As ever we continue to work to deliver a first-class golf experience in Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort.

Since I last wrote this blog we have continued our hard work in this regard. The feedback on both Druids Glen and Druids Heath has been incredible; both from a course condition perspective and also the off-course experience.

"Mercedes-Benz South Dublin" Open Competition Series:
Inaugural Champion Crowned

Our Mercedes Opens played host to over 600 players across six weeks and we were delighted to see Charles McGettigan, of Druids Glen Golf Club, crowned the inaugural Mercedes Open Competition Series Champion.

Charles was the proud winner of:

• A "Mercedes-Benz South Dublin" Open Competition Series Trophy

• A Luxury Weekend Away for Two People

Given the success of recent Open Competitions and how happy the Irish market is to have them available. We are committed to running opens for the remainder of the Summer.

Opens are available each Monday in Druids Glen and each Thursday in Druids Heath throughout August.

Druids Glen Pro-Am: A Day of Golf and Giving

The Druids Glen Golf Club Irish Life PGA Pro-Am tournament took place on Wednesday 29th May.  We were delighted to build on the success of last year’s event, Irish Life kindly sponsor the event and we raised more than €26,000 for The Down Syndrome Centre.

Simon Thornton, Winner of 2023 Pro-Am made it 2 in a row in 2024 at Druids Glen:  Simon had a two-shot win at The Irish Life Druids Glen Pro-Am where a four-under 68 was good enough to see him defend his title and make it three successive wins on the region to start the season. Incredible!

Simon Thornton said “I played nicely, played with a lot of freedom. Hitting it well, chipping well, putting well, everything is good at the moment. The freedom is the big thing being able to go out pick a target and hit it. If it comes off great, if it doesn’t, we go again.”

Peter Gaw, Founder of the Down Syndrome Centre, said: “The Down Syndrome Centre is delighted to be the chosen charity for the Druids Glen Irish Life Pro-Am for the second year in a row. The course is simply magnificent, and we can’t thank the teams at Druids Glen and Irish Life enough. Congratulations to Simon on his two in a row”

The event was a special occasion for Dermot Gaskin, Director of Irish Life Financial Services: “Irish Life is delighted to continue our support of the Down Syndrome Centre and the PGA for the 7th year. The Down Syndrome Centre is close to the hearts of many of our colleagues and we were delighted that over the last seven years, this event has raised more than €125k for this vital service.  Druids Glen was an excellent venue for the tournament, and we’re delighted with how the event went this year with Druids Glen maturing post investment.”

From my own perspective I want to say a special thank you to Dermot who retired from Irish Life after the event. I was delighted to be able to present Dermot with a special gift to thank him for his loyal support of Druids Glen over a 28-year period and an incredible career in Irish Life.

Also, to Marketing Manager John Roberts who played a pivotal role in the success of this year’s event. John’s attention to detail is the reason the event is so successful year on year. John likes to hide in the background and avoid the limelight at the event, but I can say without question the event would not be the success that it is without John!

We are already looking forward to next year!

Woodstock House Returns!

Probably our most exciting project off the courses has been the transformation of the iconic Woodstock House. Many of you will remember Woodstock House as the former clubhouse in Druids Glen.

Thinking about it now, the House was underutilised. Of course, the old bar, spike bar, restaurant, changing rooms and golf shop will be present in everyone’s memory dating back to the Irish Open days but this equated to about 50% of the overall House.

Our owners’ vision to transform Woodstock House into luxury accommodation with surrounding views of Druids Glen Golf Club has made use of the entire facility and brought new life to the building.

I am delighted to be announcing the return of a new and improved Woodstock House.

Woodstock House is a late Georgian country house, originally built in the 18th century on the grounds of what is now Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort, nestled in the scenic landscape of the famed Druids Glen Golf Course. Designed for intimacy and exclusivity, the historic house offers the perfect setting for camaraderie and relaxation after a day on the course.

Located within the scenic landscape of the famed Druids Glen Golf Course, the house boasts breathtaking views of the iconic first tee and dramatic 18th hole, as far as the Irish Sea.

After conquering the legendary Druids Glen or Druids Heath courses, your entire group can retire to a private haven steeped in history and overlooking the very greens you just mastered. The exclusive house, with nine luxurious guestrooms, ensures an atmosphere of privacy and togetherness.

