How many golf resorts have changed hands in the past few years? Fota Island, Castlemartyr, Mount Juliet, Mount Wolseley, Doonbeg, Moyvalley, Portmarnock Links... There are others, not to mention those now on the market (Knightsbrook (€18m) and Carton House (€60m)...
Every now and again you get the chance to do something or see something magical, something that excites you and makes you happy. Whether it’s a trip you always wanted to take, a restaurant you always wanted to visit or in a golfers case, a golf course you really want...
When I wrote a feature article on Carton House for Irish Golfer Magazine a couple of months ago, I stated that the Montgomerie was a seriously tough course… one of the top ten most challenging courses in the country, in my opinion. The Carton House Media Day was held...
Fingal Mayor, Darragh Butler and Fingal County Council CEO, Paul Reid joined Carr Golf CEO Marty Carr today to officially re-launch Elmgreen Golf Course following a recent one-million-euro investment. Last October, Carr Golf was awarded the maintenance contract for...
Is there a more appropriately, more descriptively named golf club in Ireland? I doubt it. From the clubhouse the land slips down to the shores of the bay. Across the water to the west is Galway City, while The Burren ripples along the horizon to the south. The bay is...
Kevin Markham’s recent visit to Northern Ireland uncovered a golfing region brimming with confidence. “I’m sorry sir, we don’t open till 5 o’clock.” It was 4.30pm and the Ramore, in the seaside town of Portrush, was closed. I hadn’t eaten lunch and was ravenous after...
The Els Club Desaru Valley in Malaysia, designed by Vijay Singh in partnership with Ernie Els, launched today to significant fanfare. At the launch Vijay shared his thoughts on the site, the vision for the future and he also allowed us a quickfire series of questions...
One of the pleasures of being a golf writer is that people ask your opinions about courses; one of the privileges is asking other golfers for theirs. Rathsallagh’s resurrection has prompted me to enquire recently about this course more than any other. In return, I...
My dad is 85 and I’ve been playing golf with him for as long as I can remember. For the last 10 years we’ve been pursuing the Greystones Golf Club Father & Son trophy, so far without success but it has been a lot of fun. And that’s the joy of playing with your...
Explore the best of golf and sightseeing in Prague during the Czech Golf Festival in July 2017 Prague is well known for it’s beautiful countryside, historical sights, local cuisine and also for local beers and wine, but it is also great value fro money and has some...
With a wide range of offerings for golf and accommodation, La Manga Club should be one for your radar in 2017 For many of us, a golf holiday conjures up images of endless coach transfers to unpronounceable golf courses only to play rubbish golf when we eventually get...
Let’s start with the facts. I’d never been to Prague in the Czech Republic before. I wasn’t quite sure exactly how long it would take me to get there and my only exposure to golf in the area was when I watched the Czech Masters on television. I’ll admit, it looked...
Europe’s most eagerly-awaited new golf course design project will officially open in Portugal this summer. Situated less than an hour north of Lisbon – on Portugal’s magnificent Silver Coast – West Cliffs has been designed by golf course architect Cynthia Dye ASGCA,...
Peter Lawrie is settling in to his new role at Luttrellstown Castle and he has some big plans. One would’ve thought the quick spin from Castleknock to Luttrellstown would’ve been quite the cushy number for Peter Lawrie but throw four kids into the mix and his new...
The value of being a golf club member has waned in recent years. People don’t see it in the same way as 10/15 years ago. The recession is the key culprit and it is little surprise that people stopped paying their subs. After all, which is more important: paying your...
Shane Lowry has always been one of more affable top golfers to work with. He's always approachable, he's honest, he always wears his heart on his sleeve, he gives you a good line and he'll tell you sometimes when to 'go take a long walk on a short pier' if he's not...
Much like Bill Murray used to wake up at 6am in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania only to discover that it was GroundHog Day, morning after morning, I enter another major tournament as a tortured Rory McIlroy fan wondering if this Sunday will be the one where the 33-year old...
Scottie Scheffler is many people’s idea of this week’s US PGA Championship winner. The world number one and reigning Masters champion already boasts four individual wins this term ahead of a visit to Southern Hills, a course that happens to be one of his favourites....
It speaks volumes that Shane Lowry likens his strong form leading into this week's PGA Championship as pretty much the same as his form three years ago heading into the 2019 Open Championship. Lowry's record in the four individual men’s Majors reads impressively, with...
When Justin Thomas was asked if he felt he’s underachieved in golf’s Major championships prior to last month’s Masters, the forthright American answered, “I know I have”. The world number 8’s first and only Major victory arrived at the 2017 PGA Championship and...