 This world-class development is set in the splendour of the magnificent 1,100-acre Carton House Estate, located just 14 miles west of Dublin and one-time ancestral home of the Dukes of Leinster. Today it is home to the prestigious Nissan Irish Open.
The transformation of the estate into a golf resort began in 1999 and has since seen the development of two magnificent golf courses, The O’Meara, a stunning parkland spread and The Montgomerie, a unique “inland links” style creation. The latter is only Monty’s second course design – and his first in Ireland and the UK.
“This is a unique project and I am privileged to be associated with it,” says Monty. “You can’t call it a links course, but it plays like a links and has all the characteristics of a links. In designing this course, I attempted to go back to a more traditional-style layout.”
The course was chosen to host the 2005 Nissan Irish Open and will do so once again in May 2006. It was also winner of the Golf World Best New Design Award for 2004.
Although bordered by a variety of beautiful, mature trees on the estate, the course is actually quite barren-looking, with the shimmering fescue grasses separating the fast-running fairways. There is a great mix of holes: long par fours backed up with tricky short holes. Bunkers are a key feature of the Montgomerie design philosophy – well-positioned and deep, putting a premium on course management.
Winding its way through the ancient specimen trees and wrapped around the River Rye, the O’Meara course presents a more genteel but nonetheless challenging test, which beautifully complements its more illustrious sister. “I wanted my course to be tough and challenging but playable. I’m thrilled with it,” says designer Mark O’Meara.
Presently approaching completion is Carton’s new luxury four-star, 165-bedroom hotel, leisure and spa facility which will be carefully integrated with the exceptionally maintained existing mansion.
With two world class golf courses and the magnificent formal gardens of the estate, Carton is set to become a true gem amongst Irish golf resorts.
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