About the course
Druids Glen is a kaleidoscope of golf courses as there are more colours than any other course in Ireland. With its vibrant flora and holes 12 to 14, which have been called “Ireland’s Amen Corner”, it’s no wonder Druids Glen is truly considered Ireland’s Augusta National.
It is located in the heart of County Wicklow, south of Dublin, in a stunning, undulating and well-maintained landscape. Druids Glen is more reminiscent of a posh American country club than an Irish golf club. The course opened for play in 1995, designed by Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock, and immediately caught the eye of the European Tour. The PGA chose the course to host the Irish Open in 1996 and Druids Glen was played for the next three years. It’s a course that Colin Montgomerie fondly remembers because he won the Irish Open here in 1996 and 1997, in the midst of Monty’s domination of the European Order of Merit.
Druids Glen is a unique golfing experience based on a design inspired by Ruddy and Craddock. The atmosphere is exceptional and distinctly Irish, including the ancient Druid altar located behind the 12th green. The views are also quite pleasing and the challenge is not insignificant, but if you can hold your own on the immaculate and generous fairways, a good score becomes a real possibility. This is the land of target golf, from the perfect lie on the fairway to the huge soft green where putting on the immaculate surface is an absolute joy. Don’t be fooled though, there are many varied challenges awaiting you on the Druids Glen course, not least the menacing water that seems to be everywhere. If you’re not at the peak of your powers, this can be a brutal course.
After a strong start and a challenging Amen Corner around the bend, Druids Glen ends in a blaze of glory. The seventeenth scares all but the most confident of golfers. It’s a 203-yard long par three on an island green – let’s hope it’s not too windy. The final hole measures 450 yards and there is water around the approach to the green.
There is no doubt that Druids Glen will remain etched in the memory for a long time. Don’t forget to bring plenty of golf balls.
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Video
| Ranking Ireland | 29 |
| Architect | Pat Ruddy |
| Year of foundation | 1995 |
| Par Course | 72 |
| Number of holes | 18 |
