Architect Pat Ruddy may be more renowned for his spectacular Irish links, but Druids Glen is proof that he knows what he’s doing inland too
Druids Glen Golf Course Review
Top 100 Ranking 2021/22 – 82
Previous Rankings
2019/20 – 77
2017/18 – 73
2015/16 – 76
2013/14 – 71
2011/12 – 68
2009/10 – 65
Summer Green Fees
Round: €90wd, €120we
Visitor Times: Members only on Saturday and Sunday mornings until 12:30. Otherwise, any time
Medal Tee: Par 71 – 6,560 Yards
Website: www.druidsglenresort.com
Changes since previous ranking
No significant changes advised.
Druids Glen Golf Course Review
Journalist-turned-golf course designer, Pat Ruddy, may have carved out more of a name for himself in his latter career on some of Ireland’s spectacular modern links, like his own European Club.
Looking down on the parkland majesty of Druids Glen
But the majestic County Wicklow course he created with Tom Craddock at Druids Glen is one of the country’s very finest parkland courses, blessed with both challenging holes and great visual beauty.
Related: Top 100 Courses UK and Ireland
A short distance from the Wicklow coast and now into its second quarter of a century, Druids Glen is a lush golfing oasis, complete with majestic tree-lined fairways, thought-provoking water features and considerably more than a splash of colour at the right time of year.
Water comes into play often as on the pretty 8th
Four Irish Opens have been played here since 1995, with the Seve Trophy also visiting in 2002. It is a layout ingeniously designed to test every facet of your game.
Consecutive holes dogleg the opposite way twice over the front nine, thus giving neither fader nor drawer a distinct advantage, with water potentially coming into play on eight of the closing 11 holes, sometimes quite dramatically.
Memorable par 3s
The 8th and 12th – with its famous floral Celtic cross – are both mid-length par-3s where water will be very much on your mind on the tee. Then there’s the mighty par-4 13th, one of the very toughest two-shotters mere mortals will ever face.
The downhill 12th is another stirring par 3
Teeing off from way up high near the hotel, you drive down to a fairway set between a stream on the right and trees on the left. Even if you find it, you’ll still face a daunting long approach over water to a narrow green. Pars are like gold-dust here!
Just for good measure, there’s then a Sawgrass-style island-green 17th, which is a little longer than its Floridian counterpart but thankfully with a little more margin for error.
There’s water to think about on the testing 18th
There’s more water to contend with on a glorious 18th that weaves its way up towards the clubhouse with a final approach over gently cascading waterfalls.
Assessor Feedback
There was a marked improvement in the conditioning, and I am still seduced by the fantastic array of holes in a beautiful setting.
I seem to be favouring links golf these last few years, but a good parkland is always a lovely place to be on a still sunny day.
A lovely parkland course where your good walk may be spoiled by your golf!
GM Verdict
Pat Ruddy may be more renowned for his spectacular Irish links, but Druids Glen is proof that he knows what he’s doing inland too.