The European Club

Hands down the best golf course I have ever played. Although it was built relatively recently, Pat Ruddy has done a marvellous job at creating a stunning course that seems to have been there for an age. Most holes offer a clear line of sight from tee to green which takes the guess work out for the first timers...an added bonus on a course that already requires you to bring your A game to have a fighting chance of posting a good score. Although everything is laid out in front of you here, Ruddy's, a master of disguise, has cleverly used hidden elevation changes and fairways that bob and weave between the dunes to create a number of optical illusions that make some holes appear far longer than they actually play. This places a big emphasis on selecting the correct club from the tee. Although the course has all the same ingredients as any other classic links course, the odd quirk and the exceptional customer service from the staff made it stand tall above all others for me. Holes 7a and 12a bring the total number of holes to 20 and the wooden-faced bunkers and the 120 yard long green on the 12th are truly unique. Every club in the bag will be needed here and as well as a world class test of links golf, The European Club offers stunning views all over the course. Anyone in and around Wicklow with a passion for golf simply has to tick this gem off their golfing bucketlist. 10 out of 10 and I can't wait to go back!

Absolutely one of my favourite courses! Have play here often....minimum twice a year (any time I'm in Ireland). Not sure where the guys below were hitting it, but if you're even remotely on target there isn't a blind shot on the course!!...The sand dunes are huge, so if you get stuck behind one of course you won't be able to see the flag!....Probably not a great course for higher handicappers, however anyone, even if my gran was playing, shuld appreciate the specatacular views down to Wicklow Head, and up to Bray head. The 7th has to be one of the best holes in golf, with a tee box that can through your alignment out if you don't concentrate! What a test, what a golf course...LOVE IT!!

From the comments below, it's apparent that high-handicappers are taking out their frustrations by ranking the course poorly. This place was fantastic in Aug05. Great condition, very challenging, absolutely stunning vistas - take your camera! Also, they were building-out the clubhouse/shop at that time. The staff was far more friendly than any other Irish course we played. Tiger shot low-60s in his first and only round here - so it's not an unfair test. It's probably just too much course for the complainers below. Not sure why someone would travel to Ireland and then complain about links-style golf set-ups! (Baltray, Portmarnock, etc. have blind shots too.)

I don't like being fleeced and this is priced way over the top. It's got a nothing clubhouse and a just about average course. Greens aren't great, lots of blind shots and bunkers with bad sand and lots of timber. Least enjoyable course I've played in Ireland. Won't be back.

Really disappointed, I have to say. Ok, we played on one of those horrific east Ireland late summer days and were struggling to keep everything dry and ourselves upright, but I suppose that comes with the territory. But the course itself was nothing special. I got really ticked off with the blind shots after a while after having been told there wouldn't have been any. The presentation of the course was fine, but for late summer (albeit on a wet day) the course was sodden, which can only mean that they had been liberally watering it for weeks, which to me isn't what links golf is all about. As for the bunkers, deep admittedly, but what was with the railway sleepers in the face of each one, all angled so that high handicappers could practically putt out of them??! Certainly not my favourite course - some spectacular holes (obviously the 7th and the holes that skirt the beach), granted, but to be honest, not worth the money. Now, The Island, north of Malahide, that's a proper links. Expensive, but as sure and as fair a test as you will ever wish to find.

This is one of the most amazing golf courses I have played; Tiger used it as a warm up to Muirfield and I can see why, fairways were a bit green for a links, but greens were amazing especially the 127 yard green on the 12th (??) when we played the flag was at the front :- try putting from the back it's impossible !! but fun !! lovely wind to try you next to the beach - there is a bar you just have to ask the desk . . and trust me you'll want a beverage afterwards !! - staff were very friendly and humorous (yes I really enjoyed losing those 3 Pro V1's !!)thoroughly recommended

An excellent test of golf and a great course but you need a drink afterwards unfortunately you can't get one here, what a pity !

Superb course, with lush fairways, for a links course. Excellent greens, and definitely worth playing, but take plenty of balls. PS. Strangest clubhouse, i've everseeen, nothing really to it, but there doesn't need to be when it's sat next to a course like that.

Heaven.Best course I have played in Ireland.Big dunes,big bunkers and plenty of them.Lovely holes,none of them boring.The par3 4th or 5th is the signature hole for me,but there are a number of others,too numerous to name.Couldn't get a drink though(2 years ago)-NO BAR!?