RYDER CUP 2006 All the Local Knowledge You Need!
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Both Ryder Cup teams will stay in the K-Club Hotel in separate wings and with separate dining facilities, team rooms etc.

The K-Club is set amongst 550 acres of County Kildare countryside bisected by the River Liffey. The old Straffan House which forms the basis of the present day hotel was built in the 1830's by Hugh Barton, originally from County Cork, who was forced to return from France where he fled extensive vineyard interests. The house was modelled on Chateau Louveciennes west of Paris, although the Italian style tower was added much later by Barton. Hugh Barton died in 1854 aged 89 and he and his wife Anne are buried in the nearby Church of Ireland greaveyard at Straffan.

The house remained in the Barton family until 1949 and has five owners in 50 years (including a mysterious Iranian General) until purchased by the Jeferson Smurfit Group in 1989.

The K-Club opened as a luxurious resort and country club in 1991, the first 5***** golf resort in Ireland.

STRAFFAN, CO. KILDARE

Kildare is most famous for its thoroughbred horse industry and there are many famous stud farms in the area. The Curragh racecourse is between nearby Naas and Kildare and hosts most of Ireland's flat racing classics including the Irish Derby.

Straffan is a sleepy little village, quiet and tranquil yet nestled between the main N7 Dublin-Cork/Limerick and N4 Dublin-Galway/Sligo routes. It is close to larger centres of Maynooth and Celbridge.

Straffan is an anglicised version of the Geelic word "Struthan" meaning "stream".

Attractions near Straffan include the Straffan Butterfly Farm, Ireland's first live tropical exhibition that is an indoor all-weather centre where you can enjoy the beauty of both exotic butterflies and tropical plants.

The Guinness Steam Museum is also in Straffan and displays steam engines that were used in transport of beer, whiskey and other goods throughout Ireland. There is also a walled garden and The Steaming Kettle Teahouse.

© Tailor-Made Golf Tours 2004

Tailor-Made Golf Tours Ltd.; 23 The Willows, Oakleigh Wood, Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland. Phone/Fax: +353 65 682 1593 Mobile: +353 86 879 5129 email: golf@tailor-madetours.com www: www.tailormadegolftours.com