Ballybunion - Home of the 2006 Ryder Cup...

[Photo: Ballybunion Old's lethal par three 15th]

Seriously! This morning at my local coffee shop I picked up a book - 1000 places to visit before you die - and discovered that the 2006 Ryder Cup was held at Ballybunion... apparently.

I'm sure Ballybunion will be delighted by the promotion, although I can see some odd expressions on the faces of staff when someone turns up asking for the Ryder Cup tour. On the other hand, the K Club might be somewhat dismayed... then again, if the author/s can make such an obvious error (as well as promoting Tinakilly House in Co. Wicklow as one of its 1000 places) I don't think many people will be taking the book too seriously.

[Photo: Ballybunion Old's 10th green, taken from the 7th tee]

Edmondstown hunt for a new General Manager

[Photo: the par four 6th]

Edmondstown Golf Club, which sits alongside Dublin's M50 (the course had to be rejigged as they lost land to the motorway), recently produced their three year plan. It's an ambitious plan, for sure, given the times we're in: there will be a new Pro shop and coaching area, an upgrade of the clubhouse as well as an upgrade to the course irrigation system.

Edmondstown is looking for a General Manager to oversee all of this and the general running of the club too.

For more information and how to apply, click here for the GUI website.

Save €246 at the K Club

[Photo: the back of the hotel, taken from the Smurfit Course]

The K Club have used the 'Deal' type sites a few times and they're doing it again.

"€169 instead of €415 for an overnight stay for 2 in a Superior Room with Full Irish Breakfast, a Glass of Champagne plus a €30 Resort Dining Credit at the magnificent 5 Star K Club!"

That's a big saving and, more interestingly for you romantics at heart, it doesn't exclude Valentine's Day itself (just Saturday Feb 11th) or Paddy's Day if you see that as an opportunity to 'celebrate' in posh surroundings. The offer expires on the 16th January, and you can use the voucher until the end of March.

[Photo: Palmer Couse par three 3rd]

Golf is not mentioned in the offer, but a quick check on the website indicates golf on the Palmer course is €75... I would expect that you can get it for less than that as a hotel resident... and just hope that it hasn't rained too hard - remember the Ryder Cup!

You'll find all the details and 'how to buy' here.

Dream On - The Movie

Most of you will probably know the book, or at least the premise of John Richardson's novel, Dream On - the quest to go from high handicapper to a level par round of golf in less than a year. The title Dream On came from a comment made by Sam Torrance when asked if it was possible to achieve.

You'll also probably know that he achieved his goal with a day or two to spare.

Well, now they're putting the finishing touches to the movie. There are no actors or anything listed at this stage (at least not on IMDB) but if you want to see a brief interview with the director about how he saw the book becoming a film (a 'romantic comedy'), click here:

And if you want to know more about the book or to buy it, click here.

€1,000 for a hole in one – at The European

[Photo: the par three 6th - from the front tees]

Under the new rules of golf, amateurs are no longer limited to the value of prize they can receive for a hole in one… so Pat Ruddy at The European Club has taken that to heart and decided to offer amateurs (and professionals) the chance to win €1,000 cash for a hole in one at the club’s par three 6th hole. It is quite probably the first such offer of its type in Europe.

The Good News

The competition (open singles) is open every day from now until the end of March. You can enter as often as you like. The green fee is €60… a third of the summer peak rate.

The Bad News

It’s links, it’s winter and the hole, for the purposes of the competition, measures 200 yards. There’s sand in front and on the right of the green, and a deep stream to the left… then again, that’s not where you’re supposed to be aiming, is it!

The prize will be divided if there is more than one hole in one.

It’s not as if you need an extra reason to play one of the top five links in the country, but every little helps.

Good luck.

The European Club 0404 47415

[Photo: the par five 13th, from the 15th tee box]

Viva La France

Maybe it's too easy to lump the Irish in with our English neighbours - we share many traits after all. Nevertheless, I was non-plussed by the news that France's top-selling travel guide (Le Guide du Routard) is suggesting Ireland is once again a safe destination to visit.

I wasn't aware that our island was regarded as an unsafe destination in the first place.

What, exactly, made it unsafe? Thierry Henry, apparently. His famous handball incident in the World Cup 2010 qualifying match (played n 2009)... which may or may not have robbed Ireland of a place in the finals... caused concern among the French tourism psyche.

French travellers thought they might receive abuse on the back of Henry's actions... the French editor even went as far as suggesting that the French would not have been very welcoming of Irish tourists had the positions been reversed.

Message to our lovely friends in France... we are not England, where football is treated as a religion and fans from opposing teams are often deemed enemies and therefore fair game if spotted wearing the wrong colour shirt. That doesn't happen here. And please remember that you and England have history: you two were going at it hammer and tongs for a few centuries, although you made up during two world wars. No, over here we like your flair, your non-chalance, your wine, your language, that Gallic shrug and even your rugby when you release that flair (I was rooting for you in the World Cup ruby final).

Oh sure, we might have a word in your ear about Henry's handling of the situation, but only over a shared pint and a laugh. After all, as any Irish football fan would be quick to point out, you got your come-uppance by putting on such a dismal performance in the pool games.

Over 4,000 French golfers visit Ireland every year, so we would more than welcome you back onto our fairways, no matter what the guide book says.

Yesterday's Loser... Today's Winner

Carton House lost out to Royal Portrush this week in its bid to host the Irish Open 2012.

But it was also confirmed that Carton House will host it in 2013, instead... which, if you've been paying attention, is the year of "The Gathering". No, not a horror movie being filmed in Leinster House - as appropriate as that might seem with Luke "Ming" Flanagan beating people to death with peat briquettes - The Gathering is, in official parlance:

"... the biggest tourism festival ever held in Ireland," said Failte Ireland chairman, Redmond O’Donoghue, at the press conference in the Royal Portrush clubhouse. It's designed to bring our Diaspora home for one big shindig.

If they get the rain that Carton House and the Irish Open endured when it was last held there in 2006, I don't see much of a gathering at all.

Irish Open 2012... goes to Royal Portrush

Here we all were, thinking that the Irish Open was returning to Dublin in 2012 - because that's what we were told by the powers that be - and then out of the blue it's announced yesterday that Royal Portrush will be hosting it. We were blindsided on that one, seeing as Carton House were the hot favourites, with Royal Portrush destined to host it next year.

[The Winner: Royal Portrush's par four 5th]

It's great news for Northern Ireland, especially as there's so much hope pinned on Open Championship returning to Royal Portrush some time soon... which it should. The Irish Open - small fry by comparison - will be a good test for the club, the town and the county to adapt to the demands of hosting a prestigious event. Who knows, Rory McIlroy's course record of 61, scored when he we was a mere 16, might even come under threat.

[The Loser: Carton House's par three 17th]