Hermitage - Dublin

The Golfing Union of Ireland thought the new Hermitage course good enough to hold the 1914 Irish Close Championship here. This was the first occasion that a non links course had been chosen for the event as only Royal Dublin, Portmarnock, Royal County Down and Royal Portrush were used before then.

Over the years, a number of Irish Presidents, based in Phoenix Park in Dublin, have been members of Hermitage and enjoyed the facilities and hospitality afforded to all members and visitors – it really has earned the reputation of being the club of choice for the rich and famous in Dublin society.

However, the club is not just well known for the number of upwardly mobile golfers who have been, and currently are, members. Hermitage offers a fine test of golf throughout its 6,651-yard length in a mature parkland setting that is so close to the city yet also far removed. Jeff Howes completed the phased replacement of greens on the course to sand-based USGA specification in 2002 so the club now boasts some of the finest putting surfaces in the Dublin area.

Two holes are worthy of closer scrutiny and they complete the front and back nine on the course. Firstly, the 9th, a 506-yard par five, is the only three shotter on the outward half. Two large oak trees on either side of the fairway dominate the hole 220 yards from the green. With out of bounds and a bunker on the right, the tee shot should be aimed at the oak tree on the left, as anything to the right of the fairway will be severely hampered by the tree on that side. A second shot should be played down the right side of the fairway to allow an approach that misses the large protecting bunker to the front left of a raised plateau green.

The 18th is a 415-yard par four that doglegs slightly to the right and it’s the longest par four on the course. The tee shot must find the fairway as bunkers lie either side to catch anything offline. With a large stand of trees down the right, the bail out is down the left but a brave shot down the right is rewarded with an easier approach to the putting surface. With out of bounds at the back of the green, an over clubbed approach shot spells disaster at this testing finish to a round of golf.

Paul O'Brien and Jeff Lynch from Callan-based (re)GOLF Design oversaw a multi-phased bunker renovation which completed in 2020. The sand hazards on the course were reduced in number and those remaining were reconstructed with a SportBond liner and synthetic Durabunker edging, resulting in fully sealed bunkers.