K Club

Grand, Irish country club resort

Straffan., Straffan

353 (0)1601-7200

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At a Glance

Fifteen miles west of Dublin sits an Irish country club that comprises a beautiful, grande dame hotel, two golf courses, multiple restaurants, a spa, horse stables, a shooting range, fishing opportunities and 550 acres of lush countryside.

Indagare Loves

  • The Yeats Room, which features numerous paintings by Ireland’s most revered artist, Jack Butler Yeats
  • The spacious bathrooms featuring hand-painted walls and Avoya products, which are made with Irish seaweed
  • Fishing with a ghillie and catching trout, pike and, occasionally, salmon

Review

Hugh Barton, an Irishman famous for his vineyards in Bordeaux, built his family a French château-style home outside of Dublin in 1832. About 150 years later, another wealthy visionary, Michael Smurfit of Monaco, bought the property and turned it into a hotel and golf resort. Countless European Cups and one Ryder Cup later, the K Club is today one of Ireland's leading luxury golf resorts.

An expansion in 2015 doubled the number of guest rooms to 137, which feature views of the manicured formal gardens and River Liffey (the same that runs through Dublin) or of the award-winning golf courses. Décor is old fashioned, even in the new rooms, with floral wallpaper, canopied beds and chintz draperies and upholstery. There are crown moldings, rich wooden wardrobes and gilded mirrors, and some specialty suites have four-poster beds. But despite being distinctly old-school in look, everything is very comfortable, especially the beds with duck down duvets and 300-thread-count sheets. The spacious bathrooms feature separate showers and deep soaking tubs and include Avoya toiletries, products made from hand-collected seaweed from the country's wild western coast.

The property is known for its Arnold Palmer–designed championship golf courses, the Palmer Course (which hosted the Ryder Cup in 2006) and the esteemed Smirfit links course. Plans are underway to build an academy for students of all ages and abilities.

Also on offer are amenities and activities like horseback riding, clay pigeon shooting, fishing, tennis and archery. The hotel is home to extensive art, wine and whiskey collections, which can each be toured with a knowledgeable guide. There is a 20,000-square-foot spa including an indoor pool, Pilates studio, seven treatment rooms and a juice bar. Offerings for the littlest guests, too, are extensive, with a Victorian walled garden, kids' room, movie theater and a golf program for children.

There are multiple restaurants on property, including the fine dining Byerley Turk, which is named for a famous Irish racehorse, and River Room, serving breakfast with stunning garden views. The more casual Legends Clubhouse is a popular spot for lunch or dinner, offering burgers and pub-like fare. The new Media Puzzle Room is the place for a pint of Guinness or a cocktail.

Straffan House, a separate ten-bedroom villa, is a breathtaking property available for rent through the hotel and comes staffed with a private chef, concierge and house manager. Décor here is similar to that in the hotel, with a formal entryway, classic dining room and grand staircase, but the home feels like a private manor house, with a living room full of comfortable sofas for plopping down, and a big, flatscreen TV. The subterranean level boasts a movie theater with Bose surround sound technology and reclining chairs as well as an indoor pool, spa, gym, games room and wine cellar.

Who Should Stay

Those who want to spend a couple nights outside of Dublin should make the quick trip west to K Club. Golfers will delight in the two championship courses, and their non-golfing partners or families will be very happy enjoying the property’s amenities and other available activities.

Written by Amelia Osborne Scott

What's Nearby

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Indagare employees walking up stiars

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