The European Club — Attraction in The Municipal District of Arklow

Review

I played this course on a gorgeous 78 degree day in late July, 2021. There was filtered sunlight and a sea breeze that rarely affected the ball’s flight. Course conditions were excellent if a tad dry, despite a rigorous watering program to offset the recent heatwave. It’s a rustic and sometimes imposing looking links. Those rail tie bunker walls are visually stunning and on some holes seem positioned equidistant from the tee. This is an intimidating optical illusion because some are actually out of reach. I managed to find a few of them anyway, and I can tell you that the ricochet of a bladed bunker shot off those wood walls adds a thrill to the game previously unknown to this golfer.

If you peruse my photos accompanying this review you’ll see the picture of the sign that says 7a. There are 20 holes to play on this course, 7a and 12a are optional par 3s that are short and sweet additions to the round. The only problem with you playing these holes arises when a group behind you elects to skip them and after you’ve finished the hole there they are on YOUR next tee box. Awkward. But worth it. The 7th hole has received accolades for being in the top 100 holes in the world. It didn’t strike me that way though it’s a cool hole, for sure. It’s pretty hard too. A yellow hazard runs down much of the left side, while the right margin is a watery out-of-bounds grave the entire way through the green. I liked others more. Like the par 5 #3 with its ocean view and semi-blind landing area; and #5 because its optical illusions make you wonder where a fair place to aim is because all the options seem dangerously stupid; the 6th, a middle length par 3 with a burn left; 7a, an additional par 3 framed ideally by large dunes; the 9th, whose fairway hosts four gaping maws to gobble your tee shot until the optical illusion is revealed and voila, only the two on the flanks are reachable; the 12th, a beach side two shoter delight with a green 127 yards from front to back - I’ve never seen anything like it, not even at St. Andrews with its colossal double greens. There’s an 8 club difference on your approach, depending on pin position; the 12a, an “optional” par 3, whose green sits perfectly on a dune with a massive dune its backdrop; the 13th, a lovely par 5 with dunes left, Irish Sea right; and the 17th, a snakey valley par 4 with a lonely, pathetic little evergreen. It may be my favorite hole, but I’m not saying until I make sure by playing this 20 again. And isn’t this what makes a great course…a collection of interesting holes that you recall, even if only played...

Played this course as part of a mini golf tour, now this course is not for the faint hearted. 1100e for a 4 Ball, yes that much. Its a links course which was first opened in 1991 I think after the owner bought the land for £150000 in 1986. Anyway, the clubhouse is decent with a small pro shop selling the usual stuff including traitor balls for a euro each, you may want to purchase a few of these as this course will swallow alot of balls if your not straight or don't think about your shot. I bought 3, lost the lot. Anyway its a 20 hole course and if you don't book a buggy before you arrive then you will have to carry like me. The 20 Americans arguing over 4 buggys was funny. The course is walkable and not too hilly, now the rough is a different animal and if you can even find your ball then good luck getting out with your wrists intact. The holes themselves are challenging and if you manage to navigate the fairways missing the serious pot bunkers made with railway sleepers (a significant hazard if you thin it as our mate then took it full bore in the head) you will be rewarded with a fast receptive green with many challenges also. We walked luckily in sunshine and a 20 mph wind, if it was raining and or windier it may have broke us but we had an enjoyable round once we got into it and understood the course requirements. Locker room with free to use lockers and showers with towels provided. At the time I said never again but on reflection I would play it again and I would enjoy the challenge. Overall a fantastic difficult frustrating yet...

Played The European Club on Nov 7, 2024. I had booked my teetime months in advance to avail myself of the lower winter rates. Luckily the temps were mild enough, although I did get the real seaside Irish golfing experience with windy conditions and drizzles for most of my round. This links course is unique and picturesque. The front 9 offer a teaser for the full fledged back 9 that truly reveal this course's natural beauty. I had heard of how difficult this course plays but in my opinion this is not a difficult course if you can find fairways and control your line. I shot 88 which is not a great score (10 HCP), but given my terrible driving off the tee (lately) and playing with a new shaft, I was pleased with the round. The highlight was meeting Mr. Pat Ruddy who is on the course pretty much everyday. He advised me that they don't allow more than 10 birdies per round, so he asked me to play conservatively. The staff were courteous and friendly. My teetime was at 11 am, but since I got there early, I was advised to go earlier as if I went later I would have been behind several groups. All in all a great links and true Irish golfing...