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) and 2023. |
| 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 cool place for golf and fun. It's located in Straffan, County Kildare, Ireland. This complex is west of Dublin and was built on the old grounds of the Straffan estate. It even includes the historic Straffan House from the 1830s! Michael Fetherston bought it in 2020.
Contents
The K Club's Story
The story of The K Club began in 1831. A man named Hugh Barton, who owned a wine company, bought land in Straffan. He also bought nearby Barberstown Castle.
Hugh Barton then built Straffan House while he and his wife lived at the castle. The house was finished in 1832. Its design looked like a French chateau. Later, a bell-tower was added. Today, this old house is the east wing of the K Club complex. The first architect was probably Frederick Darley.
The property stayed in the Barton family for many years. Hugh's son, Nathaniel, and then his grandson, Hugh Lynedoch, owned it. After that, Hugh Lynedoch's brother, Bertram Francis, took over. All these family members served as the High Sheriff of Kildare. The Bartons owned the estate until 1949. Then, Derick Barton had to sell it to a manufacturer named John Ellis.
Over the years, Straffan House had several 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 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. Finally, in 2020, Michael Fetherston, who runs nursing homes, bought the club.
Delicious Food at The K Club
The K Club has a special place to eat called The Barton Restaurant. It's known for its great food! This restaurant even won a Michelin star in both 1993 and 1994. A Michelin star is a very important award for restaurants. The talented head chef who earned this star was Michel Flamme.
Golfing Fun at The K Club
The K Club is famous for its two amazing golf courses. Both courses were designed by the legendary golfer Arnold Palmer.
The Palmer North Course
The Palmer North Course is very special. It hosted the Ryder Cup in 2006. This was the first time this big golf event was held in Ireland! The course also hosted the Smurfit European Open several times. This tournament is part of the European Tour. It was played here from 1995 to 2003, and again in 2005. In 2016, the Palmer North Course hosted the Irish Open. Famous golfer Rory McIlroy won that tournament!
The Palmer South Course
The K Club also has the Palmer South Course. This course is sometimes called an "inland links" course. It hosted the Smurfit European Open in 2004, 2006, and 2007.
Images for kids
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The K Club hotel
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The opening ceremony of the 2006 Ryder Cup at the K Club
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A sign showing the history of tournaments at the K Club
