Golf Monthly - April 2012

Writing articles for golf magazines offers a huge sense of reward when you see them in print...

... getting paid for them is all the sweeter!

So it seems slightly ironic that I have been paid for an article in this month's Golf Monthly, for writing about Scotland.

[Photo: the 9th at Nairn Dunbar]

I flew over with my wife last November, in the misguided belief we might see the Northern Lights. 10 year cycles, solar flares... all that stuff had me thinking it was a good time to head to Aberdeen and then on up to Nairn, where we'd be right on the coast facing north.

There were to be no Northern Lights... not unless you count the flames spurting from the tops of oil rigs in the distant Cromarty Firth... but we stayed in a plush hotel (the aptly named Golf View Hotel) so we had all the comforts we could want... not to mention Nairn Golf Club next door and Nairn Dunbar Golf Club a couple of minutes away.

[Photo: the lighthouse at the end of Fortrose & Rosemarkie]

We were over for a few days and we - sorry, I - made the most of it, playing Nairn, Nairn Dunbar and Fortrose & Rosemarkie all on the one glorious day (my wife forgave me... in January), and then Castle Stuart (home of the 2011 and 2012 Scottish Open) and Forres over the next couple of days.

[Photo: the Castle Stuart Clubhouse]

In terms of brief descriptions:

• Nairn is a highly rated links, with a flat landscape, perfect greens and a long history. [Photos]
• Nairn Dunbar is a parkland close to the sea, with a very easy rhythm and intriguing greens. [Photos]
• Fortrose & Rosemarkie is a links that juts into the sea, running out to a lighthouse with deep ocean on each side, and what must be a terrifying test of golf in a strong wind. [Photos]
• Forres is a more obvious parkland, but it's hard to tell how good when you spend the entire round under an umbrella.
• Castle Stuart is a links that runs across two tiers and has such amazing shapes to fairways and greens that it's almost fairytale links. And then there's the clubhouse. [Photos]

[Photo: the 1st at Nairn]

Which is my favourite course? As with all courses each has its merits, but if I was going to play one, and only one, then I'd pick Nairn Dunbar. Colour, trees, rhythm, fun - it all adds up.

And if you fancy the non-golf alternatives, I strongly recommend the 18 year old single malt from Tomatin Distillery in the Cairngorm National Park. Just make sure the other half is driving.

Castlerock - 8 rounds for £200

As with all things in the current climate, coming up with a novel marketing promotion can make all the difference, especially among us golfers.

Headfort recently offered the opportunity to play either of their courses for €20, on any day during February. Considering how good the New course is (the Old course is none too shabby either), and how benign our weather has been, that's a great deal. It has been very well received, according to the club and there are still a few days to go, if you're interested. www.headfortgolfclub.ie

Groupon & All the Rest

The popularity of Groupon-type offers seems like an easy fall-back and is being widely used... I have my doubts about this route and will address what I see as the pros and cons in a later blog... especially as a Canadian golf blogger (golfgal) has written an article on why they are such a positive option for golf clubs: her article is here.

Something Different, Something Free

I'm not saying that this brand new Castlerock offer is stunningly different – certainly not along the lines of Druid Glen’s month of free golf (March 2010) – but it demonstrates how golf club’s have started thinking outside the box to reach new audiences and encourage repeat business.

The old reliables (€30 green fee with free breakfast/steak lunch; the four for the price of three, the twilight rate) will always be popular, but making an impact by doing something different will grab your audience's attention.

The offer from Castlerock does just that.

The Castlerock 8

"There aren't many links courses where you can play during the summer for £25 a round," says Mark Steen, Castlerock's Secretary/Manager... diplomatically leaving out the words 'this good' after links courses. Castlerock promises perfect links golf and the night I spent in the bar was one of the most hospitable I spent during my travels.

"Lots of golfers have asked us about a summer golf pass, but we decided to cover the whole year and see how well the offer is received," Mark continues.

This offer will be attractive to any golfer who decides to descend on this stretch of heavenly links coastline.

The deal is this: you pay £200. In return you will be sent a booklet with 8 green fees, valid for one year. These can be used between Monday and Friday at ANY TIME OF THE YEAR (subject to availability, obviously). That's it. You phone the Pro shop, you book your tee time, you play your golf.

And why is this such a good deal? As if you have to ask:

• It's £25 per round.
• Castlerock is a Northern Ireland links gem with all the quality, views and links bedevilment you could hope for.
• The club sits on the western edge of one of the most stunning stretches of links courses in the world (Portstewart and Royal Portrush are practically next door).
• The Irish Open is coming this way so you could head up over the summer and play the brilliant Castlerock and then enjoy Royal Portrush's Irish Open course in probably the best condition of its life.
• Who knows, ask nicely and you might be able to bring a friend and use two tickets at once.
• Great clubhouse atmosphere.
• Yes, it's £25 per round.

A Winter Fry

And, considering the benign weather, here’s one final thought: Castlerock has an excellent (winter) offer on the go at the moment - £100 for a fourball, with a fry-up. The offer has generated £3,000 in green fees so far and it runs until the end of March.

When the club added in the fry-up there was a huge increase in interest, showing quite clearly how health conscious we are and what we like to think about after a blustery day on a wonderful links. Check out their website and give them a call.

Royal County Down Feb 2012

[Photo: view from the 2nd tee, back over the 1st green to the Slieve Donard Hotel and the mountains beyond]

Dark grey skies were pressing down as we left Dublin. Two hours and 15 minutes later we were at Royal County Down, breathing in the atmosphere and basking under sunshine and velvet clouds. February 23, 2012 and it was 14 degrees C. Add in a two-club wind and could you ask for better links conditions than that?

