Brittas Bay Club

Absolutely stunning location. Course was probably one of toughest I've ever played but an absolute delight to play. Fairways and greens were immaculate. Rough was penal. Picking the line off the tee was often challenging in 20 mph wind. Railway sleepers in bunkers was an interesting feature. This course was fantastic and sadly closed on Friday 12 Dec for a revamp after being bought from the designer and owner Pat Ruddy earlier this year. Will be very interesting to see the changes when it reopens mid 2027.

Un très beau links technique des bunkers et green pas simple. Une belle partie le long de la mer. Un prix plutôt correct pour la region

J’ai joué ce parcours le Mardi 19/08 Un vrai links, joué dans des conditions typiques avec beaucoup de vent (parfois 3 clubs de plus, face au vent 🤪) Mais un dessin très agréable, des trous en bord de mer, des greens difficiles, tout pour passer un très bon moment Avec deux trous bonus (pars 3) 7a et 12a, ce que j’ai trouvé assez amusant! J’aimerais le rejouer maintenant que j’ai eu l’occasion de le faire une fois!

Playing The European Golf Club in super windy and rainy conditions was an unforgettable experience! The challenging weather added a whole new layer of excitement to the already demanding links course. Wind swirling off the Irish Sea tested every shot, forcing creativity and precision, while the rain added to the authentic feel I was hoping for. This was exactly the rugged links adventure I came for! The unpredictable elements made it more fun, adding to the dramatic beauty of the landscape and the raw, untamed nature of the course. A true test of skill and grit, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to embrace the classic Links golf experience!

The European Golf Club is also unique in having 20 holes, which is something you don’t see often. That extra bit of variety adds to the fun and challenge. Having those bonus holes means even more time to experience the rugged beauty and test your skills against the elements. It really sets the course apart from others!

On the shores of the Irish Sea in Brittas Bay lies the par 77,20-hole monster that is the European Club. We received a warm welcome in the pro shop and were informed we were one of 11 people playing that day.

We were extremely fortunate to be met on the first tee by none other than course architect Pat Ruddy. Pat seemed genuinely thrilled that we were visiting. He spent 15 minutes chatting with us about the course and other humorous tales. 


As for any trip to Ireland, you never know what you’ll get regarding the weather, and we set off in strong gusts and heavy rain. Fortunately, this dissipated after five holes, and for the rest of the round, we were treated to calm, cloudy conditions. 
There are some truly spectacular holes at the European club; the par 4 for 12th, for instance, driving down to a fairway flanked by colossal dunes to the left and the Irish Sea to your right, sets you up to attack the longest green in the world (127 yards long). The Par 3s definitely require an accurate shot. I started badly, as I was trying to smash my driver and long irons at every opportunity. After horrific opening holes, I decided to calmly navigate my way around, and from that point, the course became so much more playable.

The European club has the feel of an exclusive members club, but with no security at the gate and the warm Irish welcome on arrival, it’s a truly fantastic experience, and I will definitely be returning soon.