Druids Glen Golf Resort (Druids Glen)

Druids Glen is the kaleidoscope of golf courses, for there is more colour here than at any other course in Ireland. With its brilliant flora and the card-wrecking stretch of holes from the 12th to the 14th, called “Ireland’s Amen Corner”, it is no surprise that Druids Glen is genuinely regarded as the Augusta National of Ireland.

Located in the heart of County Wicklow, to the south of Dublin, in a stunning, rolling, manicured landscape. Druids Glen feels more like a classy American Country Club than an Irish Golf Club. The course opened for play in 1995, designed by Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock, and they immediately impressed the European Tour. The PGA selected the course to host the 1996 Irish Open and it remained at Druids Glen for the next three years. It’s a course that Colin Montgomerie remembers fondly because he won the Irish Open here in 1996 and 1997, in the middle of Monty’s domination of the European Order of Merit.

Druids Glen is a unique golfing experience, derived from Ruddy and Craddock’s inspired design. The ambience is distinguished and distinctly Irish, including an ancient druids’ altar located behind the 12th green. The views are pretty pleasing too and the challenge is not insignificant, but if you can keep on the immaculate and generous fairways, scoring well will become a real possibility. This is target golf country, from the perfect fairway lie to a huge soft green where putting on the immaculate surface is an absolute joy. But don’t be fooled by this, there are many varied challenges at Druids Glen, not least the threatening water, which seems to be everywhere. If you’re not on top of your game, it can be a brutal course.

After a strong start and a tough Amen Corner after the turn, Druids Glen closes in a blaze of glory. The 17th will put fear into all but the most confident golfer. It’s a 203-yard par three to an island green – let’s hope it’s not too windy. The closing hole measures 450 yards and there’s water all around the approach to the green.

There is no doubt that Druids Glen will remain etched in the memory for a long time. Make sure that you take enough golf balls with you.