Straffan Demesne,
Straffan, Co. Kildare
Office
+353 (0)1 601 7200Pro shop
+353 (0)1 601 7321Fax
+353 (0)1 601 7297Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Gary Murphy (PGA Head Professional).The Course:
18 holes. Inland links-style. Gently undulating terrain - easy to walk.
Surroundings:
Rural countryside.
Designer:
Palmer North course: designed by Arnold Palmer & Ed Seay (1991).
Palmer South course: Arnold Palmer Design Company (2003; lead designer Harrison Minchew).
Above distances are for the Palmer South course. Also at the K Club is the 18-hole Palmer North course (par-72; 7337 yds from back tees; rating 76.0).
53.304903
-6.621853
30 km W of Dublin
Leave M4 motorway at exit 3 and follow R406 direction Naas (keep left at roundabout) and then follow signs to Straffan. After 6.5 km (go through Straffan village) entrance to K Club and Kildare House is on your right.
The K Club (Palmer South course): Here at Dublin's most famous out-of-town Stay&Play venue, the Palmer South course was created ten years after the K Club's original Palmer North course. Dr Michael Smurfit (the K Club's owner) again turned to Arnold Palmer to design the course. Originally known as the South course, then as the Smurfit Course, and now as the Palmer South course, the layout was built to exude the style of an open, inland links, with water features also putting in notable appearances.
Like the Palmer North (formerly known as the Ryder Cup course), the Palmer South is a big and bold development, with several exciting features and plenty of golfing challenges. The layout has a more open, rugged character than its older parkland-style sibling. Over time, the rough on Palmer South became increasingly intimidating, while gorse bushes have also helped in promoting a distinctively "Scottish" feel in this small corner of Co. Kildare.
There's water a'plenty on the Palmer South, the bunkering is extensive and the greens are generally fast and large (sometimes very large). Several of the good-width fairways are flanked by expansive water hazards, which have become home to a variety of birdlife. Accompanying some of the water hazards are dramatic rock features, which become almost Disneyesque in size at the par-5 7th. At this signature hole, an artificial quarry flanks the rightside of the fairway and waterfalls cascade down the rocks.
Stay&Play at The K Club: luxury onsite accommodation available, see Where2Stay section below.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance. Handicap required.
Contact club for full details, discounts, combination tickets, Stay&Play packages, etc. [Last updated: 2023].
Players generally walk this course. Non-metal spikes only in winter season (Nov thru' March). Caddies available.
Excellent
Inspired and created by one of Ireland's leading businessmen, Dr Michael Smurfit, the K Club is Ireland's most famous inland golf venue. Although the Smurfit course only opened in July 2003, it hosted the 2004 and 2005 Smurfit European Open Championships.
The K of K Club comes from the region in which it is located, County Kildare.
Palmer South course:
Ireland's 81st best course (Golf World, 2023).
Straffan, Co. Kildare
+353 (0)1 601 7200
Visit websiteAt the world-renowned 5-star K Club Golf & Spa Resort you can enjoy two championship golf courses (including the Palmer North course of Ryder Cup fame), a luxury Spa, superb Irish cuisine and an idyllic and tranquil setting alongside the River Liffey. A member of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts group.
K Club (Palmer North & Palmer South courses)
Palmerstown House
Carton House; Luttrellstown Castle; Tulfarris.
Straffan, Co. Kildare
+353 (0)1 628 8157
Visit websiteLocated just 25 minutes from Dublin city centre, this historic 13th-century castle and country house hotel occupies a quiet rural setting just outside Straffan, close to the famous golf courses of the K Club. The luxurious bedrooms are decorated to reflect the historic nature of the castle, and are complemented by the hotel's Garden Bar and Barton Rooms restaurant.
No
K Club (3 km); Palmerstown House.
Carton House; Luttrellstown Castle; Tulfarris.
Chevron Championship: Carlton Woods near Houston in Texas provides the stage for the first women’s major championship of 2025, where Nelly Korda defends her title. (April 24-27).
Soudal Open: successor to the Belgian Open, the Soudal Open takes place on the quiet, wooded North course of Rinkven Golfclub. Belgian stars Thomas Pieters and Nicolas Colsaerts will be vying for top honours. (May 22-25).
Rory McIlroy: with his 2025 win in The Masters, Rory joined the pantheon of golfing greats who have achieved a career Grand Slam of men’s majors ... Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods are the only others in this select band.
Bernhard Langer: he may have played in his last Masters Tournament, but the 67-year-old German will be trying to extend his own record, and win a 13th senior major title at the 36th Regions Tradition. (May 15-18).
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.
Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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