Royal Dublin Golf Club

Situated on an island just three miles from the city centre, Royal Dublin is steeped in history. It was the first club in all of Ireland to have 18 holes, though that original 1885 layout in Phoenix Park is no longer the club's home. In 1890 it move to its present site at Bull Island, where the legendary Harry Colt carried out some redevelopment work on the course after the war. It's a pretty flat links course which used to host the Irish Open, the great Seve Ballesteros lifting that title twice over the course. The club is home to another golfing legend, Christy O'Connor, who made his name while playing at Royal Dublin. It's worth finding out why it is rated so highly.