The Northern Irish Open 2017, Galgorm Castle

The wall fronting the 7th green at Galgorm Castle

The NIOpen starts in earnest tomorrow and Galgorm Castle Golf Club is in fine, fine shape. The club/management have been working hard to keep things 'fresh' on the course and there is now a lot more rough hugging bunkers, with the fescue adding hugely to the colour (and dangers) of the holes.

A new wall has been added to the front of the par 7th green - see photo above - which has given it a far sterner and classier appearance.

Entry to the NIOpen is free of charge and there will be a bigger buzz than usual - not

Northern Ireland's Ultimate Round of Golf

As the Northern Irish Open tees off at Galgorm Castle, there's no better time to introduce the 'Ultimate Round of Golf' in Northern Ireland... according to Discover Northern Ireland. These holes have been selected/nominated by a variety of golfers, celebrities, sports stars and those in the golfing industry. The holes are introduced through a series of videos - see below.

Ballesteros to make a splash at the Northern Irish Open

As a very quick follow up to my last blog about the Northern Irish Open... news just in is that a Ballesteros will be in the field at Galgorm Castle, from 6-9 August (nex week).

Javier Ballesteros of Spain pictured next to a commemorative
sign in recognition to his dad during the Challenge de Madrid
at the El Encín Golf Hotel in Madrid, Spain.
(Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

Ballesteros may not have reached the dizzy heights of his legendary father Seve, but the 24-

Galgorm Castle Northern Irish Open 2015

Sunrise over the 4th green

As the momentum for the Northern Irish Open continues to build, it was great to get back to Galgorm Castle last week. I was there to take photographs and the course was having the final touches applied (although not the sponsor hoarding, thankfully) ahead of an event that is growing in stature.

Northern Irish Open at Galgorm Castle

Edfors teeing off on the 1st hole.

It's a long drive from Wexford to Ballymena... but probably not as long as a Johan Edfors drive. That boy can hit the ball, and he is playing in the Northern Irish Open at Galgorm Castle this week. The tournament ends tomorrow, so if you're in that neck of the woods get yourself to the golf club, watch the Pros, enjoy the Food Village and all the golfing extras - there's a golf village, too.

I had been invited by Your Golf Travel to attend the event and it was an entertaining day out for sure.