TPC of Ireland?

[Mark Arata]

Is that where the Ryder Cup is being played?

(I have only seen a few holes on TV so far, but I dont like it, dont like it a bit.......)

[John_Conley]

It is at the K Club.  Reports of the course in the years since the announcement of the venue have been less than flattering.  A design by Palmer's group it is considered 'Americanized' and out of place in Ireland.

[Mark Arata]

I know, I was being sarcastic.

I relate this something akin to having your choice of Lobster or a McDonalds hamburger, and choosing the hamburger........

(now if it was an In and Out burger, well then, that would be a different story........ )

[John_Conley]

Sarcasm on a topic that has been discussed ad nauseum for years is a literary technique of which I'm not familiar.  Several comments refer to the K Club as "Bay Hill in Ireland".

[Wayne Wiggins, Jr.]

So, how would the Palmer Course be received if it were on American soil?  Is it a good modern, parkland design?  Where would it rank with Palmer's other designs here, most notably Bay Hill?

[Coral_Ridge]

The K Club

Okay, I've read Brad Klein's report on The K Club in Ireland, and don't much more about it, but it looks like a very good golf course.  Designed by Arnold, who isn't considered an upper tier designer by most, but could this be his best design.  So what if it's not a traditional links course in Ireland.  If it were in America, would the readers here have different opinions of the golf course?

[Robert Thompson]

The K Club

Okay, I've read Brad Klein's report on The K Club in Ireland, and don't much more about it, but it looks like a very good golf course.  Designed by Arnold, who isn't considered an upper tier designer by most, but could this be his best design.  So what if it's not a traditional links course in Ireland.  If it were in America, would the readers here have different opinions of the golf course?

Have you played it Jon? I have and I can say, while it may have looked okay on TV, it is far from an inspired layout. Lots of artificial mounding -- with trees planted on them, no less --, a fake waterfall and some dull, artificial greensites. It is a pretty piece of property, but not much of a course.

[Mark Arata]

My joking about this to start the thread was how out of place it seemed compared to the classic Irish courses I have seen pictures of....I cant give any real opinions of the course because I have never played it, nor seen it until this week.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Mark, I have played about 80 courses in Ireland.  The K Club is indeed an American Parkland course.  That said, it is an excellent course and just got better and better over the years.  My only gripe with it is the overabundance of water.  I have grown weary of water holes.  The K Club is a very special place.  It is an all world resort.  I would not have picked it for the Ryder Cup.  But as a course it is a worthy venue.

[Jonathan Cummings]

There are only a few modern parkland courses in Ireland.  K-Club is a better design than Dromoland, Druid's and Adare but not as good as Mt Juliet.

As has been posted, I was struck with how much Kildare played as an ariel course - the ground game was non-existent.  This should have played right into the hands of the Americans but did not.  Shows that the Euros are just as good at "our" game as "theirs".

I would so much rather of seem (as would a lot of gca-ers) the match played at Portmarnock, Ballybunion or (maybe my top choice) the newly revamped Lahinch.

JC