Druids Heath

The verdict

Druids Glen built the resort's name as the polished, tree lined parkland that once hosted the Irish Open. Druids Heath, opened in 2003 as the second eighteen, was the chance to do something different, and Pat Ruddy took it. Where Druids Glen is sheltered and precise, the Heath climbs onto more open ground and lets the wind in, drawing on heathland, gorse and links ideas to build a course with far more visible movement. It is the bolder, more strategic round of the pair, and for many low handicappers it is the more interesting one.

At 7,434 yards from the tips it is a serious examination, and it proved its credentials by hosting the 2006 Irish PGA Championship. The smart play is rarely the longest tee: Ruddy routes the holes so that position off the tee dictates the angle in, and the greens, large and contoured, punish the lazy approach. Choose a tee that fits your game and the Heath becomes a thrilling day out rather than a slog. Paired with its famous neighbor, it makes Druids Glen Resort one of the strongest two course stops within easy reach of Dublin.

The holes worth the trip

The Heath shows its hand early, climbing away from the clubhouse onto the higher, more exposed ground that gives the course its character. The opening stretch asks for honest driving across rolling heathland, with gorse and fescue framing fairways that tumble rather than sit flat. From the tops of the holes the views open across the Wicklow hills, and the wind that the trees hide on Druids Glen is suddenly very much in play.

Ruddy's par 5s are the strategic heart of the round, reachable in two only for those who take on the correct line and accept the risk that comes with it. The par 3s are strong and varied, several of them played to greens perched above falling ground where the miss is severely punished. As the round returns toward the resort the holes tighten and the greens, big and full of movement, decide the card; three putts come easily to anyone who lands on the wrong tier.

Course management here rewards discipline over power. Pick the tee that lets you find fairways, favor the fat side of the greens, and let the bold lines come only when the wind and the lie invite them. Played that way, Druids Heath is a genuinely satisfying companion to its more famous sibling and a fine test in its own right.

Where to stay nearby

The obvious base is the resort itself. The Druids Glen hotel sits between the two courses, which makes a two round day effortless and turns an east coast golf break into a relaxed stay rather than a drive. With both courses on the doorstep, it is one of the easiest premium golf bases within reach of Dublin.

Beyond the gates, County Wicklow, the Garden of Ireland, is rich in golf and scenery. Druids Heath pairs naturally with Powerscourt nearby and with The European Club, another Pat Ruddy design on the Wicklow coast, while Dublin's parkland and links names are all an easy drive away. Dublin Airport is around 40 minutes north for arrivals and departures.

Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Druids Heath.