Arklow Golf Club was formed in 1927 and the original links was formed by Fred Hawtree & John Taylor. Many of the greens from the original layout are still in play but parts of the course have been lost over the years to the encroaching shoreline.

Eddie Hackett was involved in restoring the 18-hole layout in the 1970’s then Eddie Connaughton remodelled the course at the end of the 1990’s.

Arklow Links was described to us as a hidden gem and the tranquil and panoramic view of this superb golf links with it’s meandering fairways and rugged sand dunes set against a backdrop of the Irish Sea don’t disappoint.

Arklow’s 6,516 yards is not long by modern standards, but the holes are laid out over classic links land with plenty of humps and hollows, sand hills, gorse, marram grass and bunkers to make sure it plays longer than that.

We played it in fairly windy conditions, so it did feel much harder and longer than it plays on the card. Keep it straight & in the fairway would be our tip, as you can get yourself in trouble very quickly once you stray off-line.

A striking feature is the pot bunkering, I assume original, around many of the green areas. You would struggle to find better looking (or more challenging) bunkering as many of Ireland’s more famous links.

All in all, a great conditioned course that offers a challenge, views and great value for money.