DUBAI DUTY FREE IRISH OPEN HISTORY

Views over Portstewart's famous 1st hole.

THE countdown is well and truly on and the excitement is building ahead of next week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation at Portstewart Golf Club. As part of the prestigious Rolex Series, this year’s event is expected to be the biggest Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in the tournament’s illustrious history… but how well do you know your

County Louth Golf Club 125th Anniversary

A couple of weeks ago, County Louth launched their official 125th anniversary celebrations. A week long string of events started with a four person team event. It was beautiful day, a well managed occasion and a lot of fun. And yes, I was fortunate to be one of the invited guests, playing with two members (Michael and Emer) and Ron Smartt, from Travelling the Fairways. That's Ron, below, demonstrating how to play the

Take on the Druid

The very wet par three 17th at Druids Glen

Is there a more daunting tee shot in Irish golf than the par four 13th at Druids Glen? There's something about the fairway far below, whipping right and out of sight around a rock face, that makes it utterly terrifying. Knowing that a long approach shot over water then awaits will have you gripping your driver far too tightly. The hole measures 451 yards... from the forward tees. I have played it numerous times over the year… and every time fills me with a thrill and not a little dread.

The par three 8th

From the back Blue tee it is 491 yards. I have never played it from there but on Friday 30th June that is exactly what I will be doing as Druids Glen hosts its first ever Open Singles back tees event. The par 71 course will measure a full 7,046 yards. OK, so that's not of Killeen Castle proportions (7,677 yards) but on the plus side it makes Druids Glen more accessible. The 13th may be a monster but the longest of the three par fives is just 538 yards (the 16th) and the par threes measure 190/166/174/203 yards... making it all manageable, although woe betide you if you get to the par three 17th with any kind of score. At Index 5 it is not a hole where you can 'play safe'. At least on the 13th you can play it as a par five.

The famous par three 12th

A couple of months ago, Aaron McAllorum outlined Ireland's various clubs hosting 'back tee' events in the pages of Irish Golfer Magazine’s Digital ezine. I mean, think about it: how many of the big courses have back tees that are never used yet every day they are diligently tended by the greenkeeping staff? Use it or lose it, I reckon.

Approach to the 15th

The cost of entry is €50 per visitor, a €20-€50 discount on the normal green fee. Now bear in mind that this is Ireland' most colourful and fun parkland (IMO), host to four Irish Opens, and you're going to have plenty of golfers queuing up to play.  And you’ll be playing from the same tees as Sergio when he won the Irish Open in 1999 – his first professional victory.

You can book here: 

See you on the tee.

114th Ladies British Open Amateur Championship

Approach to P&K's 5th hole

Anyone who thinks the ladies game of golf is taking a back seat to the men's should think again. Eleven amateurs are competing in the 114^th Ladies British Open Amateur Championship, which starts today at Pyle & Kenfig.

The Championship, being hosted by the R&A for the first time after the merger of the Ladies Golf Union (LGU) and the R&A at the beginning of this year, will be contested by 144 competitors from 24 countries, including 33 players ranked in the top 100 of the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR).

Of the 58 players representing the Home Nations 11 are from Ireland. World Number One and

Golf World Top 100 Irish Golf Courses 2017

Lahinch Golf Club. A dramatic climb into the Top 5.

The biennial Top 100 Irish Golf Course rankings by Golf World have just been released. Golf World is a UK magazine and as well as producing a GB & Ireland Top 100 ranking, they also produce individual rankings for England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

The ranking criteria have evolved over the years, as have the panellists, their number and their areas of expertise. It is very easy to have a panel heavily weighted with professional golfers, golf course architects, golf writers and those working in golf itself (general

Golf and Glasson's Sunday Special

The Glasson Golf Hotel is currently running a Sunday Special of 1 night's Dinner, Bed & Breakfast, and 2 rounds of golf (the 2nd comes with the compliments of the hotel) for the price of €125 pps.

Glasson’s driveway glides between big trees and above the course’s best holes which drift down to the edge of Killenure Bay… and one of the most stunning par threes in

Carton House - Monty Mashes It Up

When I wrote an 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.

At the time, I had played it on my own and scored well… if unofficially... and I left feeling pleased with myself and not a little bit relieved. I love the course but you come in knowing you're taking on a heavyweight.

Yesterday was the Carton House Media Day, and the Montgomerie was all set to flex

Social Media Open Portugal, November 2017

Combine all that is good in Irish golf and what you love about the game… and add some warmth and sunshine.

The original, Irish-based Social Media Open kicked off in 2013. Forty golfers turned up at Mount Juliet for the opening day of a four day amateur pairs’ event that also visited Adare, Old Head and Castlemartyr. Golf Monthly magazine was so impressed by the tournament’s idea that they sent a reporter to take part (what a hardship!).

Since then, the event has gone from strength to strength, with this year’s Social Media