Mount Juliet Golf Club: Course Review, Tee Times and Key Info

Mount Juliet Key Information

The magnificent course that the Golden Bear built on the Mount Juliet Estate in quiet County Kilkenny during Ireland’s 1990s top-end course-building frenzy is now over 30 years old. It has long been one of the highest-ranked Irish parkland courses in our Top 100 Golf Courses UK & Ireland and provides a truly majestic setting for the game.

When I first played this Nicklaus design a few years ago on a trip to pick off Golf Monthly Irish Top 100 courses that I had not yet played, I really did think it was parkland golf at its finest - tranquil and beautiful and more open-feeling than the K Club, but with holes that are still beautifully framed individually.

I still feel it is one of the UK&I’s very best modern parkland layouts and it remains a personal inland favourite of mine in Ireland… despite losing a ball up a tree on the 1^st hole all those years ago.

Many professional events have visited Mount Juliet, including the Irish Open three times in the 1990s and the WGC–American Express Championship twice, with Tiger and Ernie the victors. The Irish Open returned in 2021 for the first time in 26 years.

Magnificent beech trees and oak line the perfectly manicured fairways, and as is so often the case at a Nicklaus course, water is a regular feature and, indeed, challenge. It's undoubtedly one of the best golf courses in Ireland.

Yet despite its tree-lined nature, there is also a great feeling of space at Mount Juliet where the course occupies part of a vast 500-acre estate.

Standout holes include the short 3rd, which is protected by both a natural stream and a lake, the long 10th, where a copse of trees gives golfers two distinct choices for their route to the green, and the 16th, where the unusual walled green is almost entirely encircled by sand.

The closing pair bring water to the fore once more, especially if your miss is left, which fortunately mine doesn't tend to be these days, as the 17th and 18th – a sizable par 5 and more-than-sizable par 4 respectively – play either side of the same large lake.

Many fine parkland courses were created in Ireland shortly before and during the time of the Celtic Tiger boom, but few can rival Mount Juliet for both setting and strength of test.

What's new for 2025/26? What our panellists said…

Cathal Devlin

There is a nice feeling of serenity as you golf your ball around Mount Juliet. The property is big and each holes occupies its own space. You’d really have to be spraying the ball to find yourself on another hole than the one you’re playing. This adds to the experience. The welcome is warm and you get the feeling that they take great pride in their golf course here,

Shane Santry

The best course in the area and among the best parkland courses in the country – a wonderful secluded experience in the best of Ireland's countryside. The trees offer a bucolic delight and the routing is generous in terms of its land use, so one does not meet other groups on the loop.

Mount Juliet location

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Best Courses Near Mount Juliet

DUNDRUM
It may be a long way to Tipperary, but it’s worth the drive if you want to enjoy a round of golf on this scenic parkland course close to the River Multeen in the next county to Kilkenny. Designed by Ryder Cup winner Philip Walton in the mid-1990s, it’s a proper test from the blues but far more manageable from the forward tees. There is excellent accommodation on site, too.

THE HERITAGE
The Heritage, an hour to the north of Mount Juliet, represents the cream of County Laois’ golf. It’s the handiwork of Seve Ballesteros and Jeff Howes. The Slieve Bloom mountains form the picturesque backdrop to a relatively easy-walking course. Water comes into play on ten holes, and the course can really bare its teeth off the back tees.

Best Places To Stay Near Mount Juliet

Mount Juliet Estate - Book now at Booking.com
The whole estate at Mount Juliet covers a vast 500 acres in Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny. The historic Georgian Manor House and chic, sophisticated Hunters Yard both offer luxurious five-star accommodation on site. There are two fine restaurants too - the Michelin-starred Lady Helen in the Manor House, geared up for fine dining, and the Hound Restaurant in Hunters Yard, which offers quality dining in a relaxed setting.

Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny - Book now at Booking.com
Newpark Hotel is is ten-minute walk from the centre of Kilkenny and about 11 miles from Mount Juliet. The house is set in 40 acres of parkland and beautiful gardens, with a stunning outdoor infinity pool, a hot tub and an Aveda spa. The leisure club offers an indoor pool, a spacious sauna, and a steam room.

Mount Juliet Gallery

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MOUNT JULIET HISTORICAL TOP 100 RANKING UK&I

• 2025/26 - 99
• 2023/24 - 95
• 2021/22 - 88
• 2019/20 - 81
• 2017/18 - 77
• 2015/16 - 82
• 2013/14 - 83
• 2011/12 - 82
• 2009/10 - 71

Frequently Asked Questions