The Royal Dublin Golf Club was formed in 1885, and moved to its current home on Bull Island five years later when members started golfing on what is essentially a large and expanding sand bank. This is an interesting location for golf, and a naturally windy spot upon which to build a links. The terrain itself here is low-set and soft, but in the early days things were much more dramatic with pictures and evidence of large exposed dunes and some adventurous design through the more abrup areas.

Todays links has few outstanding features, but plenty of really solid holes that still manage to provide a genuine test of your game. The hoels laid across the really flat ground are among the best here, thanks largely to well built and well protected greens that place a premium on quality approach play. From the tee the test is about finding fairway, but into the greens it's about hitting solid shots through teh wind to greens that have a knack of rejecting anything with poor trajectory or direction.

The most fascinating hole here is the 11th, its front tees actually set within an internal out of bounds area, getting out and over the OOB is a matter of choosing a line and avoiding a cut as the hole bends right and rewards the brave player who can attack the dangerous side. The short par three 4th is another nice hole with a well guarded green that is tiered and bent around a nasty bunker.