The Island Golf Course
Donabate, County Dublin
The Island is a traditional links in splendid isolation surrounded by the Irish Sea, Donabate beach and the Broadmoor estuary. Undoubtedly one of the most underrated links courses in Ireland, The Island is a classic links course set in a rugged terrain & nestled between the highest sand dunes along the east coast. Although there are several short par-4s, the Island always presents a challenge to find the fairway from the tee and then to find the target. A variety of shots are required and the wind will add to the difficulty.
The Island Course Description
Uniquely, The Island begins with 8 straight par 4's. But it is hardly noticeable as each presents a very different challenge and indeed the first 4 play to each of the four main compass points. The pick of the holes on the outward half are the 3rd and 7th holes. The fourth is 396 yards and requires an accurate drive to the centre of the fairway before a long iron or fairway wood to the two tiered green that throws any stray shot to the right. The seventh is an excellent dogleg with another accurate approach required to a green protected on the right and back by thick gorse bushes while the left side falls away leaving a difficult up and down.
The inward half opens with a par-5 that can tempt longer hitter to flirt with the OOB on the left. The 14th also has an intimidating drive to a narrow fairway with a water hazard on the right. More trouble threatens the right hand side of the 17th tee-shot and the 18th is a classic finishing hole, 421 yards in length with a drive played through a valley before opening to an elevated green that is the largest on the course.
A testing links challenge, The Island is a golf course not to be missed.
