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By David Brice
Golf International, Inc.

Everyone loves a city and there is an excitement to a European capital city that is especially alluring. Whether it's the hustle and bustle, the dining and entertainment possibilities, the museums, history and culture or the shopping opportunities, there are a million and one attractions, but golf isn't normally among them.

The K-Club's Palmer Course hosted the 2006 Ryder Cup.

Unfortunately, most European capitals are not very golfer friendly. London, Paris, Madrid and Rome are all surrounded by excellent golf courses, but they usually belong to exclusive private clubs with members who simply don't want visitors taking up their valuable tee times. They care little that visitors would keep their annual dues lower and are quite prepared to pay for their privacy.

One notable exception to all of this is Dublin, Europe's most golfer friendly capital of all. Surrounded by an outstanding collection of over 20 quality golf courses that are conveniently located, most are within a short 30 to 45 minute drive of the city center. More importantly, they all welcome visitors with open arms.

Portmarnock Links Resort - not to be confused with the real Portmarnock.

Staying at a hotel in Dublin and driving outside to play golf each day is probably the best idea when non-golfers are a part of your group. Those less enamored by golf will have all of Dublin's many attractions at the front door and more than enough to occupy their time while the golfers are on the courses.

If it's a group of all golfers, the idea of staying outside of the city either at or near one of the golf courses and going into Dublin for a little sightseeing and evening entertainment will allow you to squeeze more golf into the trip and may have a greater appeal.

High on the list of recommended Dublin area golf resorts is The K-Club. You will pay handsomely for the privilege of staying in the opulent luxury of this 5-star hotel, but the Arnold Palmer Course, which hosted the 2006 Ryder Cup, is at the front door so it might be worth splurging. The resort's second layout, the Smurfit Course, should be included if you are staying here, but it's not worth a special trip.

Portmarnock Golf Club reigns supreme over Dublin's golf

Bear in mind that both K-Club courses are parkland layouts and if you are looking for an Irish links experience, they may not be for you. Both designed by Arnold Palmer, their American heritage should be of no surprise, but if you want to add a Ryder Cup Course to your belt, this could be it.

A less extravagant resort that's still first class is the Portmarnock Links Hotel, situated on the north side of the city. With its own very good links course, designed by Bernhard Langer, there are several other championship links close by -- the most famous of which is Portmarnock Golf Club, one of the top ranked layouts on the Emerald Isle. This is one for the accomplished player with less of an appeal to the high handicapper, but for those who are up to it -- what a challenge.

Not to be missed is The Island Golf Club, a gem that has managed to fly under the radar of visitors for far too long. A pure links delight that always impresses, the mystery to every visitor is how can a 120-year old windblown layout that's this good and sits so close to Dublin still be unknown?

The Island - 120 years old, only 15 minutes from Dublin's city center and still unknown.

Another very good hotel choice, 25 miles beyond Dublin's southern suburbs, is the Marriott Hotel located at Druids Glen Golf Club, host to the Irish Open from 1996 to 1999. A second layout, Druids Heath, has recently been added.

Staying on the south side of Dublin also opens up the possibility of playing another of Ireland's top ranked links, The European Club, a special treat for any golfer with an appreciation of golf architecture.

This was the very first course designed by Pat Ruddy, an amateur golf enthusiast and sports journalist who one day decided he would design a golf course. Today Ruddy is one of the most sought after designers in Europe, with more than 50 courses to his credit, but the masterpiece that is The European Club remains his best.

The 18th hole at Druids Glen

If you have chosen to stay at a hotel in Dublin and drive out to golf each day, the accommodation selection is enormous. From the very plush Merrion Hotel, the best in town, to modest bed & breakfasts and everything in between, the choice is yours. But do allow some time to explore this fascinating city as there's a lot to see and do.

Dublin long ago shed the image of being a quaint but sleepy town and has become one of the liveliest in Europe. It still retains much of the Georgian charm that has always been Dublin, but new development is taking place everywhere, intermingling with the old with a style of its very own. Dublin remains a great historic city with strong links to world literature and the arts and there is plenty to keep even the most ardent sightseer busy.

The old city is best discovered on foot and a half day spent strolling from College Green to St. Stephens Green will reveal much of Dublin's rich past. Don't miss 16th century Trinity College, the impressive City Hall and Dublin Castle, dating from the 13th century.

The European Club is ready to give the best a run for their money.

There's Christchurch Cathedral, one of the city's finest historic buildings and St. Patrick's Cathedral shouldn't be missed either. Sightseeing is thirsty work, so along the way stop by Dublin's oldest pub, The Brazen Head (circa 1198) for a little refreshment.

There are allegedly some 800 pubs in town and every visitor needs to sample at least a few of them. Linger over a Guinness or two, meet the locals and soak up the atmosphere that makes these social gathering places special and so Irish. And when the sun goes down, Dublin switches into high gear with nightlife as vibrant and varied as any place and it all goes on into the wee small hours. No wonder the Irish have never been considered early birds.

No matter which way you slice it Dublin has it all, including fantastic golf where the visitor is always welcome. For a few ideas on how to include Dublin in your Irish golf trip, click here.

© 2007 David Brice / Golf International Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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