Brittas Bay
Alex Elias
Mel Maclaine
Purchased in June 2025 by Raymond Conlan and his son, Nicky, The European Club has been rebranded as Brittas Bay Club, featuring a Tern—a bird that nests annually in Brittas Bay—as its new logo.
“We have immense respect for what came before us, but our goal is to reach the site’s full potential,” said Nicky Conlan, Managing Director. “Previously, the course lacked a clear identity. Membership was small, and pay-to-play guests mostly visited just to check it off the list. Our aim is to build a world-class golf course that golfers not only want to play, but want to return to—a true must-play on every trip.”
Tasking Kyle Phillips to redesign the course—which Conlan deemed the “easiest decision”—Phillips said his main priority is to enhance the playability of the golf course by opening sightlines and giving golfers multiple options for playing each hole.
Recognized for his work at Kingsbarns (Scotland), Yas Links (United Arab Emirates), Phillips said, “One of the great things about links golf is that it offers multiple lines of play.”
Speaking of Phillips' work, Conlan said, “The European Club had a reputation for being far too penal. By opening the sightlines, the course now allows for some margin for error that its previous layout did not. When golfers feel they have multiple lines of play and a fair chance to post a good score, they enjoy the game more. Multiple options also allow the course to accommodate different styles of play, appealing to a wider range of golfers.”
Though it will remain on the same footprint, the clubhouse will also be renovated.
“The clubhouse will be what you’d expect at a modern, Tier 1 golf course. If we’re building a world-class golf course, we want a clubhouse to match—no stone is being left unturned in the pursuit of excellence,” said Conlan.
