Part 3: A Chance to Rest and Relax

The Irish Derby Festival is over, and it gave our group an opportunity to have a day to explore. We are staying at the historic K Club resort, which was first built in 1832. The resort itself is absolutely beautiful, with acres of land and many different available activities, one could be excused for not wanting to leave.

A third of our group decided to try our hand at the K Club North Course. This golf course hosted the 2006 Ryder Cup, and will host the upcoming Irish Open in September. The course was designed by Arnold Palmer, and was picturesque throughout. We were a little nervous, as the weather called for rain during our tee time, but we lucked out and were graced with wonderful weather, with the exception of a brief 10-minute downpour that luckily came as we made the turn from the ninth to the tenth hole.

We were very fortunate to have three great caddies, and Niall, the caddy for our group, helped make it one of the most enjoyable days of golf I've ever had. I'm an amateur golfer at best, and he turned a potentially daunting and overwhelming course, into one that felt totally manageable while offering quick tips along the way.

Some of our group went into Dublin for the day, which is only a quick 30-minute drive from the hotel. That left the rest of our group to enjoy some rest and relaxation at the spa after a couple of days at the races, and later nights at the pub. We were able to organize a private day at the spa, set up with a sauna, facials, and massages, which left me a little jealous after a day of golfing. The masseuses all received glowing compliments from our partners. A special treat for some of our partners was the Rasul, which is based on the Arabic bath and includes four large thrones to sit on while applying nourishing and detoxifying mineral-rich mud on your face and body. You sit back while the aromatic steam activates the mud, which is then washed away by light raindrops falling from the ceiling.

After feeling rested and relaxed, our partners enjoyed afternoon tea in one of K Club's private suites. The service and attention to detail at the K Club have been outstanding, and is definitely a place you should stay if you are attending the races at the Curragh, or vacationing in Ireland.

Our time in Kildare is drawing to an end, and we will head to Tipperary in the morning. Tipperary is the home of the world-famous Coolmore Stud and is also the home of Porta Fortuna .

Porta Fortuna may not be world-famous, but she is a superstar to all of our partners. Purchased after her maiden win at the Curragh, she went on to win a group 3 at Naas, only 20 minutes from the K Club. This led us to Royal Ascot, where she was an impressive winner of the Albany Stakes (G3T), giving Frankie Dettori his 80th Royal Ascot winner, and trainer Donnacha O'Brien his first Royal Ascot winner. All of our partners getting to see her in person will be a real highlight of our trip once we get to Tipperary.