K Club facts for kids
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| Club information | |
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 Location in Ireland
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| Coordinates | 53°18′25″N 6°37′30″W / 53.307°N 6.625°W |
| Location | Straffan, County Kildare, Ireland |
| Established | 1991, 34 years ago |
| Type | Private |
| Owned by | ROL Group Ltd |
| Total holes | 36 |
| Tournaments hosted | Ryder Cup – (2006) European Open (1995-2007) Irish Open – (2016) |
| Palmer North Course | |
| Designed by | Arnold Palmer |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 7,350 yards (6,721 m) |
| Palmer South Course | |
| Designed by | Arnold Palmer |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 7,277 yards (6,654 m) |
 Part of the clubhouse in 2012 |
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| The K Club | |
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1991 |
| Rating |  Michelin Guide (1993-1994) |
| City | Straffan |
| Country | Ireland |
The Kildare Hotel and Golf Club, often called The K Club, is a famous golf and leisure complex in Ireland. It's located in Straffan, County Kildare. This special place was built on the old grounds of the Straffan estate. It even includes the beautiful Straffan House, which dates back to the 1830s.
Contents
A Look Back at The K Club's History
In 1831, a man named Hugh Barton bought land in Straffan. He built Straffan House, which was finished in 1832. The design of the house was inspired by a French castle. Later, a bell-tower was added. Today, this old house forms the east wing of the K Club complex.
The property stayed in the Barton family for many years. Family members like Hugh, Nathaniel, Hugh Lynedoch, and Bertram Francis all served as the High Sheriff of Kildare. This was an important local official role. In 1949, the Barton family sold the property to a manufacturer named John Ellis.
From Private Home to Famous Resort
After John Ellis, the house had a few different owners. These included film producer Kevin McClory and property developers Patrick Gallagher and Alan Ferguson. In 1988, the Jefferson Smurfit Group bought the house. They turned it into The K Club, which opened its doors three years later in 1991.
In 2005, Michael Smurfit and Gerry Gannon bought The K Club together. Later, in 2012, Michael Smurfit bought Gerry Gannon's share. This made Michael Smurfit the full owner of The K Club.
The K Club is known for being very fancy. It is one of only four hotels in Ireland to have a "5-red-star" rating. This rating comes from The Automobile Association, showing it's a top-quality place to stay.
Dining at The K Club
The K Club has a special place to eat called The Barton Restaurant. This restaurant is known for its high-quality food. It even won a Michelin star in both 1993 and 1994. A Michelin star is a very important award for restaurants. The head chef who earned this star was Michel Flamme.
Golf Courses at The K Club
The K Club is famous for its two golf courses. Both courses were designed by the legendary golfer Arnold Palmer.
The Palmer North Course
The Palmer North Course is very well-known. It was chosen to host the Ryder Cup in 2006. This was a huge event, and it was the first time the Ryder Cup was held in Ireland.
This course also hosted the Smurfit European Open many times. This tournament is part of the European Tour. The Palmer North Course hosted it from 1995 to 2003, and again in 2005. In 2016, the Palmer North Course hosted the Irish Open. The famous golfer Rory McIlroy won that tournament.
The Palmer South Course
The K Club's other course is the Palmer South Course. It's sometimes called an "inland links" course. This course also hosted the Smurfit European Open in 2004, 2006, and 2007.
Gallery
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The K Club hotel
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Opening ceremony of the 2006 Ryder Cup at the K Club
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Sign giving the history of tournaments at the K Club
