First laid out in 1889, Royal Dublin was wholly redesigned by H.S. Colt in 1920. In addition to the course’s great architectural heritage, the club itself is steeped in Irish golfing history. Its professional for over 50 years was “Himself”, Christy O’Connor Snr. Three Irish Opens have been hosted, won by Severiano Ballesteros (twice) and Bernhard Langer, and the Irish Amateur Championship has been hosted 27 times over a period spanning more than 120 years, the winners across the ages having included Harold Hilton and Louis Oosthuizen.
A detailed study of the course’s bunkers will be undertaken with particular focus on their adherence to the course’s original design, their contribution to the overall aesthetic and their positioning. Thereafter, we will coordinate the renovation of a significant number of bunkers in order to return their style to one more in keeping with their heritage. The intention is also to amend the bunkering of some holes in order to restore elements of Colt’s asymmetrical design which have been lost over time.
IIt is an immense privilege to have been asked to renovate this wonderful Colt course’s bunkering back to its former glory and a huge pleasure to be commencing my partnership with Mike Clayton here in Ireland, where I spent part of my architectural apprenticeship twenty years ago. Having already examined the course in some detail, I am confident that we will deliver revisions that will be more pleasing on the eye yet challenging to better golfers whilst being a little more forgiving for higher handicappers.”
Frank Pont
Edward Cartwright, Chairman of CDP, says: “Royal Dublin is the 26th Colt course to whom Frank Pont has provided or continues to provide architectural advice. Six of his current Colt clients are listed in Golf World’s most recent list of the top fifty courses in Continental Europe.
Mike Clayton’s knowledge of links golf spans the world. In addition to his experience of playing many such courses whist on tour, he co-designed Barnbougle Dunes in Tasmania with Tom Doak, one of the highest ranked links courses to be built in the world in the past 20 years. Clayton, DeVries & Pont was created to deliver such partnerships for our clients, giving them access to an unparalleled breadth of expertise and knowledge.”
Iremember Royal Dublin very well from my participation in the Irish Opens that took place there whilst I was a member of the European Tour. It is a great honour that this will be my first project in Europe. I could not think of a better place to start working with Frank
Mike Clayton