Athy Golf Club Summer Opens

Open competitions give visiting golfers the chance to play a course properly - not just a quick round, but a full 18-hole competition against others, with a prize presentation at the end. Athy Golf Club’s summer opens are a regular fixture on the Kildare golf calendar, welcoming single-figure handicappers and club golfers alike. If you have been meaning to play Athy but want more than a casual visitor round, an open competition is exactly the way to do it.

What to expect

Athy is a parkland course of 6,486 yards (from the blue tees), par 72, with a layout that has been extended and refined since the club was founded in 1906. The course opened its current 18-hole configuration in 1993 and has built a reputation for honest, competitive golf. The back nine is where most of the talking is done - the 16th and 17th are widely regarded as two of the most demanding back-to-back par 4s on any club course in Leinster.

Summer opens at the club typically run as stroke play competitions, with start times from 9:00am. Entry fees for the July open are in the €50 - €80 range, which covers your round, competition entry, and the prize fund. Prizes are presented in the clubhouse after play. The club has full facilities - bar, restaurant, and changing rooms - so plan to stay for the results. Pre-entry is normally required; check the club website or contact them directly before the day.

Getting there

Athy is on the R417, roughly 50km south-west of Dublin along the M7/N78 corridor. The town is well served by Iarnrod Eireann’s Dublin Heuston to Waterford line, with trains stopping at Athy station - from there the course is a short taxi or drive on the edge of town. Parking is available at the club. If travelling from Carlow or Kilkenny, the N78 brings you directly into Athy.

While you’re in Athy

The town sits on the River Barrow and has more history than a passing visit suggests - the Dominican Friary, the Heritage Centre on Emily Square, and the Barrow Way walking and cycling trail all reward an extra hour or two. There is more to see in Athy and across Co. Kildare.

Good to know

• Date: Sunday 26 July 2026, first tee from 9:00am
• Entry fee: €50 - €80
• Format: 18-hole stroke play open competition
• Booking: Pre-entry required - check athygolfclub.ie or contact the club directly
• Facilities: Clubhouse bar and restaurant on site; prize presentation after play