Kildare Hotel and Golf Club
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| Club information | |
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 Location in Ireland
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| Coordinates | 53°18′25″N 6°37′30″W / 53.307°N 6.625°WCoordinates: 53°18′25″N 6°37′30″W / 53.307°N 6.625°W |
| Location | Straffan, County Kildare, Ireland |
| Established | 1991, 26 years ago |
| Type | Private |
| Owned by | Michael Smurfit |
| Total holes | 36 |
| Tournaments hosted |
Ryder Cup – (2006) European Open (1995-2007) Irish Open – (2016) |
| Website | www |
| Palmer Course | |
| Designed by | Arnold Palmer |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 7,350 yards (6,721 m) |
| Smurfit Course | |
| Designed by | Arnold Palmer |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 7,277 yards (6,654 m) |
Part of the clubhouse in 2012
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| The K Club | |
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1991 |
| Rating |
 Michelin Guide (1993-1994) |
| City | Straffan |
| Country | Ireland |
The Kildare Hotel and Golf Club (abbreviated The K Club) is a golf and leisure complex in the Republic of Ireland, located at Straffan, County Kildare, west of Dublin. It is built on the old grounds of the Straffan estate, incorporating the 1830s Straffan House, and is owned by Michael Smurfit.
In 1831 Hugh Barton of the wine firm Barton and Guestier bought land at Straffan and nearby Barberstown Castle from the Henry family and had Straffan House built whilst he and his wife stayed at Barberstown. The design was based on a French chateau, with the later addition of a bell-tower, and now forms the east wing of the present complex. From Hugh the property passed, via his eldest son Nathaniel, to his eldest son Hugh Lynedoch, after which it passed to Hugh Lynedoch's brother, Bertram Francis. All served in turn as High Sheriff of Kildare. The estate remained in the Barton family until 1949, when Derick Barton was forced to sell the property to manufacturer John Ellis.
Following a succession of different owners, including film producer Kevin McClory, property developer Patrick Gallagher and property magnate Alan Ferguson, the house was purchased in 1988 by the Jefferson Smurfit Group and transformed into the K Club, which opened three years later. Gannon and Smurfit privately purchased the K Club in 2005, following the sale of Jefferson Smurfit to Madison Dearborn Partners and its subsequent merger with Kappa Packaging. in 2012, Michael Smurfit bought the 49% stake Gerry Gannon owned, through the NAMA for a reported 40 million euro.
The K Club is one of only four Irish 5-red-star hotels (as rated by The Automobile Association).
Byerly Turk Restaurant is a quality restaurant that was awarded one Michelin star both in 1993 en 1994. The star was earned by head chef Michel Flamme.
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Wikipedia