Brittas Bay Club (formerly European Club)

Brittas Bay Club (formerly European Club)

Previously The European, Brittas Bay on Ireland's East coast is a privately-owned course that first opened as recently as 1993, after Pat Ruddy discovered the land while surveying the Irish coastline, on a mission to uncover the perfect location for a golf course. In fact, Pat Ruddy has a lot to answer for in terms of golf in general - all good things, of course. Ruddy has, so far, worked on 36 different golf projects including Castlecomer, Ballyliffin Glashedy, Rosapenna Sandy Hills, Portsalon, Ballyliffin Old, Rosapenna Old and Donegal. All in all, playing here makes for a remarkable experience. It’s easy to wax lyrical about golf courses in Ireland but this place really is set like a jewel in huge dunes, and just an hour’s scenic drive from Dublin. If you're seeking a uniquely Irish golfing experience, this one's for you.

A Brief History

• Opened in 1993
• 20 breathtaking holes designed by Pat Ruddy
• Ranked within the world's top 100 courses
• Acknowledged as a modern classic
• Closed as The European Club in 2025, re-opening as Brittas Bay in Spring 2027
• Redesigned as Brittas Bay by Kyle Phillips, with improved playability, expanded sea views and restored native ecosystems
• Included in the Golf Magazine USA World Top 100 Golf Courses list, Golfers Companion worldwide poll for the Worlds 100 Greatest Golf Courses of the 20th Century and three of the holes, nominated in the book, The 500 Greatest Golf Holes In The World

Featured hole – Hole 12

Hole 12 features the longest green in the entire world, an awe-inspiring and challenging 127-yards long from front to back. It's also great fun to play. You will need to harness a first-rate three-putt here, adding extra difficulty to what is by any standards a challenging course.

Known For: Its Remarkable Setting and Extra Par-3s

The game comes with an extra dimension here, featuring stunning open sea views from nineteen of the twenty holes. The two extra Par-3s make it even more special, and they're almost always in play. Of the 20 holes, five run extremely close to the sea, so much so that it's common to see players hunting for lost balls on the pristine sand. And that's another thing that makes this course famous – its genuine proximity to the waves, close enough to actually hear their mighty rumble all the way to your toes, and gales that are sometimes strong enough to blow you off your feet. Unlike many links courses - you don't just know the ocean is nearby, you can actually feel it.