Druids Glen Golf Resort – The Augusta of Europe
It is widely believed that most golf courses in Ireland, Scotland and England are not as lavishly designed as many courses in the United States. There, a host of coastal links courses draw their character and beauty from their surroundings and history. Druids Glen is not a traditional links course, in fact not a links course at all. Compared to other top-tier golf courses in the British Isles and Ireland, it’s a mother of children.
They are not the links of your grandfather
The golf course, an indoor parkland course, opened to great success in 1995. Often referred to as “The Augusta of Europe”, the flora and fauna of the Glen provide a magnificent and colorful backdrop for a golf course. of championship. Its woods and streams produce a haven for wildlife in what was once the home of the druids of pre-Christian Ireland.
Within a surprisingly short time after opening, the course began hosting the Murphys Irish Open. It ran the tournament from 1996 to 1999, and hosted the Seve Trophy in 2002. World-renowned golfers like Colin Montgomery and Sergio Garcia, who recorded his first professional victory there, have conquered their enemies at the Glen.
Course designers Pat Ruddy, designer of The European Club, and Tom Craddock have provided golfers with an exhilarating golf experience, amid beautifully manicured scenery. Voted European Golf Resort of the Year 2005 by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators, the par 71 course measures 7,046 yards.
The difficulty of the course is only matched by the difficulty of choosing the best holes. Many golfers choose the 13th hole, a par four ranked as the most difficult hole on the course. The 13th begins with an elevated tee onto a fairway bounded by a stream on the right and a forest on the left. Players with considerable strength can make a play towards the green on the second shot, with great potential risk, since it must be played on water. Not all holes are as demanding as 13th, but surely all are challenging and reflect Ireland in the minds of people who have never visited the island.
Green Fees and Rates
Green fees are usually the same for weekdays and weekends, around €175 (US$1 = €0.54 IEP). With a partner, the cost drops to €60. Visitors on their golf trip to Ireland can also expect an excellent pro shop, great food, club hire and a driving range.
Combining golf with a stay at the Marriot Druids Glen Hotel & Country Club can save money by adding five-star accommodations. Various Ireland golf packages are available to guests. For example, Escape! The Golf Package includes two rounds of golf and a hotel stay for €243 per person per night. Essentially, guests who choose that package get a five-star Irish hotel for around $100.
If time permits on your golf holiday in Ireland, playing other courses may be the order of the day. Guests of the Marriot are within walking distance of Druids Heath (also part of the DG property), The European Club, Arklow Bay Golf Club, Wicklow Golf Club, and Charlesland Golf Club.
There is nothing better on a golf holiday in Ireland than the beauty and fantastic golf of this incredible course.