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K Club, The
Kildare, County Kildare, Ireland · Independent · Core Luxury
Straffan House, built in 1832 for Bordeaux wine merchant Hugh Barton and attributed to Frederick Darley, became The K Club in 1991 under the Jefferson Smurfit Group. Arnold Palmer's North course hosted the 2006 Ryder Cup, the first in Ireland, then the Irish Open in 2016 and 2023. Barton Restaurant took Michelin stars in 1993 and 1994 under Michel Flamme.
- 69 rooms
- Opened 1991
- Neighborhood: Straffan
- Architect: attributed to Frederick Darley (Straffan House, 1832)
About K Club, The
- Straffan House was modelled on a château at Louveciennes near Paris and forms the estate's historic eastern wing.
- The 550-acre estate fronts a private stretch of the River Liffey.
- Film producer Kevin McClory owned the house before the Smurfit purchase in 1988.
History
The K Club began as Straffan House, a country mansion completed in 1832 for Hugh Barton of Barton and Guestier, on land he bought in 1831 in Straffan, County Kildare. The house is generally attributed to Frederick Darley. The Barton family held it for more than a century, each heir serving as High Sheriff of Kildare, until Derick Barton sold the estate in 1949.
Film producer Kevin McClory later owned it. The Jefferson Smurfit Group bought the property in 1988 and opened The K Club in 1991. The Palmer North course hosted the 2006 Ryder Cup, the first held in Ireland, and later the Irish Open in 2016 and 2023. Barton Restaurant earned Michelin stars in 1993 and 1994 under chef Michel Flamme.
The setting
The K Club occupies a 550-acre estate in Straffan, County Kildare, on lands granted to Maurice FitzGerald by Strongbow after the Anglo-Norman invasion of 1169. Straffan House, built in 1832 by Bordeaux wine merchant Hugh Barton and modelled on a château at Louveciennes near Paris, forms the estate's historic eastern wing — its Italianate campanile tower still defining the skyline. Purchased in 1988 and opened as a five-star resort in 1991, the estate achieved global renown as venue for the 2006 Ryder Cup on its Arnold Palmer-designed course, the first held in Ireland. The grounds front a private stretch of the River Liffey, and the Lodge Park Steam Museum lies 33 minutes away. 2.7 km from Straffan Butterfly Farm and.
Restaurants and bars
- The Barton Restaurant — Restaurant · Chef Philip Brazil (Executive Chef); Marek Zboril (Hotel Head Chef)
- Blue Martini Cocktail Bar — Bar
- Henry Lounge — Bar
- The Palmer Restaurant — Restaurant
- South Bar & Restaurant — Bar
- Straffan Inn — Restaurant
Experiences
- Horizon Irish Open — Ireland's national open golf tournament hosted at The K Club in 2023, 2025 and 2027.
- Pro-Am golf events — PGA Pro-Am events hosted at The K Club, including Europe's largest PGA Pro-Am, with a prize fund of €25,000 each for two single-day Pro-Ams.
- The K Club Live — A series of live events, shows and concerts set at the resort, with a second season announced.
- Horse Riding — Horse riding offered as an activity at the resort.
- Guided Boat Trips — Guided boat trips offered as an activity at the resort.
- The K Trails — Trails offered at the resort.
Amenities
- Spa
- Indoor pool
- Sauna
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Kids' club
- Tennis
- Golf course
- Horseback riding
Open K Club, The in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
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