A History Shaped by Vision and Legacy
The European Club is the lifelong masterpiece of renowned golf architect Pat Ruddy — a course conceived with passion, crafted with precision and refined over decades. For more than thirty years, Ruddy has remained a devoted steward of the links, personally shaping its evolution to meet the demands of the modern game. Here, today’s champions are invited to express their brilliance, but only those with a thoughtful, strategic approach will truly conquer its challenges.
Year after year, Ruddy continued to guide enhancements to the course, ensuring it remains as exhilarating and relevant as ever. Few courses in the world enjoy such enduring attention from their original designer — with Donald Ross at Pinehurst being one of the few historic parallels. The result is an ever-evolving, world-class links — one that many regard as the finest of its kind.
The dream began in 1958, when a young Ruddy was inspired by the story of Jimmy Demaret and Jack Burke creating The Champions Club in Texas. Determined to one day create a masterpiece of his own, Ruddy embarked on an aerial survey of Ireland’s coastline in search of the perfect setting. His search led him to the majestic dunes of Brittas Bay, just 30 miles south of Dublin — a landscape destined for greatness.
Golf course design has been part of Pat Ruddy’s life since childhood, with his first professional commission at Castlecomer in 1969. Since then, he has earned global recognition as one of the foremost designers of true links golf. The European Club stands today as his crowning achievement — a living expression of artistry, innovation, and an unwavering love of the game.
Year after year, Ruddy continued to guide enhancements to the course, ensuring it remains as exhilarating and relevant as ever. Few courses in the world enjoy such enduring attention from their original designer — with Donald Ross at Pinehurst being one of the few historic parallels. The result is an ever-evolving, world-class links — one that many regard as the finest of its kind.
The dream began in 1958, when a young Ruddy was inspired by the story of Jimmy Demaret and Jack Burke creating The Champions Club in Texas. Determined to one day create a masterpiece of his own, Ruddy embarked on an aerial survey of Ireland’s coastline in search of the perfect setting. His search led him to the majestic dunes of Brittas Bay, just 30 miles south of Dublin — a landscape destined for greatness.
Golf course design has been part of Pat Ruddy’s life since childhood, with his first professional commission at Castlecomer in 1969. Since then, he has earned global recognition as one of the foremost designers of true links golf. The European Club stands today as his crowning achievement — a living expression of artistry, innovation, and an unwavering love of the game.
Champions from all over the world have discovered The European Club.
Padraig Harrington |
Rory McIlroy |
Tiger Woods |
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Won the Irish PGA Championship here in 2007, 2008 and 2009, the event having been scheduled in the week before the British Open in order to prepare him
He recalls: "There is no question that there were shots at The Open that I was better at because I had played links golf at The European Club the week before. I would specifically pick my 7-iron into the first hole of the playoff. The weather had turned, the temperature had dropped, and I had learned the week before to allow for this as I hit a 7-iron 162-yards as against my normal 180-yards. It must have won me The Open. The European Club is a great links that you have to think your way around." |
Won the Irish Amateur Championship here in 2006 and said: "This is probably the best links course I have ever played and I include Royal St. George's, Royal Portush and Royal County Down in that. Its just the definition to it with the sleepers in the bunkers. It is totally unbelievable. I love courses where you really have to think your way around. It gets me focussed much more."
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Tiger Woods set the links record at 67 and said: What wonderful optical illusions. I thought some of those par-4s were par-5s. A great links.
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The European Club: unique, mesmeric – a golf masterpiece