Portmarnock Golf Club: 2026 Access and Booking Update
The connoisseur's Irish links is having a landmark moment: the R&A is cautiously optimistic about bringing The Open to Portmarnock, which would make it the first venue outside the United Kingdom to host. Here is where things stand for 2026 and how to play it.
The news: Portmarnock and The Open
The big story around Portmarnock in 2026 is its candidacy to host The Open Championship. R&A chief executive Mark Darbon has said he remains cautiously optimistic about taking both The Open and the AIG Women's Open to the Dublin links, which would make Portmarnock the first venue outside the United Kingdom ever to stage the championship. Feasibility work with the Irish Government is ongoing, with further clarity expected toward the end of the year.
The club's members have already approved course changes to support the bid, with the AIG Women's Open targeted for around 2028 and The Open for around 2030. None of this is confirmed, but it has put one of Ireland's purest links firmly back in the global conversation, and it is the reason to read up on Portmarnock now.
The connoisseur's links
On a slender peninsula north of Dublin, all but surrounded by the Irish Sea, Portmarnock is one of the purest tests in links golf. It has staged the Irish Open nineteen times along with the Canada Cup and a Walker Cup, and it hosted the men's Amateur Championship in 2019 and the women's in 2024. The Championship links plays as a par 72 of about 7,466 yards.
There are no dunes the size of cathedrals here and no tricks; what there is, is a routing of relentless quality, exposed to the wind, with the fearsome par 3 fifteenth along the shore among the most respected holes in the game. It is a members club, but one that has long welcomed the travelling golfer.
How to play it in 2026
Portmarnock welcomes visitors on selected days, with advance booking essential and a handicap certificate generally expected. It is a premium round, so the most reliable approach is to confirm the current visitor green fee, the available days and any handicap requirement directly with the club before you travel, and to book well ahead given the renewed attention on the course.
The links sits a short drive north of Dublin, which makes it one of the easiest marquee rounds to fold into a city trip or a wider east coast tour. As with all Irish links, the settled, bright conditions tend to come from late spring through to early autumn, with May, June and September the prime windows.
Our take
Our take is that Portmarnock is the Irish links the architects and tour players talk about with a particular reverence, and the prospect of The Open arriving only sharpens the case for playing it. If the championship does come, tee times will become far harder to secure, which makes the next few seasons the smart time to visit.
If you are planning a 2026 Dublin trip, treat Portmarnock as the centrepiece, confirm the visitor days and fee directly, and book early. Pair it with the other links north and south of the city to build an east coast itinerary around one of the great tests in the game.
Plan your Dublin golf trip
From Portmarnock to the links north and south of Dublin, tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge builds and costs the trip, with no obligation.
Questions
Could Portmarnock host The Open Championship?
It is under serious consideration. The R&A has said it is cautiously optimistic about bringing The Open and the AIG Women's Open to Portmarnock, which would make it the first host outside the United Kingdom. Feasibility work is ongoing, with the Women's Open targeted around 2028 and The Open around 2030. Nothing is confirmed yet.
Can visitors play Portmarnock Golf Club?
Yes. Portmarnock is a members club that welcomes visiting golfers on selected days, with advance booking essential and a handicap certificate generally expected. Confirm visitor days and any requirements directly with the club, and book well ahead.
What are the green fees at Portmarnock for 2026?
Portmarnock is a premium visitor round and fees vary by day and season. Treat any quoted figure as indicative and confirm the current green fee directly with the club before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course, access and fee details verified June 2026 from club and golf travel sources; conditions and green fees change, so always confirm directly before booking. Last reviewed June 2026.