Carton House (O'Meara)

The estate has been around for almost a millennium, dating back to the 12th Century. Carton House itself was built at the end of the 17th Century.  It would be another 300 years before golf came to be at Carton House, though. The O'Meara Course would only be opened in 2002, named after its designer, Mark O’Meara. The Montgomerie Links (designed by Colin Montgomerie) was opened a year later.  The Motgomerie Links has played host to the Irish Open on three occasions, with Thomas Bjorn and Paul Casey (opens in a new tab) among the winners. The Englishman was victorious in the last Irish Open to be hosted at Carton House, back in 2013.

The O'Meara Course is the parkland offering at Carton House, and it is a a layout that plays alongside the River Rye at times. Tree-lined fairways, thanks to the ancient woodlands of the region, are another key factor on the O'Meara. Although it is the shorter of the two courses at Carton House, the O'Meara Course still pushes past the 7,100-yard mark if you fancy taking it on from the back tees. The opening hole is the first of five par 5s on the layout, all of which are comfortably over 500 yards from the tips. The 1st is a slight double dog-leg, first moving left, and then back to the right by the green. Four bunkers protect the putting surface. The 2nd is the first of the par 3s, and at 192 yards, will require a long iron or more. 3 is a dog-leg right, with the tee shot needing to be played out to the left to avoid the large bunker that sits on the inside corner of this par 4. Another par 5, another double dog-leg. This time, at the 4th, the turns are more pronounced, thanks to the bunkers on the inside corner of the first turn. The 5th moves round to the left, again, with the tee shot needing to avoid bunkers on the inside corner of the fairway. The 6th is a par 5 that keeps on turning left around some of the property on the resort. At more than 550 yards from the tips, this is a proper three-shotter. 7 is the shortest hole on the course at just 150 yards, though it also has one of the smallest greens to aim for. A run of six consecutive par 4s take you around the turn, with the 8th being the longest of those. No sand, but instead trees that have to be avoided. It is a dog-leg left around a forest, with a large green awaiting the approach shot. Avoid the bunkers off the tee on 9 and it is a scoring opportunity, before 10 and 11 are another case of making sure you find the fairway. Both dog-legs of more than 420 yards from the tips, if you find the sand off the tee, then making it to the green is much more difficult. 12 and 13 are both scorable, at least than 390 yards, and the bunkers offer a good distance to lay up in front of from the tee. You then come to the River Rye section of the course, as you play par 3, par 5, par 3, par 5. 14 is a 180-yard par 3 which plays over the river, while both the tee shot and approach on 15 also carry the hazard. At 555 yards from the tips, and playing as another double-dog-leg, this is a very tricky prospect. 16 is the signature hole on the O'Meara Course. This 170-yard par 3 plays entirely over water to a green that also has trees behind it. Anything left or short of the green will be wet.  After moving away from the water, you take on the penultimate hole. It is another lengthy par 5, and one that continues to wind its way round to the left, like the 6th. Aim at the bunkers on the outside corner off the tee, and if you stay short of them, you will have a good line in to the lay up area for your second. The closing hole on the O'Meara Course is another long par 4, with the stunning manor house in the background. There is no sand in play off the tee, instead with a pair of trees standing on both sides of the fairway. The green is guarded by a pair of traps for your final approach.

Michael Atkinson: Has more variety in terms of design and memorability than the Montgomerie.

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Where is Carton House located?  
Carton House is one of Ireland’s best golfing venues, and it sits just outside the town of Maynooth in County Kildare, on the border with County Meath. The nation’s capital, Dublin, is less than 20 miles to the east by road.    The neighbouring town of Maynooth houses the nearest train station to Carton House. It is based on one of the main western lines from Dublin and sits no more than three miles by road from the entrance to Carton House. Thanks to its proximity to the nation’s capital, Dublin Airport is the closest international airport to Carton House. How many courses are at Carton House?
Carton House is home to two very different layouts - the Montgomerie Links and the O'Meara Course. Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Ireland venues nearby?
Thanks to its location to the west of Dublin, there are plenty of venues on the NCG Top 100s: Ireland list that are in close order to Carton House. The K Club - with its Palmer North and Palmer South Courses - is just eight miles south, while both Killeen Castle and Royal Curragh are within 25 miles. The plethora of courses on the eastern coastline of the Irish capital city, including Jameson Links, The Island, Royal Dublin and Portmarnock, are all within 30 miles of Carton House.
What golf facilities does Carton House offer?Along with two championship golf courses, Carton House is also home to a great practice area, which sits in between the first and last holes of the O’Meara Course. There is also a warm-up area for those playing on the Montgomerie Links, although that is only open between the months of April and October.
What are the green fees at Carton House?  
The price of a green fee at Carton House changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. There are also stay & play packages available at the resort.   For more information on current green fees at Carton House, visit their website here (opens in a new tab).   You can read our full review of the Carton House Resort here.  Visit Carton House's website here (opens in a new tab).  Go back to the NCG's Top 100s Homepage.