Carton House (O'Meara) - Kildare - Ireland
Maynooth,
Co. Kildare,
Ireland
+353 (0) 1 505 2000
15 miles W of Dublin
Contact in advance
David Webster
Mark O'Meara
Francis Howley
Visit Golfbreaks.com for a golf holiday at Carton House
The O'Meara course is the oldest of the two 18-hole layouts at Carton House. Designed by Mark in conjunction with European Golf Design, the O’Meara opened for play in May 2002. Carton Estate was the family seat of the Leinsters from 1176 and it is Lady Emily Leinster who is credited with adding a wide variety of non-native trees to the property in the middle of the 18th century. That is why you will find Blue cedars at the 7th tee, Lebanese cedars behind the 15th green and Copper beeches near the 16th hole. It is hardly surprising then, when you add this selection of trees to the many sycamores, firs and pines on the estate, that the O’Meara course is classed as a parkland track. Tyrconnel Tower overlooks the course and can be viewed from eleven holes. Coincidentally, the same number of holes are designed such that they favour those who can play a right to left draw – just like the trademark shot of the architect! Holes are routed over gently undulating landscape but the best are kept until (almost) last with Carton’s own “Amen Corner” from the 14th to the 16th down beside the meandering River Rye. The 561-yard, par five, 15th crosses the river not once but twice between the tee and green and this heroic hole is sandwiched between two wonderful par threes. The 185-yard 14th is played to a green surrounded by water to the front, left and behind – so pinpoint accuracy is called for with the tee shot – and the 180-yard 16th requires a tee shot with 150 yards of carry over water. No bunkers required to toughen up what is already a knee trembler on the tee! |
Reviews for Carton House (O'Meara)
Played the O Meara course at the end of May. It is a nice course but apart from 4 holes it is nothing special and quite easy to score on. Be advised as it quite a hilly course and we played on a hot day which made it a bit of a drudge.
The whole Carton House experience is amazing, if you opt for a stay and play option you are in for a treat, this is a beautiful hotel. The back nine will definitely get golfing juices flowing, especially the final six holes…. the 13th is a nice downhill par-4 around 360 yards and a definite birdie chance, the 14th is a beautiful par-3 with plenty of the River Rye to consider. Moving to the 15th … a really good par-5, the river runs the length of the hole on the left and then cuts in front of the green to form a substantial hazard. The par-3 16th will be a favourite for many golfers but before you hit back over the river, take time to look through the windows of Shell Cottage just by the tee, well worth it. The par-5 17th is the best long hole on the course, reaching around 560 yards with strategic bunkering…The final hole plays uphill to a raised green that you cannot see, take an extra club here….. A stay at Carton House is very impressive.