ST ANNES LINKS – DG IRELAND TOP150 – 2025
Editor, Kevin Markham
Next door to Royal Dublin, St. Anne’s is the other golf club on the peaceful Bull Island. At five kilometres long the island is, essentially, man made – the result of recommendations made by Captain ‘Mutiny-on-the-Bounty’ Bligh, when he conducted soundings of Dublin Bay. St. Anne’s possesses low bumpy dunes, like scrumpled paper that someone has tried to flatten out.
Those little humps swat your ball all over the place but offer little protection from the wind. This is what makes links golf so challenging: when the wind blows you need a strong variety of shots and plenty of imagination. You’ll struggle to lose a ball at St Anne’s, but with extensive bunkering you’ll want to be targeting the sweet greens from the fairway.
Holes offer a good variety of lengths and tend to go in one of two directions – NE or SW – which only adds to the test. Enjoy the clubhouse and the attractive views.
FAVOURITE HOLE
The par three 17th hits into a sweet nest of dunes.
WHATS IN THE BAG
The ability to keep the ball low will reap rich rewards
For more on Ireland’s TOP150 golf courses, see; Destination Golf – Ireland 2025 – Destination Golf