The
Kildare Hotel and Country Club (The K Club)
Phone: (01) 601-7200
The
Kildare Hotel and Country Club, widely known as the K Club, is the place to go
to have the most luxurious golf experience Ireland can offer. The K Club boasts
two magnificent 18 hole courses – the Palmer Course and the Smurfit Course. Both
were designed by legendary golfer Arnold Palmer. The surrounding woodland and
water are cleverly employed to create a course that challenges the golfer from
the first tee shot to the final green. The Club holds the distinction of having
hosted the Smurfit European Open since 1995, Europe's most prestigious trophy
after the British Open. The K Club will, no doubt, enjoy another uptick in its
reputation when it plays host to the Ryder Cup in 2006. Top quality golf isn't
all that the K Club offers – the K Club Hotel is one of the finest in the United
Kingdom, and features deluxe suites, two gourmet restaurants and a spa, among
other well-appointed amenities. If luxury is what you're looking for, be sure
to pay the K Club a visit.
Mount
Juliet
Phone: (056) 73064
Though it's
been around for well over a decade, Mount Juliet was made famous in 2002 when
Tiger Woods grandly took the American Express World Golf Championship on its grounds.
The 7,300 yard course is as beautiful as it is sprawling, with rolling fairways,
sparkling bodies of water and immaculately countered greens. Mount Juliet 's holes
are memorable – the third hole calls for a shot from an elevated tee to a green
guarded by a natural stream and lake. Designed by renowned golfer Jack Nicklaus,
Mount Juliet is golf at its best. To complete the Mount Juliet experience, book
a room at the Mount Juliet House , a bed and breakfast that keeps with the concept
of a private family home while offering luxury treats like complimentary fresh
flowers.
Portmarnock
Phone: (01) 846-2968
Located just outside of Dublin,
Portmarnock is one of golfing's greatest challenges.
Surrounded by water on three sides and laid out to
resemble a serpentine, the course aims to test your
every golfing ability. No two successive holes play
in the same direction, and the layout of the course
demands constant calculating of the wind's path. More
than creating a riveting golf course, Portmarnock's
peninsula location allows for spectacular views of
the Irish coastline. To the south rises the Hill of
Howth; to the east, sloping sand dunes; to the north,
the majestic Mountains of Mourne. The Citywest Hotel,
located a few minutes away from Portmarnock, offers
an ideal retreat from the challenges of the course.
With lush furnishings and a fully stocked bar, Citywest
is the perfect place to relax and unwind after a round
of links.
