Arklow Golf Club

A Links Shaped by Sea and Time

The golf course at Arklow Golf Club occupies classic links ground on the County Wicklow coast, with the Irish Sea forming a constant backdrop. Fred G. Hawtree and J.H. Taylor shaped the original layout in 1927. Eddie Hackett later assisted its evolution, followed by more recent work from Eddie Connaughton. Parts of the earlier course were also affected over time by shoreline encroachment.

The course moves through rumpled fairways, rugged dunes, gorse, and marram grass. Its modest overall length can be misleading because the ground rarely offers a level stance, while approach shots must account for slopes around the putting surfaces. Only four par fours exceed 400 yards, placing greater value on placement and recovery skill than raw distance.

Five par threes give Arklow an unusual rhythm. Four arrive within a seven-hole stretch, and three sit close together among the dunes near the sea. Their green sites, bunkering, and surrounding fall-offs make accurate iron play important.

The middle holes carry the strongest dune character, while the elevated clubhouse gives an open view across the links. Together, these features create an intimate, traditional round with enough movement and variety to remain demanding from start to finish.