Woodstock House provides every detail you need for a championship-calibre getaway, all the while, enjoying breathtaking panoramic views of Druids Glen Golf Course and the Irish Sea. New Luxurious Accommodation in the form of nine spacious guestrooms and suites including a luxurious split-level apartment style space and a presidential style suite with a private lounge area and a rooftop terrace.

We have already emailed our global Tour Operators & Event Partners regarding the announcement of Woodstock House Accommodation and to say the response has been excellent would be an understatement. The thought of waking up refreshed on a beautiful summer’s morning, looking out your window with an incredible view of the pristinely maintained 1st and 18th holes set on a vista with the Irish Sea in the background is a mouthwatering prospect for all golf lovers and event organisers. This is truly what makes Woodstock House so unique.

Members and corporate members need not worry, as with all new initiatives in the resort members will receive preferential rates. Please contact our sales team directly and we would be delighted to work with you to create a memorable event. 

Excitement is building and we can’t wait to welcome our first groups to play and stay on site in the iconic Woodstock House. You can find out more about Woodstock House by clicking here to view our brochure.

Druids Glen to Host Golf Ireland Convention

Coupled with the exciting news regarding Woodstock House is the announcement that Druids Glen Hotel and Golf Resort will play host to the 2024 Golf Ireland Convention.

The Golf Ireland Convention is a networking event organised by Failte Ireland, the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) & Limerick Travel. Many of the premier golf tour buyers, DMCs and operators from international markets will arrive in Druids Glen Hotel and Golf Resort to learn more about our plans to further enhance the tourism sector in Ireland. 

Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort is incredibly proud to host and showcase our facilities to the key players in the golf business globally. It is expected that 80 golf tourism providers, including hotels, golf courses, transport providers and other fantastic experiences will participate in one-to-one appointments and a range of further networking opportunities including a highly competitive 1-day golf tournament on Druids Glen Golf Club.

Buyer delegates will be arriving on Sunday 29th September into Dublin International Airport, with transfers provided to Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort. The IGC Golf Tournament will take place on Monday 30th September on Druids Glen Golf Course in the company of golf tourism industry suppliers, followed by dinner for all delegates. The Convention of pre-scheduled meetings commences on Tuesday 1st October with 80 suppliers from both the Republic of Ireland & Northern Ireland. Our partners include the tour operators, resorts, courses, venues, accommodation providers, restaurants, transport companies, guides, driver guides and caddies who embody the wider Irish golf tourism industry.

With Druids Glen & Druids Heath already synonymous with Irish Golf, the Convention will also give us the unique opportunity to officially launch Curracloe Links and Ravenport Resort to the international golf buyer market. Curracloe Links is the world’s next great seaside links course coming to Ireland. Curracloe Links, located adjacent to the white sands of Curracloe Beach, will be designed by the renowned team of Dana Fry and Jason Straka and developed by Neville Hotels. Groundbreaking for the new golf links started in February of this year and we expect the course to open in Spring of 2026. The golf course is in the same location as Neville Hotels’ newest Hotel property, Ravenport Resort which has now opened its 50-bedroom Hotel to much acclaim.

Curracloe Links at Ravenport Resort will be the third golf-oriented property owned by Neville Hotels. Since 2019, when the company took ownership of Druids Glen & Druids Heath Golf Clubs. The level of investment made by our owners in golf has been staggering and I was delighted when this incredible backing of golf was rewarded with “Golf Resort of the Year” by the Irish Golf Tour Operator Association in 2023.

We look forward to welcoming so many of the award-winning golf tour operators who help make the Emerald Isle one of the most beloved golfing destinations in the world to Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort. They create the experiences before, during and after the golf with their knowledge of the product and people involved throughout the island of Ireland.

Celebrating Our Captain's Prize Winners at Druids Heath

Each week can be competitive as a club golfer, whether it’s simply battling to play to your handicap, the weekly stableford competition, or a cheeky side bet between you and your playing partners. Golf is competitive!!

However, sitting high above the medals and member card top ups, at the top of the aspiration list each year is winning the Captain’s Prize. It’s that one day you visit the range before you tee off, or buy a new glove, or really push the boat out on some shiny new ProV1’s and then pray you don’t go left off the first tee!!

