They have all had a crack at Royal Dublin, the "Old Lady" of Dollymount, Nicklaus, Trevino, Ballesteros, Langer and all the hot shots on the European Tour plus a few more who were definitely not Championship material.

Danny Kaye, Bob Hope, Sean Connery, Jimmy Tarbuck and a host of show business personalities have tested their skills on these classic links, the oldest in the Republic of Ireland. And this oasis of golfing delight is just four miles from the centre of Dublin city and fifteen minutes from Dublin Airport.

Little wonder that they are expecting ll,600 visitors this year. But none of this would have been possible had it not been for a distinguished survivor of the mutiny on the Bounty in 1789.

Captain William Bligh was the survivor of Fletcher Christian's mutiny and it was he who suggested that a breakwater be built be built to provide shipping with a safe, deep and straight passage into the heart of Dublin city.

The Bull Wall was built and the silting up which followed became the Bull Island, a nature reserve and home of fabled Royal Dublin. The club had been founded in 1885 and played for a while in the Phoenix Park on a course laid out around the Magazine Fort by the British Army.

But after a brief stay in Sutton, land on the Bull Island was bought from Colonel Vernon of Clontarf in 1889 and a legend was created. And apart from the years during the First World War when it was used for military training, it has remained as challenging and unchanged.

"The best greens I have played on this year,” boomed Ernie Els when he played there last year on his way to the British Open. "A traditional out and back links course with prevailing winds dramatically changing the aspects of each nine" commented Nicklaus.

But these words of praise from the Gods of the game reveal only a fraction of the delights and dramatics, which this tranquil looking stretch hold for the visitor. As he plays the straightforward first, a moderate 361 metres par four he will see the finishing whole "the Garden" to his left.

It's a 453 metres par four but if you are to get home in two you have to hit across the out of bounds garden and many a fun afternoon has ended in tears of frustration here. And it won't help if the balcony over looking the green is well populated by pre dinner drinkers.

And of course you won't escape Royal Dublin without hearing how Christy O'Connor who became club professional in 1959 finished eagle, birdie, eagle to pip his great rival Eric Brown by a shot and win the Carrolls International in l966.

All the great Championships both amateur and professional have been played at Royal Dublin including the Irish Open Championship, which had been revived at Woodbrook after a lapse of some twenty years.

Royal Dublin hosted the event in 1983,' 84 and '85.Ballesteros won the event in '83 and '85 with four round totals of 278,six under par. But Bernhard Langer stole the limelight in '84 with a stunning seventeen under par 267, shot, it must be emphasised in glorious sunshine with lots of run on the ball and precious little wind.

No wonder the affable German described the course as "a splendid links" after a par busting 64 on his way to victory. But when the wind blows and he rain sheets down R.D. is as to ugh as it gets, especially if the wind is at your back going out.

That makes the home run hard work except for the fourteenth, which is played towards neighbouring St.Annes, which is on the same strip on land. So when the weather is unkind the splendid clubhouse is a welcome sight.

Facilities here are excellent with a grillroom - dress informal - just off the locker room and a dining room - jacket and tie - also on the ground floor. The l9th, the Lumsden Room, is on the first floor and has a panoramic view over the course and Dublin Bay.

Christy O'Connor Senior has, of course been part of he Royal Dublin folklore since he joined he club in 1959 but the club also spawned a host of Amateur Internationals which included the colourful Noel Fogarty and Liam Brady one of the latest crop of top class players.

Liam's father is Frank Brady, a well-known footballer in his day and his uncle - also a very fine golfer - is Liam Brady who played for Ireland, Arsenal and the top Italian clubs with such distinction.

But another amateur whose name will forever be linked with the club is Dr. David Sheahan a fine International and a Walker Cup player. In 1962, then a medical student he upstaged the professionals, winning the first Jeyes Tournament on a memorable sun splashed afternoon.

But if he sun is shining and he weather calm when you take on this gem, don't be lulled into a false sense of security because the rough can be very unforgiving. And a new tee at the tenth has transformed the hole into a tigerish par four.

Indeed, in the recent Irish Amateur Open Championship it was rated at 4.7 strokes and that's tough by any standards. But you can always console yourself by listening to the skylarks or watching the hares scatter at your approach.

But if you are going well, don't get too cocky after all, Himself, Christy Senior shot a seventy there last November and he was 75 at Christmas!

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© Tom Keogh 2000

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