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.

Macreddin and the Rain Delay

The 12th hole - a big dogleg right.

Sunday morning was brutal. BRUTAL. The rain started… and never stopped. Our tee time at Macreddin was for 10am and Fin and I arrived at the same time… with no one else in the car park. The signs weren’t looking good and, not surprisingly, the course was as good as closed.  

Dermot, the greenkeeper, said he’d move a few holes so they weren’t in water, and we could play as many as we wanted… which wasn’t many. Besides, it seemed

Portstewart Leads The Way

Portstewart's 6th hole

“Now that’s a golf hole.” Jeff was walking off the green, shaking his head but the proud owner of a par. “Everything about it is fantastic.”

Which Irish golf hole are we talking about? The par three 6th at Portstewart. Who was giving their verdict? Jeff Wallach, Editor of The Grain golf magazine. 

Several American golf writers are currently on tour across the Wild Atlantic Way… even if they did start at Portstewart. And it’s

Paul Dunne - from the Wannabes to the Gonnabe

When Paul first took the lead

I would like to thank Paul Dunne for his performance at The Open. It was majestic and his round on Sunday was the stuff of legend.

Admit it… what red-blooded golfer wannabe hasn’t gone to bed at night dreaming of playing The Open, walking up the 18th, doffing the cap and then

Golf Open Weeks Ireland: Batch 5

En route to the 1st tee at Galway.

Six more Irish Golf Open Weeks coming up in late July/early August. (Several more are still running from the previous blog, here - listed in date order.)

Golf, Music, Camper Van

OK, so it’s a bit of a segue from golf – and miles away from The Open Championship we’re all praying will restart – but I was on iTunes earlier and I heard a song that brought back memories of my camper van travels.

Which tracks, I wondered, would define those 14 months driving around Ireland.

Here are 14 songs that sum it up, and not a James Last track to be seen... if you’ve read Driving The Green, about my journey, you’ll understand my difficult relationship with a certain album called James Last Plays Abba.

1. Good by Better Than Ezra
2. Reconnect by Director
3. The Pretender by Foo Fighters
4. Fully Alive by Flyleaf
5. Set it Off by Audioslave
6. Once by Pearl Jam
7. The Hook by Grant Lee Buffalo
8. Getaway by Reef
9. Stuntman by Kasabian
10. All Sparks by Editors
11. Monster by The Automatic
12. I Miss You by Blink-182
13. New York (live) by U2, 

    and, um...

 I Kissed a Girl by Katy Perry

If you don’t recognise any of the tracks, can I suggest you start with Flyleaf…

Druid's Glen is Thriving

Approach over water on the Glen's par four 15th.

Druid’s Glen Resort continues to build its brand. With its high quality hotel, spa and leisure facilities it offers families everything they could ask for – Wicklow’s beaches are within easy reach, Glendalough is a pretty drive through the Wicklow Mountains, and it’s only 40 minutes from Dublin.