The Island Golf Club was founded in 1890, making it one of the oldest golf courses in Ireland. Besides being one of the first twelve golf clubs founded in Ireland, it is the third oldest in the Dublin area. The Syndicate was the name of the group of ten founding fathers of the club. According to the club website, "In September of 1887 four men rowed across the channel which separates the North Dublin village of Malahide from the spur of land to the north known locally as the Island. Their mission was to survey the wilderness and assess its suitably as a golf links."

Looking across the estuary to the village of Malahide.

The club is unique because back in that time the club had no military connection (most established clubs did) and was initiated as a private proprietary club.

The original clubhouse, a quaint wooden pavilion, was situated at the far end of the links and overlooked the Malahide estuary. It was abandoned when the boat service to and from the links was discontinued in 1973 but some of the foundation can still be seen in the area. The present clubhouse is located more centrally on the property and dates from that time.

Golfers either took the Boat or traveled the long way home.

When golfers were taken over to the Island by boat from Malahide they were completely dependent on that boat to get them back. Many stories have been told that a normal golfing day would go from good to bad with the change of the weather. Usually the weather would turn bad while the golfers were out and the boat would not be able to return to the Island to pick them up. So for some, the only way to return home would be to travel the long way around through Swords, which back in the early twentieth century, was a long journey.

I am honored to work at such an historic course. 

A plaque at the club memorializes the days of "the Boat".