A Golfers Guide to Ireland - 2015 Awards

Best Hidden Gem in Ulster went to Portsalon GC.
Paddy McCarthy (Portside Publications), Johnny Shields
(Portsalon), Joe Bedford (Project Co-ordinator for Paul
McGinley Design), and Mary Mitchell O'Connor TD

It was a big event at Druid's Glen last night. Portside Publications - which produces the Golfers Guide to Ireland - decided it was time to move the event from O'Connells in Donnybrook, to Druid's Glen Resort. From an intimate Dublin setting to the rather more spacious and luxurious surroundings of Co Wicklow. Both work well, but the more formal setting of Druid's Glen Resort lent an air of gravitas to the evening.

The food was excellent, the company entertaining and the mood exuberant. What else would you expect when there's a room full of award winners!

At the end of the evening, Greg Allen did a Q&A with Eamonn Darcy who was in attendance as the 'guest of honour'. And here's something that is quite remarkable about Eamonn... he turned Pro at the age of 16, in 1968. But guess what his handicap was when he turned Pro. Go on, guess.*

This is a man who won four big events (as well as a host of others) and sank the putt that saw the Ryder Cup team winning for the first time ever on US soil, at Muirfield Village.

So here are the awards that were handed out last night:

Bernard Gibbons (Powerscourt GM), Eamonn Darcy, and
Eddie Dunne (Awards panel)

The Awards

OVERALL
Parkland Winner: Dun Laoghaire

Links Winner: Royal County Down (4th year in a row)

Views over the 11th green at Royal County Down

REGIONAL (Parkland):
Leinster: Mullingar
Ulster: Belvoir Park
Connacht: Ballinrobe 

Munster: Cork

Enniscrone's mesmerising 13th

REGIONAL (Links):
Leinster: County Louth
Ulster: Royal Portrush
Connacht: Enniscrone 

Munster: Waterville

BEST RESORT
Overall: Druid's GlenLeinster: Carton House
Ulster: Hilton Templepatrick

'West & North West':
 Rosapenna
Munster: Fota Island

Views over the 3rd green at Macreddin

BEST HIDDEN GEM

Overall: Mount Wolseley

Leinster: Macreddin
Ulster: Portsalon

Connacht: Bearna

Munster: Mallow

The team from Bearna GC - Lady Captain and Captain with
Pat Donnelan (3 time All Ireland winner)

Best Golf Club Manager: Michael Moss, Portstewart

Best Hotel: Malton Hotel (Killarney)

Best Hotel Manager: Michael Davern, The K Club

Best Boutique Hotel: Wineport Lodge, Glasson, Co Westmeath

Best Restaurant Leinster: Mount Juliet (The Lady Helen)

Best Restaurant Connaught: Tra Ban, Co Sligo
Best Restaurant Ulster: Percy French Inn at Slieve Donard, Co Down
Best Restaurant Munster: Rozzers Restaurant, Killeen House, Killarney


You'll find copies of the Golfers Guide to Ireland in most clubhouses around the country. Pick one up - there's plenty to keep you occupied. And for a full set of photographs of the night... click here.


* Eamonn had a handicap of 12... that's 12, not 1.2.