Someone needs to warn Bruce Critchley and Sky it’s only 6 months (see Golf Observer) before the Ryder Cup on the Palmer Course at the K Club (as it’s popularly known) entertains us all Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th September. The above is the first thing the players will see of the course each day. For some reason to do with routing the course for spectator movement, the order will be changed and they use the normal holes in the following order. 10-17, 9, 1-8, 18. So the above is a picture of the normal 10th, geddit? Most of the pictures I have (battery failure again!) are from the first half of my round and therefore the closing stages of the tournament course.
I thought I’d add a few comments in quotation marks from Jim Finegan as he seems flavour of the month here.
3Rd PAR 3, 173 YARDS. And guess what the green has a fall to wards the lake for the last day sucker position.
The 7th fairway with the hotel behind it. It can be stretched out to 600 yards and if you’re behind in a match you’ll have to attack as this is then the 16th. You hit a diagonal shot over bunkers all of which are a challenge to the average player but will be bombs away for the Ryder Cup guys.
“It is one of the most outstanding par 5’s I know and, for much of the way, one of the most unassuming....the Liffey paralleling the fairway along the lift, concealed at first by trees along the bank-we actually hear it’s gentle flow before we see the broad stream-then coming into view about 120 yards from the t green. ...The green is on an island...Called ‘Inish More’ (the very name urges us to take enough club!)...Still, there is no margin for error short or right, but there is space to spare left and long, though in both instances we shall find ourselves trapped in trees. It is an altogether wonderful hole-fair and fine and quite beautiful, with, to top it off, an enchanting little white cast iron suspension bridge, more than 150 years old...
The hotel is superbly plush. The reception desk is an antique with a ridiculously attired bell boy in a waistcoat behind it.
“The Kildare Hotel & Country Club is the single most luxurious golf-centred resort in my experience.
The K club can take a little getting used to.”
7th green.
This is the tee shot on 8 and the water on the left is the Liffey where Tiger goes trout fishing. This is the most natural part of the course, the rest is spectator mounding in a big way.
Europe had better hope that it doesn’t all come down to Bjorn in a close final match. He had something like an 11 at this hole last year while contending in a European tour event. Splash Splash Splash (splash?).
Two views of the 9th.
Surprisingly Finegan writes “So much for the easier half, where most of the hoes arte routed over fairly level land. The second nine introduces a number of ups and downs to the equation while, if anything, providing even more water...Palmer has this to say ‘For excitement, I think they’re the best consecutive holes I’ve ever seen...anywhere’. Arnold can be forgiven a touch of hyperbole, for this is not only thrilling stuff, it is terrific golf, though perhaps with a bit more in the way of Roman candles than the ordinary 16 handicapper can survive.”
112th par 3. Nice shot Trish.
The 16th, there’s water left and right of the fairway and at the end too. The green is almost an island too, with a pond built behind as well. In fact there’s water everywhere you look at the K club. The most interesting total score will be the number of spectators drowned.
I was privileged to play last May with Andy who was Head Greenkeeper at the time. He’s a wonderful guy and it’s a mystery as to why he’s subsequently left. Even then the conditioning was stunning, significantly better than the Belfry or Celtic Manor. He said that the course set up would not differ that much from the European Open, but that Woosie had a few requests re shaved down areas. (Andy if you’re looking in on here please get in touch or better still contact Ran and start posting we could do with your knowledge here. Just click on the name box for an email address).
Finegan calls it a “superb” golf course and adds “there was no question in my mind but that this is truly a championship course.” but cautions about the water creating the need for care when selecting which set of tees to play off.
“One thing is undeniable: the gorgeous and extravagant Kildare Hotel and Country Club had a golf course that is in every respect worthy of it”.
I have my ticket, anyone else?