Dooks Golf Links

After the club was formed in 1889, Dooks took out a 75 year lease on land from the Besford McGregor Estate to build a 9-hole course. Fast forward to 1963, when the club received notice to vacate the land at the end of the lease as it would not be renewed. The estate had plans to sell the property for the construction of a hotel, holding firm in their assertion that the Dooks Golf Club had to go. A media campaign to “Save Dooks” was launched, with support pouring in from all corners of Ireland to help preserve one of the ten oldest clubs in the country. After a two year fight, the landowners eventually bowed to the pressure and agreed to sell the club the property for a sum of £7000.

With its future now secure, and the links filled to capacity with visitors drawn by the publicity, the club undertook the task of extending the course to a full 18-holes. The painstaking work was completed on a shoestring budget and on the backs of the members themselves. Yet their determination and hard work resulted in a course that remained untouched until 2002. In that year, the club invited Martin Hawtree to come “have a look” and offer a few suggested improvements. Those “suggestions” amounted to a complete overhaul of the links, which the club proudly debuted in 2006.

Leaving a memorable impression amongst the collection of historic links in southwest Ireland is no easy task. And while Dooks may never reach the notoriety of its illustrious neighbors, it stands right alongside them both in terms of unforgettable beauty and gracious hospitality. If nothing else, a few souvenirs with that unmistakable logo are sure to bring a smile for years to come.