Clubhouse was totally destroyed by fire. Because of delays in finalising development plans for the entire island, it was not until ten years later that the new Clubhouse opened (2nd October 1954).
The 3rd hole, "The Alps", c. 1895
Major extensions were carried out in 1962, 1983, 1993 and 2007. The most recent programme involved extensive redesign and upgrading of the interior of the Clubhouse. This work included a complete refurbishment of the Locker Room, widening of the hall and the installation of a lift to the upper floor. The downstairs grill bar was moved to The Moran Room upstairs and now boasts a fantastic view of the course. Meanwhile the bars (O'Connor and Lumsden Rooms) were reconfigured to provide the requisite formal or relaxed environments for members and visitors to enjoy a post-round drink.
The 6th hole, c. 1895
This work ensured that the Clubhouse was brought up to the standard of the professionals shop and administration wing which were totally re-built in 2000.
Taking the work on the Clubhouse together with the redesign and upgrading of the links, the Club's facilities are now modern, luxurious and set the standard expected of Ireland's great clubs.
The 18th hole, c. 1895
In the history of the Club, it is likely that the period 2000 - 2007 will be seen as a watershed, a time when the Club's members took the steps necessary to restore the links to greatness and to modernise the Clubhouse to complement the course.
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