No 15 - The European Club

Pat Ruddy set up the European Club nearly 20 years ago to bring world-class golf to County Wicklow, and the breathtaking magnificence of the links he created has expedited its climb up the rankings

The European Club
Jeremy Ellwood
By
published

15 THE EUROPEAN CLUB

Architect: Ruddy 2006 position: 15 Stats: 6,720 yds; par 71; SSS 72 GF: €100-€250 T: 00353 404 47415 W: theeuropeanclub.com

Pat Ruddy set up the European Club nearly 20 years ago to bring world-class golf to County Wicklow, and the breathtaking magnificence of the links he created has expedited its climb up the rankings.

The off-course facilities are understated compared with other golfing fruits of the Celtic Tiger economy, but the course stands up against any, as evidenced by Padraig Harrington wisely opting to play (and win) the Irish PGA here the week before both his 2007 and ’08 Open victories.

Glorious views, glorious holes, and a warm welcome from the Ruddy family who still run the ship. JE

+ Excellent, often stern test; 20 holes for your money; friendly welcome - Sleepered faces daunting for average sand players; pricey in high season

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Where next?

>>> Top 100 Golf Courses: No. 16 Back to the Top 100 Golf Courses list - An introduction to Golf Monthly's Top 100 Golf Courses by editor, Mike Harris - Who makes up The Top 100 Golf Courses panel? - How do Golf Monthly assess the Top 100 Golf courses?

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Jeremy Ellwood
Jeremy Ellwood
Contributing Editor

Jeremy Ellwood has worked in the golf industry since 1993 and for Golf Monthly since 2002 when he started out as equipment editor. He is now a freelance journalist writing mainly for Golf Monthly. He is an expert on the Rules of Golf having qualified through an R&A course to become a golf referee. He is a senior panelist for Golf Monthly's Top 100 UK & Ireland Course Rankings and has played all of the Top 100 plus 91 of the Next 100, making him well-qualified when it comes to assessing and comparing our premier golf courses. He has now played 1,000 golf courses worldwide in 35 countries, from the humblest of nine-holers in the Scottish Highlands to the very grandest of international golf resorts. He reached the 1,000 mark on his 60th birthday in October 2023 on Vale do Lobo's Ocean course. Put him on a links course anywhere and he will be blissfully content.

Jezz can be contacted via Twitter - @JezzEllwoodGolf

Jeremy is currently playing...

Driver: Ping G425 LST 10.5˚ (draw setting), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Orange 55 S shaft

3 wood: Srixon ZX, EvenFlow Riptide 6.0 S 50g shaft

Hybrid: Ping G425 17˚, Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro Orange 80 S shaft

Irons 3- to 8-iron: Ping i525, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts

Irons 9-iron and PW: Honma TWorld TW747Vx, Nippon NS Pro regular shaft

Wedges: Ping Glide 4.0 50˚ and 54˚, 12˚ bounce, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts

Putter: Kramski HPP 325

Ball: Any premium ball I can find in a charity shop or similar (or out on the course!)

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