Donegal Golf Club has announced that it has engaged Paul McGinley’s course design company, McGinley Golf Course Architecture & Design, to undertake the next phase of development of its links course.
The par-73 Championship course is situated on the scenic Murvagh Peninsula near Donegal Town on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.
The course, which first opened for play in 1973, was originally designed by Eddie Hackett and later remodelled by Pat Ruddy in 1992, with the outside loop playing along the sand dunes providing stunning views overlooking Donegal Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The inner loop is more protected with picturesque views of the Bluestack Mountains.
The work is being rolled out in phases. McGinley’s first three holes – 16, 17 and 18 – were completed last month, while holes 2-5 will be renovated this autumn, leaving seven holes ready for the 2025 season.
“Donegal Golf Club is extremely excited to begin the next chapter in our evolution by partnering with McGinley Golf Design,” commented Brian Boyle, President, Donegal Golf Club. “Paul’s stature in the world of golf combined with his love of County Donegal has created the perfect partnership to successfully deliver our next phase of development.
“I have every confidence that Paul and his team will enhance the previous work of Eddie Hackett and Pat Ruddy, two legends of Irish golf architecture. The Donegal Golf Club Canvas together with Paul’s expertise will enable the club to develop into one of the world’s top links courses in the coming years.”
McGinley commented: “It is with great pride that I have been approved as the new design consultant for the magnificent links at Donegal Golf Club, following in the footsteps of Eddie Hackett and Pat Ruddy.
“My core principle for the links is it needs to be more playable for the membership and all standards of player. At the same time, it should be seamlessly prepared for major events to create optionality on tees and a challenge on green designs that allows pins to be tucked when needed.
“Donegal is one of the very best canvasses of any club in the country and that is what both excites and motivates me to best utilise the terrain while also honouring the history, routing, and flow of the course.”