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The Island Golf Club is an 18-hole links at Corballis, Donabate, on the north Dublin coast. The club traditionally dates its foundation to 1890, although research published by the club indicates that 1888 or 1889 may be more accurate. Ten founders known as the Syndicate established the club after members associated with The Dublin Golf Club explored the site in the late 1880s.
The original course followed natural valleys through the dunes, and the identity of its original designer is not known. The links has subsequently evolved through several architectural phases. A new clubhouse in 1973 required the course to be reoriented to a Fred Hawtree design, implemented with modifications by Eddie Hackett.
The course is an 18-hole links golf course. The course originally opened in 1890. It is open to the public. On-site facilities include Putting Green, Chipping Area, Practice Area, Pro Shop, Clubhouse, Dining, Lodge, Suite.
The links grew from an exploratory trip in September 1887, when four men rowed across the channel from Malahide to inspect the dune-covered land known locally as the Island. After a lease was negotiated with the Cobbe family of Newbridge House, local farmer Michael Horish was engaged to cut fairways and greens. The club traditionally recognises 1890 as its foundation year, though its own research indicates that 1888 or 1889 may be more accurate.
Ten founder members formed a private group known as the Syndicate. The designer of the original 18 individual holes is unknown; the early routing followed natural valleys between the dunes and paths of least resistance.
The earliest course relied heavily on the existing dune landscape rather than an imposed formal plan. Its modern form reflects several generations of alteration while retaining the fundamental links character. Fred Hawtree prepared the reorientation necessitated by the new clubhouse, Eddie Hackett modified the plan during implementation, and later work came from Martin Hawtree and Mackenzie & Ebert.
A major organisational change occurred in 1952 when the Syndicate transferred its interest in the club to the associate members, who became the full members and owners. Construction of a new clubhouse in 1973 required a complete reorientation of the course. Fred Hawtree designed that work, Eddie Hackett modified it during implementation, Martin Hawtree subsequently made further changes and Mackenzie & Ebert carried out additional alterations in 2019.
The Island has accumulated a substantial championship record, hosting Irish national amateur championships, the Irish PGA Championship, the European Youths' Championships and the Irish Amateur Open. It has also shared hosting of The Amateur Championship with Portmarnock and served as a qualifying venue for The Open.
The club remains a member-owned links at Corballis in Donabate, retaining the dune setting that led its founders to establish the course in the late nineteenth century.
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