A trip to Ireland conjures up images of green rolling countryside, Guinness, the craic and, especially this autumn, golf. With the K Club in County Kildare hosting the biannual tussle between the USA and Europe, a late tourism boost for Ireland can be expected. But the usual attraction of Dublin and 2005's European City of Culture, Cork will have to play second fiddle to the area hosting golf's major team competition.

County Kildare is a largely rural county located just to the South West of Dublin. Staffan, where the luxurious K Club Resort and Ryder cup course are located, is a small town with few amenities. The larger surrounding towns of Kildare, Newbridge and Naas may be better options for accommodation if, of course, the 5 star luxury of the famous K Club itself is out of the question! Travelling to the area is relatively straight forward. Most visitors will arrive via Dublin, and although public transport will be increased over the duration of the tournament, it is not abundant. Car rental might be a better option and most of the major firms offer car hire in Dublin. With amenities in and around the Ryder Cup venue fairly limited, car hire will allow you to explore the area in greater depth.

With Dublin only 40 miles or so away, staying in Dublin and enjoying the culture and nightlife of Ireland's bustling capital might be an attractive option for many but the County itself is not one of Ireland's most explored areas and might prove to be an attractive destination for many. Although now largely a commuter town for Dublin itself, Kildare is home to many visitor attraction including the Irish National Stud and the Japanese Gardens that are well worth exploring. For the younger and younger at heart, the busy nightlife of Newbridge might prove the ideal place to wind down after a long day traversing the fairways and, as the largest town in the area, accommodation options are more abundant. Newbridge is also home to Ireland's largest shopping centre outside of Dublin which opened early in 2006 and provides the ideal retail therapy if the golf becomes too much.

The allocation of the Ryder Cup to the K Club certainly offers the opportunity for County Kildare to show its merits to a wide audience on both sides of the Atlantic. Although it is currently used primarily as Dublin's commuter belt, it just might emerge from the shadows of the city.