[Steve drives off the famous par four 7th, Index 1.]Christmas and New Year were a disaster for golf in Ireland. The rain of November was followed by freezing temperatures – I should know, I locked myself out of the house on Dec 23rd in -4 degrees – which led to snow and then rain. Muskerry, a course in Co. Cork, was closed for 32 consecutive days, which is no surprise after the horrendous flooding the Cork region endured. The picture wasn’t much brighter elsewhere, but then came a beam of sunshine. In fairness, it came from the one place you can always rely on: The European Club. Pat Ruddy just has a way with things and he knows how, and when, to use his nous. With so many clubs shut, and the European in such good condition – and let’s not forget all those golfers who were... Similar posts

[Photo: approach to the par four 2nd] It’s funny how things catch your eye. There are certain colours and certain crests that scream ‘golfer’, and I spotted one when I was walking around our local supermarket, in early 2008. As the man passed by I saw the words ‘Bunclody Golf & Fishing Club’ on his dark blue jumper. I stopped and thought about this as I had heard rumours of a new club being built somewhere around Bunclody. I turned around and struck up a conversation. The man’s name is Michael Cowman and he is one of thirteen directors who took on the project of building this new course. I explained what I was doing and he suggested we meet up when I started my next trip, and he would take me on a tour of the club. A couple of weeks later I met Michael at the Millrace... Similar posts

[Tomas Bjorn came to grief here on the 17th hole a number of times. The forward tees aren't quite so dramatic] Under the cover of darkness, with my bag of equipment, I crept into the enemy’s lair. Despite the blackness I could see the building in the distance. I approached slowly, as silent as a fox, slipping between the Bentleys, Jaguars and Porsches. Oh yes, this was the right place.My feet were silent on the tarmac, each step slow and graceful. I had purchased the exact footwear for my needs only the week before. I’d asked the girl for something comfortable and practical; she’d sold me a pair of brown Ecco loafers. I reached the edge of the car parking area and was about to step onto the grass when I stopped. It wasn’t the infra-red beams that worried me… it was the dew on... Similar posts

[Photo: the stunning 1st at Scrabo - Index 1]A few weeks back I was chuffed to receive an email from my publishers, which they had forwarded from an organisation called the Washington Ireland Program (www.wiprogram.org). I was being invited to play at their inaugural Irish event, based on a glowing review I had given Scrabo in a Belfast Telegraph article.Now I will interrupt this broadcast to say a few words about the course, mostly because wherever I have gone and extolled the virtues of Scrabo, I have been laughed at. Scrabo is a hilltop, heathland type course drenched in gorse. It is hard work physically and mentally, and high handicappers will struggle. The most punishing aspect is that good shots are not always rewarded, and vice-versa. And with so much gorse, balls will rarely be... Similar posts