Course History

1850’s – The Jameson Nine-Hole Course

In the 1850s, John Jameson had 9 holes laid out in the dunes, stretching from the house to the current 15th hole at Portmarnock Golf Club, the course was one of the earliest in Ireland. John Jameson leased land at the southern end of the peninsula to founder members of Portmarnock Golf Club, it opened in 1894, John Jameson was made President of the Club, consequently The Jameson course was no longer maintained.

1992 – Portmarnock Links and Bernhard Langer

Construction was started on the golf links which was designed by Bernhard Langer in association with Stan Eby of European Golf Design. Legendary German golfer Bernhard Langer is no stranger to these parts, he won the Irish Open no fewer than three times at the nearby Portmarnock Golf Club and The Royal Dublin Golf Club. When he became a golf course designer with European Golf Design in 1992, it was little wonder that he chose our course as his first links design. Along with renowned American architect Stan Eby, Bernhard has come up with a course that has been described by Golf World magazine as “everything a links course should be” with rolling fairway and unforgiving rough.

The course opened for play as The Links in 1995 and three of the Jameson Nine-Hole Course were incorporated in the design, 8th, 9th and 15th.

Construction work started on the hotel in September 1995 and Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links opened in June 1996.  Sir Tony O’Reilly and Mark McCormack IMG were amongst the owners.

2022 – Construction starts to the links.

This ambitious project was completed in just four months thanks to the professionalism of Jeff Lynch (ReGolf Design), DAR Golf Construction, Aquaturf Solutions and our own links team. Not only was the project completed on time but it has truly exceeded our expectations in terms of quality.

The introduction of five new green complexes and four new tee areas ensure a championship test while also remaining fair and playable for all levels of golfer.

The new links routing and topography provide stunning views of The Velvet Strand, Lambay and Ireland’s Eye which add a new aspect to the links experience.

 

2023 – Portmarnock Links is renamed to Jameson Golf Links

Golf Professionals and Celebrities Visits to Jameson Golf Links.

Professionals have included, overseas, Severiano Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Dustin Johnson, Ricky Fowler, Jose Maria Olazabal, Ian Woosnam and Colin Montgomerie, Sandy Lyle, Suzann Pettersen, Sophie Gustaffson, Laura Davis, Diana Luna, Caitriona Matthew, Gwladys Nocera, Marianne Skarpnord and Melissa Reid. Irish, Christy O’Connor Snr, Christy O’Connor Jnr, Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Paul Dunne, Eamon Darcy, Des Smyth, Philip Walton, Leona Maguire, Lisa Maguire.

Celebrities, Sean Connery, Robert Redford, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta Jones, Alice Cooper, Damon Hill, Jackie Stewart, Nigel Mansell, Ian Botham, Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, Ally McCoist, Ian Wright, Macklemore, Tom Felton, Luke Combs, Santonio Holmes, Seb Carmichael Brown, Harry Lewis (Wroetoshaw), Theo Baker, Chris Dixon (Christ MD)