Arklow Golf Links sits right on the Irish Sea and gives you the kind of golf County Wicklow does so well: firm turf, natural dunes, plenty of breeze and cracking coastal views. It's a genuine links layout rather than a parkland course with a few pot bunkers dropped in, and the routing has stayed largely true to the original design since 1927. Better still, you're only around 75 minutes south of Dublin, so it's an easy add-on if you're building an east coast itinerary.
Out on the course you'll find rippling fairways running between dunes, tight lies that reward clean ball-striking and greens that can quicken up when the wind gets going. Some days you'll be taking an extra couple of clubs, other days you'll be knocking it down and using the ground to feed approaches in. The sea comes into play on a handful of holes and when you turn for home the views back towards Wicklow Head are a bonus.
It's not as well known as a few nearby headline courses, which can make it a smart choice for groups looking for traditional links character without paying top-end green fees or battling for tee times in peak season.
Who is this for?
Golfers who want an authentic links round on Ireland's east coast, plus groups combining Dublin with coastal golf.
Who is it best for?
Mid to low handicappers who enjoy wind-affected, strategic golf and visitors to County Wicklow looking for a quieter links option with sea views.
