Mount Juliet is located in a resort complex in County Killkenny, in the South East of Ireland, it is situated in a majestic setting of a 1,550 acre old Irish country estate, the 18th century mansion houses the clubhouse.
The course was designed by Jack Nicklaus, opening in 1991, in 2002 and 2004 some extensions and new features were added to improve the course. This 18 hole championship parkland course is a par 72, measuring 7,300 yards from the back tees. It is undoubtedly one of the finest parkland courses in Europe, as is substantiated by the number of tournaments held here, although modern it has a vintage and grand feel about it.
The course has an excellent design and layout, that superbly blends into the spectacular setting of this famous mature Irish Estate, set amongst the rolling hills and unspoilt woodland.
Features of this undulating course include,
- elevated tees,
- thoughtfully sculpted greens
- and rolling fairways,
- a number of natural and man-made water features.
- The course conforms to the style of Nicklaus with long holes and huge greens, protected by bunkers.
There is an impressive variety of holes, that are interesting and challenging with some that are particularly stunning and memorable.
It is a course that will bode well with the accurate golfer owing to the tight bunkering and water that comes into play on nine of the holes, the River Nore cuts through the course. They all contrive to create a course that is testing and requires thought before you take a shot. Water is the main issue here and if you can avoid it you should do well.
It boasts rolling sand-based open fairways that are lined with mature trees, they are lush and consistent, the contoured greens are enormous, often tricky and run true and fast, lots of strategically place bunkers, a total of 53 in fact, you will have to think your way round them, there is even an unusual walled bunker at the rear of the 16th hole.
Words used to describe this course include,
- meticulous,
- manicured
- and an architectural masterpiece
- and they are all suitable descriptions, but don’t come close.