Killeen Castle shaping up for arrival of Solheim Cup

A stretch of the legs through the sprawling acreage and crowded meadows of the magnificent Killeen Castle, which is celebrating its first anniversary, proves that recovery is well and truly underway at the venue for next year's Solheim Cup. The economic downturn that has bounced Ireland on its head and left our financial situation akin to a pauper with an empty paper cup sitting by the bank of a river waiting for a bird to deposit some luck is rumoured to be improving. No one has been safe from the problems the "R word" has trailed along with it. Long established and reputable businesses have gone bust, thousands of people have joined the dole queue and hearts and families have been broken. One of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken by a private group in this county, the restoration and development of Killeen Castle into Ireland's leading golf club was one of those ventures rumoured to be in big trouble. However, while the golf club has had its problems, like most other ventures, they have turned a corner and everything is on course for what will be Ireland's sporting legacy for 2011, the ladies equivilent of the Ryder Cup, the Solheim Cup. The obvious physical recovery of the golf course following a harsh winter that left the fairways, greens and rough burnt badly by severe frost and snow mirrors the re-growth that our economy is allegedly enjoying. The green shoots of prosperity for Ireland are evident all around Killeen Castle. The Dunsany golf estate is here to stay and if it continues to maintain their high standard of service and excellent facilities then it will soon be the premier facility in the country, maybe even the continent. It is less than a year since Killeen Castle opened, but in that short time the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course has become one the most talked about and 'must play' golf courses in the country. The golf course is set in natural woodlands and parklands of almost 350 acres, more than twice the average size of a Championship course. In keeping with the Nicklaus philosophy of working with the natural landscape rather than against it, the course features stunning stonework which was quarried from the site and hand-tooled by expert craftsmen. Water features prominently in nine of the 18 holes. All of the greens and tees have been seeded and drained to USGA performance specification and the greens feature a unique blend of grasses, inspired by Augusta - the same blend used in Jack's own course in Muirfield, Ohio in the US. As you would expect with a Nicklaus-designed course the 7,600-yard course provides the sternest of championship challenges while remaining accessible to the average golfer. Complementing this exceptional golf course is the impressive clubhouse with state-of-the-art locker rooms, fine dining in the restaurant and casual dining in the bar areas. Beside the clubhouse stands the magnificently restored Killeen Castle. While visible from almost all the holes throughout the course the Castle provides a stunning backdrop to the 18th hole. Apart from the natural beauty of the estate and the superb golf course and facilities, what is particularly striking about Killeen Castle is the level of service and the warmth of the welcome you will receive. Be prepared to stop and have a chat with Sean at the front gate or Mark in Golf Services. Barry O'Connor, General Manager is adamant that Killeen Castle is much more than being just a golf course. "We try and make the Killeen Castle experience special with service that complements the superb golf course, the unique atmosphere and natural beauty of the estate. "From the moment you arrive at the front gate until you leave five or six hours later we are committed to providing a level of service that is second to none," he said. Defying all the current trends in golf courses Killeen Castle has signed up 300 new members in a little over nine months. "When it was announced that Luttrellstown was to close we got over 100 new members but throughout the year there has been a constant flow of people looking to join. "Along with corporate and individual membership we have an attractive and very popular family membership offer which allows for children up to the age of 30 to join at special rates," added O'Connor. For further information about membership and green fees contact (01) 689 3000 or www.killeencastle.com,