K Club Smurfit

Type: Parkland
Par: 72
Location: Kildare

The K club is known throughout the world for its golf courses and complex. The Smurfit course at the K Club has already been described as the greatest inland golf course developed in Ireland. It can be described as an inland links course. Dune type mounding is throughout with many dramatic landscapes. In international terms the Smurfit course was in the shadow of the Palmer course (Ryder Cup 2006 course) but r some years now the course has got the recognition it deserves.

The course itself is defined by it's dramatic landscaping, sweeping fairways and devilishly positioned bunkers which all give it the feel of a links style design. The outward nine is not exactly an easy introduction as the player is confronted by testing driving holes and large undulating greens, which are cleverly protected by often deep bunkering. The par 5 seventh hole is the signature hole of the course.. From the back tee, you will see an imposing quarry which dominates the player's eye line for the entire hole and has the effect of making the fairway seem a very narrow target, up ahead there is a well protected undulating green. From hole 13 onwards you the course makes water its central theme. The back nine comes to a dramatic finish at 18 where your drive needs to be taken over the corner of the large expanse of water which runs along the left. Once the fairway is found it's decision time, whether to sensibly lay up or take on a shot to an island green.