Carton House Golf and Country Club (Montgomerie Course)

The Montgomerie Course at Carton House is a former Irish Open host venue and deservedly receives much acclaim as one of the best golf courses in the area. 

The premier course at this GB&I top 10 resort was laid out by Colin Montgomerie in association with European Golf Design.

It is a big-boned modern parkland course defined by its bunkering.

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Montgomerie wants sand traps to be proper hazards and they certainly are here; as penal as a pot bunker on a links.

But it is also open and expansive, with a clear route to every green – so if you can execute your shots, there is a decent score to be made on this Irish Open host. 

RELATED: The K Club review

Opened in 2002, the Montgomerie received immediate international acclaim for its inland-links style design. Dramatic and perfect green complexes and a constantly shifting landscape with barely a tree on it are the other hallmarks of the course. 

The long and glowing grasses that define the shape of the holes, and make them shimmer in Spring and Summer, have been cut back to make the course more playable.

RELATED: Palmerstown House Golf Club review

“I attempted to go back to a more traditional course, ” says Monty. “I looked at the great courses around the world – Royal Melbourne, Troon, Turnberry – and worked out what is so good about them. One thing springs to mind – bunkering. They are hazards and they work with the prevailing wind. Few holes are straight up and down the wind but tend to be across, which brings the bunkering into play.”

The Montgomerie is in pristine condition and features a memorable climax.

• Course has: Bar
• Course has: Buggy Hire
• Course has: Driving Range
• Course does not have: Practice Green
• Course has: Pro Shop
• Course has: Restaurant
• Course has: Trolley Hire
• Course does not have: Dress Code
• Course has: Club Hire
• Course has: Handicap

• 4.5 out of 5 wow wow 14 November 2007

  By Anonymous

  I live 10 minutes Away From Carton House. It is an amazing place with the new gui academy set up there with a bunker green chipping green and a putting green along with three real grass hitting areas. along with the leinster headquaters from the gui there along with a museu. is only the start along with a top class hotel and the course are just amazing!!!! the O'meara been the easier of the two it is allso more senic wit three holes winding trough a river. the monty is the harder it plays more like a links with it been open and has very long grass about 15 yards of the fairway

• 5 out of 5 FANTASTIC GOLF COURSE 02 June 2007

  By daveallen

  Play both the O'Meara and Monty course - Wow this in inland golf at its best, with the back drop of the Carton House Hotel and the Hills of Ireland on the Horizon it is simply breathtaking. The O'Meara - is a challenge for any golfer with the greens cut to perfection and a mix of great holes - the card wrecker in the 15th par 5 which finishes with a pin-point accurate shot required over the water to a tint green - fantastic The monty - wow this course never gives you any rest bite - to hit a par on one of these holes gives you a buzz in itself - the card wrecker 14th - you can't see all those little bunkers from off the tee - you need to be good a sewing to thread your way through this hole - In my top 2 off oall courses after King barns

• 1 out of 5 Carton House 23 February 2007

  By Anonymous

  Having played both courses over the past two yrs-Monty clearly tougher course. O'Meara more americanised. Stretch 14-16 2 pars 3's and a par 5great stretch. 15th is similar to the 16th at the K Club with a green over water and a bridge crossing the river. Great value for memebrs of teh Open Fairways scheme 50% off green fees.