Set amid 550 acres of rolling parkland on the banks of the River Liffey, the former Straffan House is steeped in history. Modelled in 1832 on the chateau at Louveciennes, west of Paris, by Hugh Barton, grandson of legendary winemaker Thomas Barton, it was converted into the sumptuous hotel and country club which has since gained numerous accolades.
Opulent fabrics, graceful public rooms, English hand made wall paper, French weave rugs, Waterford chandeliers, Georgian fireplaces and over 600 paintings including the extraordinary art of Jack B Yeats, Ireland’s greatest painter, will certainly guarantee the players have a relaxing and
inspiring stay.
On to the golf then, and an exhilarating course which is gently contoured but a deceptively challenging test. Since construction Arnold Palmer, Ed Seay (President of Palmer Course Design) and Harrison Minchew (Senior Golf Course Architect) played the Palmer Course offering feedback which resulted in the addition of bunkers, improved greens and a longer playing field. Palmer Course Design has had years of input on the course, with an extensive drainage system added to combat heavy damage suffered from the frequent Irish rains.
Ryder Cup captains Ian Woosnam and Tom Lehman have had much to say about the course and how they view the challenge ahead. Ian Woosnam cannot wait to get to The K Club after his day-to-day involvement in Ryder Cup business: “This is just about as good as it gets for match play golf and it is going to be a brilliant setting for The Ryder Cup. Mind you, with the shots required for some of the possible pin positions, I’m pleased to be the Captain! Seriously, the combination of The Ryder Cup and this Arnold Palmer-designed course will create a very special atmosphere; the spectators are in for a fabulous festival of great golf. Subtle changes have been made to the course especially around the greens, where mown humps and hollows will allow for more creative chipping and putting as Arnold originally intended. The addition of trees in strategic areas has left nothing to chance in assuring that this will be a supreme test.”
Tom Lehman, who Tiger believes is a “good choice” to captain the American team gives his views on the course: “My initial reaction is that it is a good driving course. With the rough up, you need to put the ball in the fairway. The greens are somewhat unique; there is a lot of personality to them. There are a lot of greens which are up higher and a lot of greens which go away from you and a lot of greens which slope to the right on the front and to the left on the back. It is a very good golf course and I enjoy playing it very much. The challenge is there and the firmer it gets the harder it will become.”
With the infrastructure to accommodate such a large tournament, The K Club is sure to fulfil expectations when the two teams and around 45,000 spectators a day arrive in September. Whether you are a European or American supporter, on course or avidly following the action on television, the Palmer Course will be playing a crucial role as the drama unfolds in one of sports greatest events.
