The Mount Juliet Hotel & Golf Course is situated in Mount Juliet Estate Thomastown, County Kilkenny, Ireland.
 Water feature in Mount Juliet | |
| Club information | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Location | Thomastown, County Kilkenny, Ireland |
| Established | 1991 |
| Type | Private |
| Owned by | Tetrarch Group |
| Total holes | 18 |
| Events hosted |
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| Website | www.mountjuliet.ie |
| Jack Nicklaus Signature Course | |
| Designed by | Jack Nicklaus |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 7,264 yards (6,642 m) |
| Course record | 62: Sergio García (2002) Retief Goosen (2002) [1] |
History
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The estate developed from what was previously the lands of the Norman Walton family known as Walton's Grove and was owned by them until Oliver Cromwell seized the lands in 1653.[2] This was combined with the area and townland known as Ballylinch (Irish: Baile Uí Loingsigh, meaning 'The town of Lynch') which was also dispossessed by Cromwell from a Norman family and later granted to one of his supporters.[3] The surrounding area of Thomastown had originally been granted to Thomas FitzAnthony on the Norman conquest of Ireland and it is from this Thomas that the town got its name.
The Mount Juliet Estate was constructed by Somerset Butler, 1st Earl of Carrick between 1768-71 and named after his wife Juliet. It consists of a Georgian house set on a hill overlooking the River Nore, surrounded by over 1,500 acres (6.1 km2) of land.[4]
From the early 1900s the property and lands were owned by the McCalmont family including Hugh McCalmont and later his son Dermot McCalmont (1887–1968) who inherited a large fortune from his cousin Harry McCalmont.[5] Extensive renovations and upgrading was carried out by them on the house in 1905-06.[6]
The house and lands were sold to the Killeen Group in 1987, who proceeded to develop the estate, incorporating a hotel, stud, golf course and residential properties. The contents of the original house were also sold at auction by Sotheby's in 1986 and 1987.[7][8]
In 2002, a deal was signed that saw the hotel, spa and stud join the Conrad Hotels brand operated by Hilton Hotels Corporation. That arrangement was terminated late in 2009.
In 2014, the estate was purchased by the Tetrarch group.[9] The hotel also has a Michelin starred restaurant, the Lady Helen.[10]
Golf
editThe par 72, 7,300-yard (6,700 m) Jack Nicklaus designed golf course opened in 1991.[citation needed] It was voted the Best Parkland Golf Course in Ireland by Backspin Golf Magazine in 2008 and 2010.[11] Other facilities at Mount Juliet include a driving range, practice putting greens and a golf academy.
Mount Juliet was the venue for the 2002 and 2004 WGC-American Express Championship, and hosted the European Tour's Irish Open on three occasions between 1993 and 1995. The event is scheduled to return in 2022.[12] The course was also visited by Shell's Wonderful World of Golf in 1997, for a challenge match between Tom Watson and Fred Couples.[13]
References
edit- ^ Gallagher, Paul (22 September 2002). "Garcia smashes Mount Juliet course record". The Irish Times. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ Medinger, Jill (27 September 2017). "The Quiet Grandeur of Mount Juliet Estate". Equestrian Living. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "Baile Uí Loingsigh/Ballylinch". logainm.ie. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "Mount Juliet, WALTON'S GROVE OR MOUNTJULIET, KILKENNY". Buildings of Ireland. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ Butler, Donie. "The enduring legacy of Major Dermot McCalmont MC - famed Kilkenny Golf Club president and Freeman of Kilkenny". www.kilkennypeople.ie. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "Dictionary of Irish Architects". www.dia.ie. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "Sotheby's Catalogue re sale of contents of Mount Juliet, Co. Kilkenny on the 20th & 21st Oct. 19". www.purcellauctioneers.ie. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "Selected Contents from Mount Juliet Co. Kilkenny, Ireland. By direction of Major V. McCalmont and the property of a lady including English, Irish and Continental Furiture, Paintings, Prints, Silver and Plated Wares, Ceramics and Glass. 29 September 1986. (Auction Catalogue): Fine Soft cover (1986) 1st Edition | Joe Collins Rare Books". www.abebooks.com. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ Hancock, Ciarán (17 April 2015). "'Tetrarch takes on projects that others won't . . . it requires a bit of bravery'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
Tetrarch acquired Mount Juliet in mid-2014 for an estimated €15 million and has ambitious plans for the Co Kilkenny hotel and golf resort.
- ^ "Lady Helen Michelin Guide 2016". Michelin Guide. ViaMichelin. 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ "Golf Courses in Southern Ireland". usatoday.com. USA Today. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ "Irish Open 2020: Mount Juliet to host Rolex Series event next May". BBC Sport. 30 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- ^ "Shell Golf – 1962 – 2000 Shell's Wonderful World of Golf Matches". Archived from the original on 27 April 2008.
External links
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