THE K CLUB GOLF & SPA RESORT
Palmer Course
In late 2006, the Palmer Course at the K Club became Ireland's first Ryder Cup venue, as it played host to Europe's record-equalling victory. It is a stadium-style resort course, and at over 7,300 yards from the tips, many commentators have described it as the most difficult inland layout in the country.
Palmer has succeeded in manipulating the existing mature trees and water features to create a magnificent test for golfers of all standards. The coverage and attention that has been brought to both the K Club and Irish golf in general is richly deserved, given the faultless display that the Palmer Course exhibited during the Ryder Cup matches.
Smurfit Course
The neighbouring Smurfit Course is an extravagant creation, divided from the Palmer Course by the River Liffy, which flows right through to Dublin. The layout can be characterised as an inland links, with much earth having been moved to create dune-like mounds at the edge of the fairways.
The drama of the experience at the Smurfit comes primarily from the 14 acres of water that have been worked into the course, making it pretty important to stock up on golf balls before the first tee. The course has a more rugged feel than its sister, owing to the planting of gorse and bracken. The signature hole is the monster par-5 seventh, which measures in at an astonishing 606 yards, and skirts a dramatic series of water cascades.
| Offer Description | Special Offer | Valid | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Nights, Bed and Breakfast and 2 Rounds of Golf
(1 x Palmer Course, 1 x Smurfit Course) |  | 01 Oct 08 - 31 Mar 09 | £365 |   |
| 1 Night, Bed and Breakfast and 1 Round of Golf
(1 x Smurfit Course) | 01 Oct 08 - 31 Mar 09 | £179 | | |
| 1 Night, Bed and Breakfast and 1 Round of Golf
(1 x Palmer Course) | 01 Oct 08 - 31 Mar 09 | £199 | |
The experience at the K Club is genuinely 5-star from first to last, and as with the superb golf courses on the resort, the hotel's quality and luxury are unrivalled.
The period features of the building itself are well-complemented by the first-class modern facilities inside the bedrooms and throughout the facilities. In fact, the K Club's hotel is so outstanding that it has been named Ireland's only 5 Red Star venue by the AA, and has been awarded the RAC Gold Ribbon.
The surroundings are equally spectacular, as the hotel is set amidst 800 acres of stunning woodland. Since its conversion to a hotel in 1991, this former country home has consistently developed its product, and is now a complete package. T
he superb dining options, and first-class leisure and spa facilities round off what is one of the premier golf break destinations in the UK and Ireland.
Visitors to the K Club can sample the possibilities afforded by the estate and its surroundings, including excellent fly-fishing, horse riding, clay pigeon shooting, walking, and cycling. Meanwhile, the on-site K Spa prides itself on offering the very best in health and beauty treatments. The complex also features a 16-metre swimming pool, water jet massage, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room, while the doors open out to a ‘Zen Garden', where you can let all your troubles slide away.
Dublin has much to offer tourists, who can discover hidden treasures and historic sites such as Trinity College, home to the Book of Kells, St. Stephen's Bridge, Dublin Castle, Christchurch Cathedral and many more. Visitors may also enjoy the Dublin Storehouse and the James Joyce Museum.
In the Vintage Crop cocktail bar, the highlight is the humidor, which is a miniature version of the hotel itself and houses the best in Cuban cigars, from Montecristo to Cohiba.
The Byerley Turk is a sumptuous dining room, offering the finest in French cuisine.
There are superb bars in which to drink, including the Hotel Bar of the Year, the Vintage Crop, named after Dr. Michael Smurfit's superb horse which became the first horse to surpass £1million in earnings.
GOLF TOURS INCLUDING THE K CLUB GOLF & SPA RESORT
The County Kildare Tour
FROM £345 pp
Citywest Hotel & Golf Resort
(18 holes Citywest, 18 holes Carton House, 18 holes K Club)