Winning the Captain’s Prize is a licence to gloat for the rest of your life, just ask my Dad. 

My father won the Captains Prize in our home club in 1979, the prize was a wooden container of silver cutlery engraved with “Captain’s Prize Winner”. This cutlery, which is older than me, has been unveiled at every family dinner since then. Accompanied with the same story of that birdie on 18 to win. The birdie putt has become longer and has more break with each year that passes!!!! 

Dad then personally washes the cutlery (not the pots, pans, plates or anything that went into making the dinner) in a special solution post dinner and wraps each piece to keep it from tarnishing. A spoon once went missing for a short period, and so each of his 4 children were interrogated separately before it magically re-appeared - the look on my sister’s face was a definite giveaway!

In recent weeks we have played host to both the Ladies’ and Men’s Club Captains’ Prize in Druids Heath Golf Club.

Both events were great successes, and I am delighted for club Captains Maureen and Karl who have worked tirelessly throughout the year for their members to ensure that the members are well looked after. I cannot stress enough the importance of role of the Captains and Committees to the retention of members in a club. It is the Captains and Committees that set the tone of a club and ensure that the members’ year both on and off the course meets expectations. In what is one of the most competitive markets in Ireland, membership numbers in any club can fluctuate year on year. It is testament to the Captains we have had in both clubs that membership numbers remain strong.

I would like to thank Maureen and Karl for their efforts as Vice Captains last year and say how delighted I am that they both got the Captains’ Day that they so richly deserved.

The course was in incredible condition and the meal and craic was every bit as good!

I also look forward to Vincent’s Captain’s Day in Druids Glen in September.

Congratulations to Louise McGuigan and Neil Murphy who won the 7-day members Captain Prize in their club and to Peter Doyle who won the 5-day Captains Prize.

Junior Golf Flourishing in the Resort

Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí.

Praise a youth and she will come.

This old Irish proverb has resonated with me since I first heard it when I was 6 years old - Alec Boden the Junior Convenor in my home club was the first to say it to me.

In recent years our PGA professional Pat Geraghty has put huge effort into the junior section in the Resort and we are now seeing weekly sessions for both lessons and on the course.

To close my blog this month I am going to highlight some of the great talent we have in the Resort.

DAVID LALLY

A junior member of Druids Glen who is making great progress is David Lally son of our member Ciarán Lally. David was on the Leinster U18 Boys panel in 2021 and that year finished 6th on the national order of merit. He received a full golf and academic scholarship to Seton Hall University in New Jersey and has just completed his Sophomore (second) Year. Seton Hall had a very strong 23/34 golf season ending with a win at their conference championship - The Big East. David has already established himself as a key member of the Seton Hall Pirates team.

David has been home for the Summer and has competed in all the national men’s competitions. He had a strong showing at the East of Ireland championship in Baltray a few weeks ago finishing in 9th position, and next week he tees it up at Lahinch for the South of Ireland Championship, before playing the Irish Amateur in mid-August at Dun Laoghaire and then returning to the states.

Keep an eye out for David this week who is competing in the South of Ireland Championship in Lahinch.

CALLUM DAVIS

Callum who is a member of both Druids Heath and Bray Golf Club has been seen hanging around the Druids Heath driving range since an early age.

Callum used to drop his clubs at the Heath on his way to school, practice after school and then go home and repeat. “Eat, sleep, golf, repeat” springs to mind.  He did this religiously throughout the years.

Callum recently won the best gross on Captains Day and placed comfortably in the top 10 at the Munster Boys.

Another name for the future we will keep an eye on Callum’s progress.

SHAUNA SEIFRIED

Shauna is a daughter of Druids Glen member Brendan Seifried and was selected in the Leinster Interpros Girls Team for 2024. Recently the girls took on Connacht and won all five matches. Shauna holed the winning 15 ft. putt on the 18th for a win with her foursomes partner.

Shauna also had a great win for Leinster Interpros Girls in Castlebar. 

In Leinster v Ulster. Shauna had a very tight match and the match overall was level at 2 wins each. The18th is Par 3 and Shauna was 1 Up playing 18 and stuck it to two feet and holed the birdie for a win. My own birthday was yesterday so what a fantastic way to spend it watching that match. Leinster wins 3-2.