Carton House is one of the highest rated multi-course venues on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list. It sits within an hour from the Irish capital of Dublin and is the home to courses designed by Mark O’Meara and Colin Montgomerie. 

 

In golfing terms, Carton House is quite new on the scene, with the two courses being opened around the turn of the 21st Century. The O’Meara Course is a parkland delight, which hosts the KPMG Women’s Irish Open in 2024, while the Montgomerie Links is an inland links course, that provides players with a much different challenge. There is a large practice area between the opening and closing holes of the O’Meara Course, allowing guests and members to hone their skills before taking on either of the courses. 

 

Away from the golf course, guests can also enjoy a game of tennis, or go for a walk or cycle around the 1,000-acre estate. There are also family friendly activities for those who are bringing their children to Carton House. The resort is also home to a spa and wellness facility, with swimming pool, sauna, steam room and fitness centre, along with the opportunity to enjoy massages and treatments in a relaxed environment. 

 

The Carton House Hotel, managed by Fairmont, provides sublime accommodation for all parties. There are rooms and suites in the Garden Wing, including the Fairmont King, Fairmont Double Double and the Fairmont Signature Suite. The Manor House provides the Victorian accommodation in the form of Staterooms, along with the three exquisite Presidential Suites.  

 

 

Book your trip to Carton House with Golfbreaks now.  

  

Visit the Carton House website here.  

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Carton House is the home to not one, but two championship 18-hole golf courses. Not only that, but the two courses bear the names of the men that designed them, and they are both golfing royalty. Two-time major winner Mark O’Meara and 2010 Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie are the men behind the courses at Carton House. 

 

O’Meara Course 

The O’Meara Course was the first to be opened at Carton House, back in 1998. Mark O’Meara, who won both the Open Championship and the Masters Tournament that year, designed the parkland course, one that plays host to the KMPG Women’s Irish Open in 2024. 

 

The course comes into its own on the back nine, with the wonderful par 15th being sandwiched by two strong par 3s. The 15th is reminiscent of the 16th at The K Club, its nearby neighbour. It is a lengthy double dog-leg par 5 then first turns right before turning back left at the green. The green itself sits just over the other side of the River Rye, making the choice to go for it in two a very risky one.  

 

Both 14 and 16 also play over the river, with the water being a key feature on both par 3s. The 16th is the more noticeable of the two, as it plays over the widest part of the River Rye that features at any point at Carton House. It has a carry of around 160 yards from the back tees, and with trees around the other three sides of the green, it is a shot that requires complete accuracy. The O’Meara Course finishes with a great par 4, with the backdrop of the Palladian mansion.  

 

Montgomerie Links 

Five years later, the Montgomerie Links was opened, and as its name suggests, it is a glorious inland links-style layout. Despite being inland, this layout features all the penal hazards you would expect to find on a links course by the coast. The Montgomerie Links has pot bunkers, thick rough and cavernous swales that attract golf balls. It is a course that needs to be plotted around, for sure.  

 

The Montgomerie Links sits south of the River Rye, with only the first tee on the north side. It is the longer of the two layouts at Carton House, measuring 7,300 yards from the championship tees. There are plenty of teeing options, though, allowing golfers of all abilities to enjoy a round on the Montgomerie Links.  

 

That links feel comes across early, and once you get past the par 3 3rd hole, you find that there are 14 bunkers that you must avoid as you make your way down the par 5 4th. The par 4 13th is a great risk-reward hole. At 339 yards from the back tees, and around 300 from the yellows, this could be seen as a drivable green. However, there are five deep bunkers awaiting anything errant. The river comes back into view on the final two holes, with the Rye running down the right side of the 18th as you end your round on the Montgomerie Links. 

Carton House is home to the first Fairmont Managed Hotel in Ireland. The accommodation is split into two sections at Carton House, with bedrooms and suites in the Garden Wing, while there are staterooms and suites in the Manor House. 

 

The Garden Wing’s selection starts with the Fairmont King – the standard offering at the resort. The Fairmont Deluxe King is next, with the Fairmont Double Double allowing for larger groups to stay in the same room. These three can also come in Garden View or Balcony offerings. The Fairmont Signature Suite is the most luxurious of the choices in the Garden Wing, with the added living space providing an extra crumb of comfort.  

 

The Manor House has five choices when it comes to accommodation. There is a selection of House Staterooms, each of which are bespoke and have some of their original Victorian features. The Staterooms also come in Deluxe and Superior offerings for extra luxury. The Manor House is also home to Garden Suites and three Presidential Suites, which are the creme de la creme at Carton House.  

 

There is a stunning range of gastronomic options to suit all palettes. The Morrison Room provides fine dining, while the Carriage House is the resort’s gastropub. Kathleen’s Kitchen serves up traditional Irish food, and for drinks, there is the Courtyard Bar, Whiskey Library and the Duke’s Rest. 

There are over 1,000 acres of Carton House for guests to explore, with the two golf courses taking up a lot of that room. There are both cycling and walking trails around the resort, while guests can also enjoy a game of tennis, pickleball and more. There are also family friendly activities, including picnics and specialised walks for children. 

 

Carton House also has both a spa and a wellness facility. Carton House Wellness offers a swimming pool, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi, along with a fitness centre. Carton House Spa is the place for guests to enjoy massages and treatments, with facial treatments, head massages, deep tissue massages and more on offer. Aromatherapy Associates and Margaret Dabbs products are in use at the Carton House Spa.  

Where is Carton House?  
Carton House is one of Ireland’s best golfing venues, and it sits just outside the town of Maynooth in County Kildare, on the border with County Meath. The nation’s capital, Dublin, is less than 20 miles to the east by road. 

What is the nearest airport and station to Carton House?  
The neighbouring town of Maynooth houses the nearest train station to Carton House. It is based on one of the main western lines from Dublin and sits no more than three miles by road from the entrance to Carton House.  

 

Thanks to its proximity to the nation’s capital, Dublin Airport is the closest international airport to Carton House. It is just 20 miles from the resort and a base for Aer Lingus, Ryanair, and TUI Airways. Dublin Airport is the busiest airport in Ireland, with more than 25 million passengers travelling through each year. 

What golf facilities does Carton House offer?  

Along with two championship golf courses, Carton House is also home to a great practice area, which sits in between the first and last holes of the O’Meara Course. There is also a warm-up area for those playing on the Montgomerie Links, although that is only open between the months of April and October.  

 

Carton House has a pro shop that is filled with the newest equipment, clothing, and apparel. There is also plenty of Carton House branded gear, for guests to take home as a souvenir.  

Does Carton House offer golf lessons?  
There is a group of PGA teaching professionals on hand to provide guests, members and residents with coaching and tuition at Carton House. From private lessons to golf clinics, as well as on course lessons, there is plenty of choice to try and improve your game at the resort. 

 

What are the green fees at Carton House?  

The price of a green fee at Carton House changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. There are also stay & play packages available at the resort.  

 

For more information on current green fees at Carton House, visit their website here. 

What accommodation is on offer at Carton House?  
Carton House’s accommodation offering is split into two sections – the Garden Wing and the Manor House. The Garden Wing offers the more standard selection of rooms, including Fairmont King and Fairmont Deluxe King, while the Manor House has the Staterooms and the three Presidential Suites.  

What other resorts are nearby?  
Carton House is one of several resorts located in the east of Ireland and near the nation’s capital city. The likes of The K Club, Druids Glen, The Heritage, the Portmarnock Resort and Mount Wolseley are all within an hour, and all on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list.  

  

 

Book your trip to Carton House with Golfbreaks now.  

  

Visit the Carton House website here.  

Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage.