Capella Castlemartyr Luxury Resort Unveils Ron Kirby Links-Style Golf Course & Clubhouse in Ireland

CASTLEMARTYR, IRELAND – June 18, 2008 – Just as the striking modern design of its clubhouse stands out against the rich history of the surrounding countryside, Castlemartyr Golf Club in Cork, Ireland is the newest top-tier amenity offered to guests of Capella Castlemartyr, has set itself apart in a region abundant with championship golf. The exclusive golf club and resort in Cork has unveiled its highly anticipated Ron Kirby-designed inland links-style golf 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 holiday 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 golf course.

Kirby’s 6,790-yard links course in Cork intertwines traditional Irish landscapes with historic features that include Capella Castlemartyr’s 17th-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 18th hole, a 435-yard par 5 overlooking the golf resort and manor house.

The Castlemartyr Golf Club’s links course challenges golfers with an undulating design whose rising and falling fairways are characteristic of the classic links style. 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 18th hole and landscape beyond. Its ground floor encompasses a golf shop and expansive changing areas for men and women. The golf club in Cork, Ireland 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, a golf resort in Cork, includes a grand, fully restored manor house adjacent to the dramatic ruins of an 800-year-old castle. Capella Castlemartyr offers 103 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 about this golf resort, please call (877) 247-6688 or visit www.capellacastlemartyr.com.