Imagine transforming an already legendary golf course into something even more extraordinary. That’s exactly what’s happening at Wicklow’s iconic European Club, now rebranded as the Brittas Bay Club, as it undergoes a stunning makeover that promises to redefine its legacy. But here’s where it gets controversial: is it wise to overhaul a course that’s been hailed by legends like Rory McIlroy as ‘probably the best links course I’ve ever played’? Or is this the bold move needed to keep it at the pinnacle of global golf?**
Businessman Nicky Conlan, who acquired the property with his father Raymond last year for a reported fee exceeding €30 million, sums it up perfectly: ‘You don’t employ Michelangelo and take away his brush.’ Their vision? To enhance, not erase, the brilliance of this Irish gem. Leading the charge is renowned course architect Kyle Phillips, whose portfolio includes the acclaimed Kingsbarns in Scotland and the California Golf Club in San Francisco. This marks his first Irish project, and he’s described the Wicklow coastline setting as ‘spectacular.’
The European Club, once Pádraig Harrington’s go-to links for his 2007 and 2008 Claret Jug triumphs, is no stranger to greatness. Even Tiger Woods’s scorecard of 67 once graced its clubhouse walls. Yet, change is on the horizon—and it’s ambitious. The redesign includes rerouting, regrassing, and a new irrigation system. Those iconic railway sleepers lining the 96 bunkers? They’re out, replaced by traditional grass-revetted faces. And this is the part most people miss: the course will now offer sea views from the very start of a player’s round, with holes played in both directions along the breathtaking coastline.
Phillips’s goal is to make the course more inclusive, catering to both elite golfers and high-handicappers. The layout will feature four par-fives, four par-threes, and a variety of par-fours, with a traditional 18 holes replacing the original 20. ‘If we have a signature hole,’ Phillips notes, ‘then I’ve failed. Every hole here should stand out.’ His favorite? A reimagined 14th hole that plays inland into a dune, offering a drivable, fun challenge.
The Conlans’ commitment to the region shines through in the new Brittas Bay Club logo, featuring the tern, a migratory bird native to the area. ‘We want to put down roots here,’ Nicky Conlan explains, ‘and give back to the community.’ A portion of every green fee will support tern preservation, blending golf with environmental stewardship.
But here’s the question that divides opinions: Is this redesign a respectful evolution or a risky departure from what made the European Club so special? Let us know in the comments—is this the future of golf, or a step too far?
