The golf course at Tulfarris is probably the single best parkland development on Irish shores in recent times. Though already a superb course, within a short space of time, Tulfarris is destined to take its place alongside the likes of the K Club, Mount Juliet and Druids Glen, as one of Ireland's top parkland golf courses. Tulfarris represents the finest work undertaken to date by renowned Irish architect Patrick Merrigan and that is a powerful statement, as Merrigan was also involved in the likes of Slieve Russell, Faithlegg, Woodenbridge and the Old Head of Kinsale.

Originally a nine hole layout, the seed of transformation was sown at Tulfarris when the Hayes family acquired the Tulfarris Estate in 1993. As with many large parkland estates, its history is an interesting one. The present estate was once part of the ancient lands of early Irish Chieftains, one of which was Silken Thomas, the last great Irish Earl of Kildare before the Elizabethan conquests of the early 17th century. Tulfarris House was built in 1760 at the ruins of Tulfarris Castle, mentioned in the annals of Irish history in the 11th century, while an ancient Christian burial ground is preserved on the estate under the mounds of the 10th and 12th fairways.

The golf course is located on a 200 acre site, some five miles from Blessington and overlooking the Poulaphuca Lake, which itself is an integral part of the course. In short, this is an absolutely stunning location, matched only by the quality of the golf course. The natural terrain of Tulfarris, the beauty of the landscape, the wild grasses of the lakeshore and the haunting presence of the mountains, portrays the unique magical quality that is inherent at Tulfarris.

After five years in the making, Tulfarris stands today as a demanding but fair golf course, where no two holes are remotely similar. The oak, ash, beech, birch and pine trees stand throughout the course like sentinels in guard of fairways and green approaches. A strategic approach is required to record a good score here and this is reflected in the virgin visitor's invariably high return.