The Emerald Isle has long been a stronghold of world class golf courses and with Kildare’s picturesque, undulating landscape lending itself perfectly to the sport it’s no wonder the county now boasts more than twenty courses, earning it the title of ‘Ireland’s golfing capital’.
Kildare is famous for its championship golf courses scattered across the county. They have been designed by some of the golfing greats including Arnold Palmer, Colin Montgomerie and Mark O’Meara. Each course has unique traits such as water hazards, bunkers, vast tree lined fairways and deceptive beauty to challenge the most avid of golfers. From Parkland courses such as Kilkea Castle Golf Course, The O’Meara at Carton House and The Palmer Ryder Cup Course at The K Club, to Inland Links such as The Montgomerie at Carton and The Palmer Smurfit Course at The K Club, there is a course to suit all styles of golfing.
Golfers cart their clubs from far and wide to enjoy our beautiful courses, but with some many to choose from, it’s hard to decide where to start.
Today, we are bringing you the best golf courses in all of Kildare, from premium parkland courses to magnificent 18-hole fairways. Here’s the top five according to Into Kildare.
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First off the tee box is Carton House, just a 30 minute drive from Dublin Airport it prides itself on providing world class golf in a first class location. Host to the Irish Open for three years, it has two championship courses every seasoned golfer dreams of taking a swing at.
The O’Meara Course, designed by two-time major winner Mark O’Meara, is a classic parkland course, weaving its way through enchanted woodlands while hugging the banks of the River Rye. By contrast, the Montgomerie Course pays homage to the best links courses from around the world. Designed by Colin Montgomerie, it serves up sweeping fairways and splashy bunkers to get the adrenaline pumping.
The proud host venue for 2005, 2006 and 2013 Irish Opens as well as the 2018 World Amateur Team Championships, the home of the Golfing Union of Ireland, steeped in centuries of history, the 36-hole Carton House golfing experience is an experience like no other. Enjoy world class golf in a warm and welcoming environment against a breath-taking backdrop.
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A stone’s throw away, is the world-renowned 5-star K Club in Straffan which hosted the Europe-winning Ryder Cup in 2006 and 13 European Opens. A visit to this venue is a must for golfers with the Arnold Palmer Ryder Cup Course and the Smurfit Course considered two of the best championship courses in Europe.
Earn your golfing stripes on the Golden Bear’s parkland fairways and greens that will push your precision skills to the limit while the Smurfit course is inspired by traditional links courses with humped dunes and cavernous bunkers throughout.
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Moyvalley Golf nestled in the lush countryside Kildare offers an outstanding golfing experience, with a wide range of services and the best facilities available, to ensure you play to the best of your potential!
Located in the stunning surrounds of the 500-acre Balyna Estate, this stunning course is a favourite among golf societies from the capital. The course was designed in 2011 and has hosted the European Challenge Tour (2009) and staged the Irish PGA Championship in 2016 and 2017.
With some great stay and play packages, it is the perfect destination for a golfing weekend away!
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Kilkea Golf Course has been developed in a magnificent setting, beneath the shadows of a 12th century Castle (the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Ireland). It allows the splendour of the Castle to be viewed from every fairway!
In constructing this championship course, the designers have cleverly used the River Greese as a natural hazard flowing through the Castle grounds and estate.
The combination of this water and a variety of other hazards and interesting greens ensures the golfer playing the course has a considered challenge on his or her hands. You will encounter the River at almost every hole.
Two lakes have also been included in the course design, adding to the overall difficulty of the challenge of this royal and ancient game.