The Curragh Golf Club

When we arrived at the clubhouse of the oldest golf course in Ireland we couldn’t have received a nicer welcome. We told Margaret at the bar our story who suggested that Clive talked to Peter over the phone. He couldn’t have been a nicer guy, he and Clive chatted for ages and then he set us up with a couple of pints of Guinness on him while we sat back and watched US Open for a while before someone turned the TV over for the hurling match between Kilkenny and Galway - never seen a match from start to finish and we really enjoyed it. All the while people were walking back and forth to the bar and we got a quick chat with most of them. There was a party in the clubhouse later on that night so we went back to the van for dinner before stumping up €6 in aid of a local hospice to join the party. We were entertained by The Beer Mats before finally calling it a night at about 11:30pm - a late one for us!

Next morning we went into St Brigid’s cathedral, Kildare for the Sunday service where Clive was able to tell them that there was to be a baptism, much to their surprise! Seems the rector forgot to tell them. Anyway, by the time our 2pm tee off came around the day was warming up nicely even though it was still trying to rain. Our playing partner for the day was Larry who escorted around the course in a gentlemanly fashion.

The Curragh is an 18 hole course in Co. Kildare. It’s kind of a parkland/links course. There are plenty trees around but the course and a linksy feel to it. There are sheep everywhere! Thankfully there’s plenty of electric fencing to keep them off the most of the fairways and greens but you do have to step over an occasional one to get to one of your wayward shots. They’re having a few issues with some of their greens. Larry told us that they had re-laid 5 of them with American grass and, frankly, they were just awful - and we played them after they had some restoration work done on them. They were most unlike the rest of the greens which were tricky and fast. But thankfully that’s only blot on an otherwise lovely course. The weather helped today I think as the sun broke out for most of the round and burnt our foreheads. Not a terribly tricky or adventurous course but with some lovely views, the sheep and the fast greens it was very enjoyable to play.

Thomas says:
My putts just wouldn’t go in today. I had umpteen birdie chances that turned into bogeys and it just made me cross. But the weather, the company and the course were so enjoyable that I almost didn’t mind the fact that there seemed to be pixies in the holes making sure my ball stayed out. The downhill opening par 5 was a great starter, not terribly long hole but it had a great view and plenty of trees to catch stray drives. The rest of course followed suit really. Nothing really outstanding but each hole seemed to have something to make you think or appreciate. Perhaps the 17th, the index 1 par 4, was my favourite - a sweeping dogleg left with trees on nudging on the left and a narrowing fairway with more encroaching trees either side near the green. For a course founded in 1883 it’s looking well (and I’m forgiving its poor greens as they are being fixed) and most definitely worth a visit.

Clive says:
As for the welcome at the Curragh, Thomas has said it all - most impressive and everyone willing to talk to us northerners who knew nothing about hurling - one of the disadvantages perhaps of being an Anglican! It’s amazing country around the Curragh with the wonderful racecourse and the military camp and acres of flat land.

The views from the 1st tee are superb and the course certainly was as good. But I couldn’t putt to save my life - I think I three putted a majority of the greens. So when you are playing get to know the quick speed as soon as you can. There is a good variety of holes - one or two on the inward 9 are great including the 600 yard 13th - it took me a terrific 5 wood to get on the green in 5, although I did have a penalty stroke. The par 3 14th is quite daunting for you have to drive through a tree lined green. The course was great fun; Larry was so helpful and informative and generally I’d class it in the 8 out of 10 region. It is a course which should be played when you are in the proximity of Kildare. And thanks again for your excellent hospitality at the Currgah Golf Club!

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