Eire/Ireland >  Golf Courses in Eire/Ireland >  The K Club (Smurfit & Palmer courses)

Palmer Ryder Cup course.

The Palmer Ryder Cup Course is, quite simply, one of Europe's most spectacular courses. It charms, it entices and invariably, brings out the very best in your game. It is unlikely that you will be asked to tackle the course from the championship tees, but this should in no way diminish the excitement of pitting your wits against Arnold Palmer, for, in a sense, this is precisely what you are about to do.

Ranked regularly in the top 3 parkland golf courses in Ireland, this Palmer designed golf haven is a must play 'badge of honour' that has hosted the top golf players in the world. The Ryder Cup in 2006 and 11 European Opens testify the importance of The Palmer Ryder Cup Course to European Golf.

• Par 72
• Length 6829 yards (white tees)
• Buggy hire
• Clubs hire
• Restaurant
• Bar

Smurfit course.

The philosophy in developing the Smurfit course was to ensure that a comparison with the existing Palmer Ryder Cup Course would be difficult and that the golfers experience would be completely different. When this brief was given to Palmer Course Design Company, they came up with a concept, which was radical with regards to golf course developments throughout the World.

An Inland Golf Links

The best way to describe The Palmer Smurfit Course at The K Club is that of an inland links. However, its true attributes do not stop there. The Course has many dramatic landscapes with dune type mounding throughout. This assists in making the Course into a true Championship Golf Course with many vantage points for spectators to view the Golf Professional at work.

In essence the Course is entirely different from The Palmer Ryder Cup Course located just across the River Liffey. From feedback to date golfers state that it is almost impossible to make a comparison such is the difference in experience.

Even with regard to the landscaping there is a significant difference, where on The Palmer Ryder Cup Course specifically planted areas using cultivated plants presented in a formal fashion are the norm whereas on The Palmer Smurfit Course wild species of plants have been used such as gorse, bracken etc. and have been planted in a highly random fashion, more or less as nature would have intended.

Also four islands have been created within the lakes to promote the establishment of waterfowl.

• Par 72
• Length 6824 yards (white tees)
• Buggy hire
• Clubs hire
• Restaurant
• Bar