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Palmer North is the tournament course at The K Club in Straffan, County Kildare. Designed by Arnold Palmer and opened in 1991, it is an 18-hole, par-72 parkland course routed around the River Liffey. The current USGA Course Rating database lists its Blue men's tees at 7,413 yards with a 76.1 rating and 138 slope; K Club tourism material has traditionally described the championship course at approximately 7,350 yards.
Palmer North hosted the 2006 Ryder Cup, eleven European Opens and the 2016 Irish Open, and it has subsequently hosted the Irish Open in 2023 and 2025, with the K Club listing another edition for 2027. The course should not be confused with the resort's separate Palmer South layout. Visitors can book Palmer North directly through The K Club.
The course is an 18-hole parkland golf course. It plays to par 72, 7,413 yards, course rating 76.1 and slope rating 138. Designed by Arnold Palmer, the course originally opened in 1991. It is open to the public. On-site facilities include Lodge, Clubhouse, Golf shop, Restaurant, Snack bar, Caddie service, Buggy rental, Electric trolley rental, and 6 more.
Palmer North was created as the principal championship golf course at The K Club's Straffan estate. Arnold Palmer designed the course, which opened in 1991. The routing used the mature parkland and River Liffey as central features, creating an American-influenced championship course in a country better known internationally for links golf.
The River Liffey is integral to Palmer's routing and affects several of the most important holes. The design combines mature trees, water, shaped bunkering and large-scale tournament holes. The K Club highlights the fourth, seventh, sixteenth and seventeenth as particularly notable holes, with the sixteenth and seventeenth closely associated with the river.
The course's identity evolved as its tournament record expanded. It has been known at different times as the North Course, Palmer Course and Ryder Cup Course before the Palmer North name became standard. The resort also developed Palmer South as a separate second course, making it important not to merge the two layouts' records.
International recognition accelerated through the European Open and culminated in the 2006 Ryder Cup, the first Ryder Cup staged in Ireland. Palmer North subsequently hosted the 2016 Irish Open, won by Rory McIlroy, and returned as Irish Open venue in 2023 and 2025. The K Club lists another Irish Open for 2027.
Palmer North remains a visitor-accessible resort and tournament course at The K Club. Current operations include direct online tee-time booking, seasonal visitor rates, caddie services, equipment hire and clubhouse dining.
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| Fee Type | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Other | ||
| 2026 January-March - Hotel Guest | €105 | Published 2026 Palmer North rate. |
| 2026 April-October - Hotel Guest | €175 | Published 2026 Palmer North rate. |
| Visitor | ||
| 2026 January-March - Visitor | €140 | Published 2026 Palmer North visitor rate. |
| 2026 April-October - Visitor | €260 | Published 2026 Palmer North visitor rate. |
Prices are indicative and subject to change. Contact the course to confirm current rates.
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