After four successive stagings of the Murphy's Irish Open from 1996 to 1999, Druids Glen is determined to maintain its profile as a leading international tournament location. And the indications are that the course will soon be named as the venue for the biennial Seve Ballesteros Trophy in 2002.
Landing this prestigious team event between continental Europe and a British and Irish side is no more than one would expect from a club which put in a strong bid for the 2005 Ryder Cup before eventually bowing to The K Club. Its application was based on plans to expand the facility to 36 holes, with an on-site, 150bedroom hotel.
Work has already begun on the hotel, which will be located close to the back tee at the 13th hole - widely acknowledged, incidentally, as one of the most fearsome holes in championship golf. It will be in an area of 200 acres, of which 160 acres will be given over to the second course designed by Pat Ruddy.
With work on the course scheduled to begin next spring, the extended complex, to be known as the Druids Glen Golf Resort, will be officially opened in spring 2004. The hotel will be open from 2002.
Formidable standards at Druids Glen were set from the beginning by the owner, Hugo Flinn, who had already launched the St Margaret's Club, near Dublin Airport. Having retained the design team of Ruddy and his late partner, Tom Craddock, for this latest undertaking, Mr Flinn gave them the simple but compelling brief: "Build me the country's best parkland course - whatever the cost."
Whether the design duo succeeded is a matter of opinion. What is indisputable, however, is the beauty and overall quality of a layout that incorporates some stunning holes in the glen from which the course gets its name. Indeed it has been called the Augusta National of Irish golf, with some justification.
Meanwhile, the emphasis on quality has been maintained since the official opening in autumn 1995. A few years later, Nick Faldo was quite critical of certain elements of the Irish Open, including the location of the practice ground and what he considered to be the disappointing nature of the greens. When Faldo returned for the 1998 Irish Open, he was met by the owner as he walked off the 18th green at the end of a practice round. "We took your criticism of last year on board and we hope the greens are now to your liking," said Mr Flinn. Faldo replied: "The greens are first class."
The venue takes its name from a pre-Christian "druids' altar", which stands on a hillside now overlooking the green at the short 12th. The setting - the Woodstock Estate with its manor house - dates from around 1760 when it became the home of a son of the Earl of Aldborough.
Reflective of a distinguished past are its high ceilings, classic columns and exquisitely ornate plasterwork on the ceilings and cornices, which have been restored. Keen observers in the upstairs bar will note how the old has been merged with the new, with the cornice taking the form of repeating, miniature golf bags.
Clubhouse facilities also include a luxurious lounge, a main diningroom upstairs, conference facilities, a sun terrace and a restaurant downstairs. There is a professional shop.
It is said that a course can be judged by the quality of its winners. On that basis, Druids Glen can hardly be faulted, given that Europe's perennial number one, Colin Montgomerie, captured the Irish Open there in 1996 and 1997; David Carter, who would later partner Faldo to England's first win in the World Cup, was the 1998 champion and a four-year stint was completed by a sparkling, debut victory from Spain's Sergio Garcia in 1999.
Most challengers, professional or club handicappers, agree that Druids Glen is characterised by strong finishing holes. And there could hardly be a more attractive and testing climax than the 18th, which is a par five for members but a forbidding par four for tournament play.
The approach to the green is dominated by a series of little waterfalls which spill into three ponds stretching back to a distance of 90 yards from the target. Water is very much a feature of the course, especially at the par-three 17th with its island green.
Overall, it ranks as one of the country's most beautiful parkland courses, rivalling Killarney as a setting for the Royal and Ancient game. Which probably explains why people keep going back there.
