Going for Golf

Killeen Castle - It’s not rocket science…

Killeen Castle

Oh, all right, the last item is a bit of a stretch, but Killeen Castle in Co Meath is in the unique position to somehow manage to knit together a Jack Nicklaus signature course, rivers teaming with fish that may or may not want to end up on the end of a line, and NASA. Yes, NASA of Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong fame.

This space odyssey link isn’t down to any secret base on the acreage located less than an hour’s drive from Dublin, but it has everything to do with Dave Pelz, Phil Mickelson’s short-game guru and a former NASA scientist who bases his methodical approach to golf on numbers. The Dave Pelz Scoring Game School at Killeen Castle – the first outside of America – is just one of the features which set this small part of Ireland apart from the rest. From a one-day clinic to a three-day, you’ll possibly locate the key to cracking the short game code, based on Pelz’s conclusion that most golfers lose almost 80 per cent of their shots to par from within 100 yards of the hole.

But what about the rest of the course, I hear you ask? Well, to put it simply, it’s a beauty. Set over 350 acres and a little more than 7,600 yards, its lush fairways are augmented by glorious natural woodlands, while pure bent grass means putting strokes will run true on the greens.

It’s a par 72 with some choice holes and formidable challenges. The longest hole on the golf course, for example, is the par-five second, which is based alongside water of almost archipelago scale, while the four par-threes are spread evenly throughout the round. Sand traps and trees abound, and the new course sheen of the track is offset beautifully by the richness of the surroundings.

The Golden Bear was reportedly thrilled with the finished course, while general manager Barry O’Connor said the course was “superb”, and plenty will agree. That said, some have quibbled that the par-threes are a touch too long, while the 16th brings in the water to such a degree that it presents a serious test.
But these are minor niggles, balanced out by the generous fairways, bunkers that protect the greens and eye-popping scenery. Do not be fearful, however, if your golf game is less NASA and more novice; while the course will play host to next year’s Solheim Cup, those at Killeen stress that it also remains an enjoyable challenge for the average golfer.

The course, which is just over a year old, is also playing host to the 2010 Ladies Irish Open, and you may want to check your calendar dates if planning a trip. To mark its first birthday, Killeen is hosting an open day for one day each month up to October, with competitors competing for a series of prizes, including free lessons at the Pelz School. Even allowing for the value-for-money fees, challenging for some freebies might be worth a punt.

If you do end up shanking a few drives, it might simply put you of a mind to locate a few fishing spots for when you’ve put your clubs away. That second hole, for example, might end up as a watery grave for your ball, but is also the domicile of swans and fish.

Killeen Castle has seven lakes on its grounds, all set over limestone which, according to estate manager Sean McManmon, makes them extremely productive, with rainbow and brown trout weighing up to eight pounds happily milling around in the water. What’s more, Sean – estate manager at the K Club during the 2006 Ryder Cup – is available to help you tease some of the fish on to the line and offers advice to anyone from beginner to expert angler.

That this rolling estate has so many natural attributes is no accident. A castle of some description has been on the grounds since the 12th century, and the current structure is being revamped into a luxurious hotel, to open next year, that befits its spectacular surroundings.

In the meantime, wherever your lodgings, there is plenty to enjoy in the wilds of Dunsany – there is something about how the evening sun casts a shadow on the grass here that makes you want to pour yourself a brandy and soak it all in. Just keep an eye out for any flying saucers.