The K Club Makes Facilities Available in Pandemic Battle

Article by Golfshake Ambassador Andrew Picken

I have been searching for good news stories involving golf and the dreaded virus. I didn’t need to look far and found one quite close to home.

Amongst my many rearranged 2020 trips was an adventure I had been planning to return to the wonderful K Club in Eire. I was looking forward to awarding the venue one of our esteemed and hard earned Highly Recommended certificates and producing a Feature Review.

The K Club Hotel & Resort in Kildare is Ireland’s first ever AA 5 Red Star Hotel. A luxury hotel that is located only 30 minutes from Dublin in the beautiful County of Kildare where the River Liffey meanders through the course and its soft green countryside.

This Arnold Palmer designed golf haven is a must play ‘badge of honour’ that has hosted the top golf players in the world. The venue drips in golfing history being the venue for the Ryder Cup in 2006, the 2016 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. 11 European Opens also testify to the importance of The Ryder Cup Course to European golf.

Whilst researching my trip I was very pleased to realise that the venue is being put to an incredible use giving the trying times in which we live. This sort of repurposing is laudable and a great use of such an iconic venue.

A spokesperson on behalf of the venue said:

“As Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said in his speech on St. Patrick’s Day.

“Not all superheroes wear capes… some wear scrubs and gowns. All of our healthcare workers need us to do the right thing in the weeks ahead.”

It is clear now that there is no defined period for when the current pandemic will pass. With this in mind, the owners of The K Club have decided that, in the national interest and in the interest of the local community, they are making the hotel at The K Club available to the Government and to the HSE. The hope is that its location and setting will make life a little more comfortable for the emergency staff, first responders and citizens who may need it during this time.

The core message is that “We are all in this together. Once this crisis has passed, the owners and management of The K Club look forward to welcoming the public back to this iconic estate with its world-class 5-star service.”

This is an incredibly generous action by the owners of the facility that should be applauded. Michael Fetherston made his fortune by running a number of nursing homes so is clearly aware of the needs of the community likely to be cared for in his venue.

The K Club has offered its luxury hotel to the government free of charge to be used in whatever manner necessary in order to aid the fight against Coronavirus. This type of repurposing is exceptional and should be appreciated by the world at large.

Which Venue to Choose for a Ryder Cup Stay & Play?