Our Rich History

The Royal Dublin Golf Club was instituted at a meeting held at No. 19 Grafton Street in May 1885. The formation of Ireland's second oldest golf club was pioneered by a Scottish banker - John Lumsden. Originally called Dublin Golf Club, (it received its Royal designation in 1891 - when there were 250 members paying £2 annual subscription - the entrance fee was 8 guineas), it was located near the Magazine Fort in the Phoenix Park. After a year the Club moved to Sutton and finally in 1889 moved to its present home here on the Bull Island, (the name is derived from the locality, Clontarf, which in Gaelic is Cluain Tairbh meaning the Bull's Meadow).

Captain William Bligh of 'Mutiny on the Bounty' fame was, in the early 1800s, one of those invited to solve the long standing problems of providing shipping with a safe, straight and deep approach into Dublin. As a result, it was decided to build a sea wall three kilometres out from the shore. The resulting sand bank, Bull Island, still continues to grow. The timber bridge was built in the autumn of 1819 and the Great North Wall, more popularly known as the Bull Wall, was completed by 1823.

Royal Dublin owns the entire links which covers some 65 hectares. The Bull Island is a bird sanctuary and a special amenity area with major scientific importance because of its variety of plant and wildlife (particularly hares).

Bunker at 1st hole, c. 1895

During the First World War, the course was taken over by the military and used as a rifle and artillery range. After the War, the clubhouse was in a very dilapidated condition and the course devastated. With £10,000 compensation, the clubhouse was re-constructed and the links re-designed by H.S. (Harry) Colt, the world famous golf course architect from Sunningdale, in 1920.

On the night of August 2nd 1943 the Clubhouse was totally destroyed by fire. Because of delays in finalising development plans for the entire island, it was not until ten years later that the new Clubhouse opened (2nd October 1954).

The 3rd hole, "The Alps", c. 1895

Major extensions were carried out in 1962, 1983, 1993 and 2007. The most recent programme involved extensive redesign and upgrading of the interior of the Clubhouse. This work included a complete refurbishment of the Locker Room, widening of the hall and the installation of a lift to the upper floor. The downstairs grill bar was moved to The Moran Room upstairs and now boasts a fantastic view of the course. Meanwhile the bars (O'Connor and Lumsden Rooms) were reconfigured to provide the requisite formal or relaxed environments for members and visitors to enjoy a post-round drink.

The 6th hole, c. 1895

This work ensured that the Clubhouse was brought up to the standard of the professional's shop and administration wing which were totally re-built in 2000.

Taking the work on the Clubhouse together with the redesign and upgrading of the links, the Club's facilities are now modern, luxurious and set the standard expected of Ireland's great clubs.

The 18th hole, c. 1895

In the history of the Club, it is likely that the period 2000 - 2007 will be seen as a watershed, a time when the Club's members took the steps necessary to restore the links to greatness and to modernise the Clubhouse to complement the course.