K Club Palmer

Type: Parkland
Par: 72
Location: Kildare

The Palmer Course, Ireland’s first Ryder Cup Venue (2006) is no ordinary golf course. It has been acknowledged as the country’s most challenging inland layout.

Set amongst 700 acres of lush Kildare countryside, the Palmer Course at the K Club is arguably the finest parkland golf course in Ireland. Designed by Arnold Palmer, the course has hosted the prestigious Smurfit European Open since 1995 and of course became the first Irish venue to host the Ryder Cup in September 2006. This is quite simply one of Europe's most spectacular venues. It charms, entices and frustrates and though it is recognised as one of Ireland's most testing inland layout, the course invariably brings out the best in your game. One of the finest holes on the Palmer Course is undoubtedly the par five 7th hole, which measures over 600 yards from the championship stakes. The hole double doglegs its way over sand, rough and water, while the sanctuary like green occupies its own little island, sandwiched between two arms of the River Liffey. The return journey is equally challenging and begins with a drive from an elevated tee down a fairway lined with towering pines on the right and a lake on the left. Measuring 170 yards, the par three 12th is a stunning hole that resembles the 12th at Augusta, in that it's played over water to a shallow, angled green. The closing stretch is one of the finest around with the 16th and 18th standing out. The 16th is a prime example all or nothing two shotter, where an accurate drive must be followed by an even more precise approach over water to an island green.