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:

Ireland's Top 50 Links Courses... Voted For By You

Back in August, Golfing Magazine posted a survey online asking people to rank Ireland's top 50 links golf courses. Now the results are in. You'll find them in the latest edition of the magazine and online.

Since this blog is all about Irish golf I assessed the rankings with great interest. My conclusion is this:

Hahahahahahahahaha!