The Island Golf Club - hole 15
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The Island Golf Club - hole 15
The view from atop the dunes looking back at the 15th green at The Island Golf Club. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Portmarnock Links - hole 9
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Portmarnock Links - hole 9
Dunes surround the par-3 ninth at Portmarnock Links. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
K Club - Smurfit golf course - No. 16
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K Club - Smurfit golf course - No. 16
The 16th on the Smurfit golf course at The K Club is water logged. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
County Louth Golf Club - hole 15
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County Louth Golf Club - hole 15
The 15th hole is part of a collection of strong par 3s at County Louth Golf Club. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Laytown & Bettystown golf course - hole 7
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Laytown & Bettystown golf course - hole 7
The view from the elevated seventh tee at Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club is a good one. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Palmer Ryder Cup golf course - The K Club - hole 18
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Palmer Ryder Cup golf course - The K Club - hole 18
The par-5 18th hole on the Palmer Ryder Cup Course at the K Club decided a handful of matches at the 2006 Ryder Cup. Courtesy of The K Club
Killeen Castle golf course - hole 18
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Killeen Castle golf course - hole 18
The 18th hole sits in the shadow of Killeen Castle. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Portmarnock Golf Club - hole 15
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Portmarnock Golf Club - hole 15
A rocky uninhabited island, called "Ireland's Eye," sits off the coast from Portmarnock Golf Club. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Druids Heath golf course - hole 8
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Druids Heath golf course - hole 8
The eighth hole at Druids Heath comes with soaring countryside views of County Wicklow. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Druids Glen Golf Club - hole 12
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Druids Glen Golf Club - hole 12
The 12th green is a scenic spot at Druids Glen Golf Club. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
K Club - Kildare Hotel
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K Club - Kildare Hotel
The Kildare Hotel, the elegant resort of the K Club, shimmers in the setting sun. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
No. 14 on the O'Meara course at Carton House Golf Club
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No. 14 on the O'Meara course at Carton House Golf Club
The par-3 14th on the O'Meara course at Carton House Golf Club kicks off a grand three-hole loop in a valley. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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The golf courses of Dublin, Ireland

COUNTY DUBLIN, Ireland -- Within a 30-minute radius of Dublin, there is a tremendous variety of golf courses, from rugged links to posh parkland playgrounds.

A golf trip to Ireland's capital city provides two big bonuses for visitors: The downtown nightlife in Temple Bar and a convenient highway system that allows easy access to all sorts of places to play.

The north of Dublin is stacked with links, starting with Royal Dublin, Portmarnock Golf Club and Portmarnock Links within minutes of the airport.

Further up the coast, The Island Golf Club and County Louth Golf Club boast the biggest dunes of the region.

The scenic Irish countryside is home to three great full-service resorts with 36 holes, spas, multiple restaurants and well appointed rooms: The K Club, Carton House and Druids Glen Resort. The K Club's Palmer course hosted the 2006 Ryder Cup. You can add Killeen Castle to the list of area parkland courses that have hosted memorable international competitions. The Jack Nicklaus course and castle provided a perfect backdrop to celebrate a stunning European comeback at the 2011 Solheim Cup.

Jason Scott Deegan has reviewed and photographed more than 1,100 courses and written about golf destinations in 25 countries for some of the industry's biggest publications. His work has been honored by the Golf Writer's Association of America and the Michigan Press Association. Follow him on Instagram at @jasondeegangolfpass and Twitter at @WorldGolfer.
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The golf courses of Dublin, Ireland