Castlemartyr Golf Club Unveils New Golf Course and a Modern, Cantilevered Clubhouse

Completion of Ron Kirby-Designed Inland Links Course Establishes Capella Castlemartyr as one of Southern Ireland’s Premier Golf Destinations

CASTLEMARTYR, IRELAND (26 March 2008) – Just as the striking modern design of its clubhouse stands out against the rich history of the surrounding countryside, Castlemartyr Golf Club, the newest top-tier amenity offered to guests of Capella Castlemartyr, has set itself apart in a region abundant with excellent golf.  The exclusive club has unveiled its highly anticipated Ron Kirby-designed inland links-style course, along with a clubhouse whose architecture will make a bold statement on the Irish landscape. 

The opening of the Castlemartyr Golf Club establishes Capella Castlemartyr, the ultra-luxury hotel that introduced the renowned Capella Hotels and Resorts brand to Ireland last year, as one of the premier golf destinations in the south of Ireland.  Furthermore, Capella Castlemartyr can arrange tee times for hotel guests and members of the Castlemartyr Golf Club at the famed Old Head Golf Links in Kinsale, Ireland, another Ron Kirby-designed course.   

Kirby’s 6,790-yard course intertwines traditional Irish landscapes with historic features that include Capella Castlemartyr’s 17^th-Century manor house, ruins of a castle and the tomb of the fourth Earl of Shannon.  These historic elements are on full display at the signature 18^th hole, a 435-yard par 5 overlooking the manor house and castle ruins.

The course challenges golfers with an undulating design whose rising and falling fairways are characteristic of the classic links style.  The natural shaping of its lows and hillocks create unpredictable bounces and lies, and recessed bunkers and hidden or partially hidden greens add to the course’s pleasures and challenges.  Kirby’s inspired design also preserves the mature trees on the grounds, and tall fescue grasses will be employed to visually shape the course and encourage an abundance of local flora and fauna.

Against this backdrop, the 5,000-square-foot Clubhouse creates a dramatic and contemporary counterpoint. Its upper level, clad entirely in larch timber with gently curved corners, houses a 63-seat restaurant and large outdoor terrace, and is cantilevered for unobstructed, panoramic views of the 18^th hole and landscape beyond. Its ground floor encompasses a golf shop and expansive changing areas for men and women.  The club also includes a full range of services including club rental and storage and shoe cleaning, and a nine-hole practice green that mimics the contours of the 18-hole course.  In addition to Capella hotel guests, The Castlemartyr Golf Club is open to club members and residents of the Golf Lodges and Mews Houses located on the grounds of the Castlemartyr Resort.

Set on 220 bucolic country acres, Capella Castlemartyr includes a grand, fully restored manor house adjacent to the dramatic ruins of an 800-year-old castle.  Capella Castlemartyr offers 109 guest suites, 11 of which are located in the historic manor house. In addition to the golf course, Capella Castlemartyr boasts world-class amenities including exceptional dining, memorable activities steeped in local culture and a signature spa – Auriga.

To book a stay, or for more information, please call (877) 247-6688 or visit www.capellacastlemartyr.com.

Capella Hotels and Resorts serves today’s top-tier travelers and residential property owners and is setting a new standard in the hospitality industry.  Capella promises the unique benefits of the finest boutique hotels, including superb architecture and interior design, privacy, individualized service and attention to detail – combined with the amenities and activities of the world’s great luxury hotels and resorts.  Capella, led by founder Horst Schulze, is a brand focused on customer choice, and offers choices that no other hotel company in the world can match.  Capella is opening world-class properties in gateway cities and high-profile resort destinations around the world, including: Breidenbacher Hof, a Capella Hotel (Düsseldorf, Germany); Capella Bahia Maroma (Riviera Maya, Mexico); Capella Castlemartyr (Cork, Ireland); Capella Dunboy Castle (Castletownbere, Ireland); Capella Ixtapa (Ixtapa, Mexico); Capella Pedregal (Cabo San Lucas, Mexico); Capella Singapore (Sentosa Island, Singapore); Capella Telluride (Telluride, Colorado); and Schloss Velden, a Capella Hotel (Velden, Austria).  Learn more at www.capellahotels.com

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