Druids Glen
When Druids Glen opened in 1995 it announced Ireland's arrival as a parkland destination, not just a links one. Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock carved a lavish, water laced championship course out of the wooded Wicklow hills, and the world tour came calling at once: four straight Irish Opens from 1996 to 1999. Conditioned to within an inch of perfection and crowned the Augusta of Europe, it is the marquee inland round within easy reach of Dublin.
Photo: Druids Glen Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Druids Glen is the grand parkland statement of Irish golf. Where the country's reputation rests on its wild coastal links, Ruddy and Craddock set out in the wooded estate land of north Wicklow to build something altogether more manicured: a tournament course of waterfalls and lakes, ancient trees and bentgrass greens that has been kept in immaculate order since the day it opened. The result earned the Augusta of Europe tag, and the run of holes around the turn lives up to the billing.
For the travelling golfer it is the natural inland counterpoint to a Dublin and east coast trip, an hour from the city yet a world away among the Wicklow hills. It suits the player who wants championship pedigree, polish and a genuine test from the back tees, and it works equally well for a society day or a four ball treating themselves to one of Ireland's most decorated courses. Pair it with the links and you have the full Irish range in a single week.
Druids Glen at a glance
- Designers
- Ruddy and Craddock
- Opened
- 1995
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 7,222 yds
- Green fee
- From €110 to €175
Designers, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the resort and course databases; Druids Glen plays around 7,222 yards, par 72. Green fees are indicative, from around 110 euros for an early bird time to around 175 euros at the rack rate in 2026, with reduced rates for resort guests and groups. Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The stretch that made the name runs through the heart of the round. The par 3 12th is the signature, a beautiful short hole played across water to a green ringed by trees and rock, the hole that draws the Augusta comparison and the one every visitor photographs. There is no bail out worth the name; it is a committed, nerveless tee shot or a watery card.
The 13th follows as the other half of the postcard, a downhill par 4 that tumbles past an ancient stone setting and a Celtic cross toward a green guarded by water, a hole steeped in the druidic theme that gives the course its name. Together the 12th and 13th are as photogenic and as demanding a pair as Irish parkland offers.
The closing holes give the course its tournament teeth, a strong run home where water and woodland tighten the margins and a good score has to be protected all the way to the 18th. Add the lush conditioning and the quiet of the Wicklow hills, and Druids Glen rewards both the camera and the cardholder in equal measure.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A resort course open to visitors and hotel guests through the season; tee times booked through the Druids Glen resort, with society and group rates available |
| Green fee | From around 110 euros for an early bird time to around 175 euros at the rack rate in 2026 (indicative) |
| Booking | Book ahead for weekend and summer times; pair it with the sister Druids Heath course for a full day on the estate |
| On the day | A walking and buggy course with a full resort clubhouse, spa and hotel on site; buggies recommended on the hilly stretches |
| Getting there | Near Newtownmountkennedy in County Wicklow, about an hour south of Dublin and its airport |
| Best months | May to September for the warmest, driest conditions; the parkland holds up well into a soft Irish autumn |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the resort; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with Druids Glen or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The simplest base is the Druids Glen resort hotel itself, a four star country house with two courses, a spa and dining on the doorstep, so you can play, unwind and play again without leaving the estate. It makes an ideal hub for a group that wants golf and downtime in one place.
For a wider east coast trip, Dublin is an hour north with its hotels, restaurants and the links at Royal Dublin and Portmarnock close by, while the seaside towns of Greystones and Wicklow add charm and a coastal base within minutes of the course.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Druids Glen.
Stay and play on Ireland's east coast
We pair Druids Glen with the Dublin links and the wider Wicklow courses, secure the tee times and sort a resort or city base with the transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Druids Glen questions
Who designed Druids Glen?
Druids Glen was designed by the Irish architects Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock and opened in 1995. The pair created a lavish, water laced parkland course that earned the nickname the Augusta of Europe almost as soon as it opened.
What is the par and length of Druids Glen?
Druids Glen is a par 72 of around 7,222 yards from the championship tees, built to USGA standards with generous water in play, mature woodland and immaculate bentgrass greens.
How much does it cost to play Druids Glen?
Indicative 2026 green fees run from around 110 euros for an early bird time to around 175 euros at the rack rate, with reduced rates for resort guests and groups. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Has Druids Glen hosted the Irish Open?
Yes. Druids Glen staged the Murphy's Irish Open for four years in a row from 1996 to 1999, an unusually long unbroken run for one venue, and it was named European Golf Resort of the Year in 2005.
Why is Druids Glen called the Augusta of Europe?
The nickname comes from its lush conditioning, dramatic water features and the run of holes around the turn, in particular the par 3 12th played across water to a green ringed by trees, which draws comparison with the famous short holes at Augusta National.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designers, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.