It begins with Mother Nature. Dunes sculpted by Atlantic winds, the rhythmic rise and fall of marram grass, and the smell of sea spray: these are the raw materials Greg Norman worked with when he dared to design Doonbeg. Under Norman’s blueprint, Doonbeg became a canvas of simmering drama, and with a post on X by his son, Norman Jr. , that canvas has received some enticing news. “The 2026 Irish Open will be held at Doonbeg! And absolute beauty of a course. Designed by Greg Norman Golf Course Design in 1999 and later purchased by Trump in 2014. Hole 15 (now taken by the ocean) was toughest little par 3. 103 yards on the side of hill right on the beach. When the wind was howling you would have to hit a 5iron into it.”

Even the shortest holes could feel brutal at Doonbeg. What should h

See Full Page