The European Club: Golf Course Review, Tee Times and Key Info

The European Club Key Information

Back in the 1980s, Irish golf writer and golf course architect, Pat Ruddy, who also created the fine parkland course at Druid's Glen, was determined to have a golf course of his own, maybe even one that would rank highly in our Top 100 Golf Courses UK & Ireland biennial list.

Perhaps fearing that the scope to develop classic linksland into little pieces of golfing heaven would only diminish over time, he set out on a helicopter reconnaissance mission in 1987 to find the perfect spot.

The fruits of that mission turned out to be Brittas Bay in County Wicklow, and six years later, dream became reality when his European Club opened for play there. It has enjoyed a place in the upper echelons of our rankings from the start and also ranks very near the top when it comes to the best golf courses in Ireland.

My first game here was 20-odd years ago on a Ping press trip when I was the magazine's equipment editor. I remember playing with one of their club engineers called Mike Nicolette, who surprised me by telling me he was a PGA Tour winner - the Bay Hill Classic (now Arnold Palmer Invitational) in 1983, where he beat Greg Norman in a play-off!

He also finished 13th in the US Open that year and made the cut at Augusta but, suffice to say, he had little more luck than me in avoiding the European Club's famous bunkers that day some 20 years after his heyday. However, my chances of winning even the club medal were never that great, even in my 'heyday'.

My memories are of a course unlike anything I'd seen before, with several features and moments clearly betraying the twinkle Ruddy must have had in his eye when dreaming them up.

This is a course where glorious sea views and distinctive sleepered bunkers abound, and where the emphasis is very much on fun, despite the course being more than capable of testing the very best, as it did when hosting the Irish PGA Championship for three years from 2007. Padraig Harrington won them all!

On the topic of fun, the widening of the fairways in recent years has enhanced that element for many, and there are also a few quirky touches that speak to the creator’s character and make things just a little bit different here.

For a start, there are two cracking extra par 3s at 7a and 12a which you are more than welcome to play most days. Then there’s the tongue-in-cheek 127-yard-long 12th green that sends the potential for misclubbing into a whole new dimension.

The long and testing 7th, flanked by reeds and imposing dunes, has achieved worldwide renown and takes you down to a run of five memorable holes set along or close to the beach, among them the head-turning par-3 14th, with its well-bunkered plateau green nestling in the dunes.

Ruddy’s dream was to build a glorious links playground of his own, and golfers everywhere should be eternally grateful that he took to the skies in 1987 to fulfil that dream.

What's new for 2025/26? What our panellists said…

Nicholas Hercules

The European Club, with its demand to play strategic golf and not lose oneself in the sea views, is balm for the soul. Hands-on course architect and owner, Pat Ruddy, one of life’s true gentlemen, dominates the place with his larger-than-life personality and kindness, his never-ending course tweaks, energy and attention to detail... even in his 90s and on to his fifth hip! And then you go home and read the book on The European Club that he has given you, and his wit, gift with words and indomitable spirit resonate even longer. The greens, at a modest links pace, rolled magnificently flat and true. The pot bunkers are topped with clumps of marram grass, which look delightful, preferably when viewed from afar and not from within.

Rob Fear

A thrilling experience and the welcome is second to none, particularly as in included a relaxed chat with Pat Ruddy. It teests every facet of your game to the limit and plays with your mind, especially when the wind gets up. Several holes seem deceptive to the eye. The sleeper-faced bunkers leave you often playing out backwards (or wishing you had!). It would be a joy to come back, with the determination to stay clear of the bunkers next time.

The European Club location

Contact The European Club to book a round

The European Club Course Scorecard

Best Courses Near The European Club

DRUIDS GLEN
A short distance from the Wicklow coast and now into its second quarter of a century, Druid’s Glen is a lush golfing oasis, complete with majestic tree-lined fairways, thought-provoking water features and considerably more than a splash of colour at the right time of year. The course is currently undergoing a major renovation and is set to reopen in summer 2023.

POWERSCOURT
There are two 18-hole courses here (East and West) and the biggest challenge is which one to play first. The West wastes no time in getting you onto the hillside that is home to this David McLay Kidd design. It gives every hole so much shape. Play the East, too, and enjoy 36 of the best greens anywhere plus great views of the Sugar Loaf Mountain from across the estate.

Best Places To Stay Near The European Club

Arklow Bay Hotel and Leisure Club, Arklow - Book now at Booking.com
Overlooking the sea and just a short walk from Arklow town, this hotel offers tasty food, an impressive leisure club and 91 rooms, some with spectacular sea views. The Arklow Bay Hotel and Leisure Club’s impressive leisure facilities include an indoor swimming pool, a sauna, a steam room and a gymnasium. Arklow is a charming and historic town six miles from the European Club surrounded by hills and beautifully located by the sea.

The Meetings B&B, Avoca - Book now at Booking.com
The Meetings B&B is located directly at The Meeting of the Waters. Guests can enjoy the property's communal balcony, which directly overlooks the Avonmore and Avonbeg rivers. Situated in Avoca, this bed and breakfast boasts a bar and a shop, and offers guests free on-site parking and free WiFi. The property is ideally located for exploring Wicklow, and lies seven miles from the European Club.

The European Club Gallery

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THE EUROPEAN CLUB HISTORICAL TOP 100 RANKING UK&I

• 2025/26 - 18
• 2023/24 - 19
• 2021/22 - 19
• 2019/20 - 18
• 2017/18 - 19
• 2015/16 - 20
• 2013/14 - 17
• 2011/12 - 14
• 2009/10 - 15

Frequently Asked Questions