Mount Wolseley
Killeen Castle
No other course can boast such a glorious landscape as Killeen
Castle. Six hundred lazy acres, drenched in trees, wrapped around
a 12th century castle… how could it not be the idyllic setting for a
Jack Nicklaus ‘Signature’ course. This is the longest course in Ireland
(7,677 yards), and home to the Solheim Cup in 2011, but golfers of all
abilities will enjoy this expansive course. There are five tees (choose
wisely) and fairways always appear wide and inviting, which makes
this a delicious driving course. Every hole is strong, but the par five
12th, with its stream cascading across the front of the green, may be
Killeen Castle’s signature hole.
Mount Wolseley
One of our big parklands, Mount Wolseley comes with plenty
of muscle (back tees: 7,300 yards) as well as a smart hotel. This is
another Christy O’Connor Jr design and choosing the right tee
will make a significant difference to your round. There is dynamic
movement to the landscape as emphasised by the opening three
holes routed through big trees and over water. This is as good/
tough a start as you will play (Indices 7, 3 and 1) but it gets you in the
mood for a round that demands strong driving. The many bunkers
splashed about protect fairways and greens vigorously, and the big,
slick putting surfaces are hard to gauge. Most of the long holes are
doglegs and the short 4th may be the biggest risk vs. reward hole
in Ireland. A sharp dogleg of 338 yards, the green is only 260 yards
away, directly over a lake.
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Palmerstown House
The site of a former stud, this is a muscular course built with
championship ambitions. It has that grand, glamorous feel, it
has space and length, it has a magnificent clubhouse (part of
Palmerstown House which dates back to the 1860s) and no
expense was spared in its creation. Here, water abounds with
13 holes introducing ponds, lakes and streams. From the back
tees the course measures 7,419 yards, but from the regular tees
it is a more modest and manageable 6,468 yards – Christy
O’Connor Jr was kind enough to provide four men’s tees.
Gentle mounding steers you past pampas grasses, flowerbeds
and tall trees, over generous fairways, around the water
features and towards big swinging greens.
Carton House (O’Meara)
The O’Meara course has those perfect parkland assets familiar to
everyone as it rolls through mature woodland. And yet the trees
stay well back to give the course an unexpected spaciousness. Off
the tee the big manicured fairways are hugely inviting targets, making
this long course a driver’s delight. There are five par fives, too.
The O’Meara is often lauded for its superb stretch of three holes
down by the River Rye. The two par threes and the par five 15th
squeezed in between are exceptional holes, lost amongst the trees.
Water is ever-present so it is little wonder they are so memorable.