Powerscourt Golf Club – Celebrating 20 Years 1996-2016

The Powerscourt Estate is currently owned by the Slazenger family, who have been in possession since 1961. It was Dr. Michael Slazenger (a non-golfer) who after a visit to Gleneagles in Scotland began his own vision for two courses on the Powerscourt Estate. Powerscourt Golf Club was officially opened on 23 July 1996 (although opened for limited play in summer of 1995) and is part of the historic Estate, which has a rich history dating back 800 years. The estate was originally a medieval castle that was transformed into a grand mansion in the 18th century. The initial preference share was offered at IR2,500 but increased to as high as IR60,000

The palladian-style house and gardens, inspired by  palaces in Europe including Versailles, have seen several significant changes over the years. In 1961, the Slazenger family purchased the estate from the 9th Viscount Powerscourt. Following an accidental fire in 1974, the house was restored, re-roofed and opened to the public by President Mary Robinson in 1997 while the estate was used as farmland to breed Aberdeen Angus and Jersey cows to maintain its financial viability. The farmland would eventually give way for the development of the golf courses.

The golf club itself was founded when the original East course, initially called the Slazenger Course, was designed by former Walker Cup Captain Peter McEvoy and his first Lieutenant Craig Cooke together with the support and advice of the Estate manager Tom Clarke and the Geneagles’ course manager Jimmy Kidd. It was serendipitous that his son, David MacLay Kidd, would design the West course. Dr. Michael Slazenger and the Slazenger’s family vision was realised with the official opening of the Powerscourt Slazenger Course (‘East Course’) designed by Peter McEvoy with Christy O’Connor Snr. providing a clinic to the new members.

In 2002, a second course, the West Course, was added and designed by Scottish Golf Course Architect David McLay Kidd of DMK Golf Design (Paul Kimber was on the project team). Kidd had designed the world renowned Bandon Dunes but it was the Queenswood Golf Club in Surrey that had made a bigger impression on Tom Clarke.

The East Course is a stunning parkland 18-hole layout, while the West Course is a traditional parkland track that maximizes the natural assets of mature trees, lakes, and stunning views. Both courses which sit on almost 285 acres are rated among Ireland’s top 20 parkland courses. The East Course has hosted prestigious tournaments such as the 1998 Irish PGA Championship and the 2001 Irish Seniors Open won by Padraig Harrington and Seiji Ebihara (Japan) respectively.