Hidden GemGreat Value

Gowran Park Golf Club

Gowran, Co. Kilkenny · Designed by Jeff Howes (2001)

The Annaly Estate covers 774 acres of Kilkenny parkland, enclosed by a 4.5-mile perimeter wall built across the 18th and 19th centuries that still runs largely intact around the boundary. Gowran itself was a royal residence of the Kings of Ossory from before the Norman invasion; the Butlers, who became the dominant dynasty of medieval Kilkenny, built Gowran Castle here in 1385 — it was their principal seat before James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormonde, bought Kilkenny Castle in 1391. The collegiate church of St. Mary's, where the early Butlers are buried, stands in the village centre. Edward the Bruce seized Gowran with his Scots-Ulster army in 1316.

Gowran Park Racecourse opened on 16 June 1914, with Lord Annaly as one of the founding stewards. Arkle won the Thyestes Chase here in 1964. Hedgehunter and Numbersixvalverde both won the Thyestes Chase at Gowran in the same seasons they went on to win the Grand National at Aintree — a remarkable double that happened twice in consecutive years (2005 and 2006).

Jeff Howes opened the golf course in 2001 on the same Annaly Estate ground. Five of the 18 holes lie within the racecourse perimeter itself — holes 1 to 3 play through the infield, and holes 9 and 18 return inside the track past the grandstand. Two lakes and streams from the old estate feed the water hazards throughout. The 4th hole, modelled on the 13th ("Azalea") at Augusta National — trees right, creek left, tight approach — was selected as one of Ireland's Best 100 Golf Holes by Irish Golfer Magazine in 2022. At €25 weekday and €35 weekend it is exceptional value for a course of this quality, and different enough from a standard Irish parkland to justify the drive from Kilkenny.

Kilkenny city is 13km west. The county has won 36 All-Ireland hurling championships — more than any other county — and the city's medieval mile, the castle, and the food and drink scene make it one of the best day-and-golf combinations in Leinster.

Holes worth knowing

14th (par-4) — modelled on the 13th ("Azalea") at Augusta National. Trees crowd the right, the creek runs left, and the approach demands a precise carry to a tight green. Selected as one of Ireland's Best 100 Golf Holes in 2022. The most talked-about hole on the card.
218th (par-4) — the closing hole plays back inside the racecourse track with the grandstand visible on the horizon. Finishing with a birdie opportunity under the eyes of the racing infrastructure is an experience you won't have at any other course.

Highlights

5 holes play inside the working Gowran Park Racecourse
Hole 4 modelled on Augusta's 13th — in Ireland's Best 100 Golf Holes (2022)
Arkle won the Thyestes Chase here in 1963
Butler clan/medieval Kilkenny estate from 1385
Extraordinary value: €25 weekday

Good to know

→The course is closed on race days — check the Gowran Park racing calendar at gowranpark.ie before you book and plan to be there on a non-racing day unless you want to watch rather than play.
→Kilkenny city is 13km west and the most rewarding town in Leinster for a post-round evening: the medieval mile from the castle through Irishtown to the Rothe House, Kyteler's Inn (built 1324), and more craft beer options per capita than anywhere outside Dublin.
→Gowran is 5 minutes from the Paulstown exit on the M9 — easy to reach from Dublin (1.5 hours) or Waterford (40 minutes) without going through Kilkenny city if you're short on time.
→Dunmore Cave (15 minutes northwest of Kilkenny) has one of the most dramatic chambers of any cave in Ireland, plus a grim 10th-century Viking massacre story. Free to enter under OPW Heritage Card.

Visitor Information

Getting There

1h 30min drive

Common questions

What makes Gowran Park Golf Club unique?

Gowran Park Golf Club is set within the grounds of the famous Gowran Park Racecourse in Co. Kilkenny — the first racecourse in Ireland to stage a jumps festival and one of the most active National Hunt venues in the country. Playing golf alongside an active racecourse is an unusual experience, and the parkland layout within the estate has a character that reflects the quality of its surroundings.

Is golf at Gowran Park worth the visit to Kilkenny?

Gowran Park is a solid parkland course at good value — not Ireland's most celebrated course, but a well-maintained layout in a genuinely distinctive setting. Combined with Kilkenny city's medieval attractions (thirty minutes west), it makes a strong southeast Ireland day. Thomastown and Inistioge in the Nore Valley are fifteen minutes away and worth a short walk.

How do I book Gowran Park Golf Club?

Gowran Park books through GolfNow with reliable availability.

What should I do in Kilkenny city alongside golf?

Kilkenny Castle and the medieval city walls are the centrepiece — Kilkenny is Ireland's best-preserved medieval city. The Smithwick's Experience tells the story of Ireland's oldest brewery on the same grounds as the original 14th-century abbey. The Design and Craft Centre in the castle stables showcases Irish craft at its best. Marble City Bar on High Street is a worthwhile stop.