There are several clubs around Ireland, where the reputation and history seep into your bones from the moment you step out of the car. Lahinch, Royal Portrush, Ballybunion, Portmarnock and Royal County Down are the most obvious. It heightens the moment, and I doubt there are many golfers who could tell you otherwise. Everything about this place oozes class. There’s a sense of quiet decorum, too. It urges you on towards the 1st tee.

Lenny, the Starter, was getting me and my father out ahead of a fourball – good thing too: by the time we were on the 8th, the fourball were on the 3rd. No one behind us, no one in front of us; no pressure. It gave us time to enjoy the course, and me time to take a lot of photographs.

[Photo: the beautiful par three 4th with the Mourne Mountains behind]

The last time I played here was with my father and a couple of friends in 2007. Five years ago… it seems utterly ludicrous when a course this good is just a two hour drive from Dublin, and costs a mere Stg £50. (That rises to £75 in March.) Then again, I had a few other courses to play in between.

A Perfect Eloquence

It is almost impossible to describe Royal County Down in simple terms. I could write a few hundred words talking about the wild rough alone, an essay on the bearded-faced, treacherous bunkers, a thesis on the silken greens that flow so easily out of the land, and a trilogy on the course design that is so subtle and perfect you can’t imagine the dunes could have ever have been created for anything else. I’d pen a sonnet on the surroundings, too, but my poetic abilities stop at the Limerick… so I’ll use someone better suited to the task:

A thing of beauty is a joy forever. So said John Keats, and that sums up RCD in a nutshell.

[Photo: bunkers are never a good place to be!]

Tough Love

But RCD is also tough. We played from the white tees - a mere 6,700 yards and par 71.

Length aside, what most people remember and what causes pulses to race are the blind shots. They are not to everyone’s taste (Jack Nicklaus, for example), but what a joy it is to crest the dune and see that little white ball on the fairway with, more often than not, the Mourne Mountains looming behind.

Missing the green also leads to plenty of trouble. Balls simply slide off the edges and trickle away down slopes and into trouble. In February, the slick surfaces were mercifully forgiving and long irons settled quickly. In summer, it’s a case of goodbye and good luck.

[Photo: the view of the 9th from the dune crest, after the most difficult drive of the day]

Picking a Favourite

Most golfers will walk away from RCD with holes 4 (a par three) and 9 (a tough par four) firmly in their minds as their favourite hole. Personally, I consider the 9th to be the best 9th hole in the country, and one of the best holes full stop. But I also love 3, 5, 11, 13 and 16.

The intrigue and challenges are relentless, which mean every hole is exceptional. There is no such thing as an ‘obvious’ hole (only the 18th comes close) and – blind holes aside – you do get to see what’s expected of you. If you believe in your swing 100%, then you feel like you’ve got a fighting chance.

[Photo: the short par four 16th. The usual tees are well to the right, giving this hole more of a curve]

Learning a Lesson

I did most of my fighting on the greens, watching long range putts slip by and keep on going for six feet or more. I didn't get one putt back.

[Video of Dad smacking one down the 12th]

My dad, 80 years old, playing off a 20 handicap, was kicking my butt. He missed two fairways all day and eased around the back nine with 20 points that could so easily have been more. That liquid swing of his was working a charm and I realised that if we’d been playing off scratch (I was giving him 14 shots) he’d still have taught me a lesson. He had four pars, which is more than I managed. I lost two balls, he didn’t lose one. I was a hang-dog walking up 18, he was strutting his stuff, laughing that we'd played almost every hole in sunshine.

And he treated me to lunch, suggesting that we make this an annual excursion. You’ll get no argument from me, although I'll need to practise a lot more between now and then.

Clare Ultimate Challenge - Update

Further to a query on the rules of the competition, in order to qualify for the grand final each team has to submit a minimum of five cards (i.e. five rounds of golf from the courses on offer).

Good luck if you're entering.

Peter Whiteford Disqualification

On Sunday afternoon, Peter Whiteford stepped towards the 4th tee at the Avantha Masters, in India, and was told he was disqualified. The man must have been shattered. Here he was, within a couple of shots of the lead on the final day of a European Tour event, and he had to endure the indignity of being carted off in a buggy for something that happened the previous day.

I’m not going to go into the whys and hows of what he did: he made a mistake and after querying it with his playing partner, caddie and a cameraman, he erroneously played on. He even had a Get Out of Jail Free card (thanks to the new rule 33-7/4.5) which he no doubt will be kicking himself for not using at the end of his 3rd round. No, what I want to discuss is the role of the small-minded, smug TV armchair vigilantes who are turning tournament golf into a circus.

Rude on the Rules

A while back I made rude comments about the R&A and how slowly they got things done. Changing rules in golf is like asking an oil tanker to do a quick U-turn: it can’t be done quickly. But following a couple of fiascos (Padraig’s was one of the high profile ones) they made changes which allow a committee, in certain circumstances, to modify the disqualification penalty and apply the appropriate penalty stroke(s) if a player could not have reasonably known he had incurred a penalty. Padraig’s ball moved a fraction on the green; Peter Whiteford ball moved a fraction on the fairway. Both were disqualified.

Bravo! A leap forward.

But the problem of the armchair vigilante was not tackled. Following Whiteford’s ‘mistake’ several viewers contacted the European Tour website to report that Peter Whiteford’s ball had in fact moved.

My issues are this:

· If these reports came in overnight, why was Whiteford subjected to the shame of reaching the 4th tee before he was DQ’d? He was in the final groups, so surely something could have been done before he stepped onto the 1st tee, and he could have slipped quietly away. To be told before tee-off that the incident was being ‘reviewed’ is the equivalent of kicking him in the ankle and wishing him good luck.

· If a new rule was introduced to change the severity of a golfer’s punishment, why wasn’t a rule introduced to deal with armchair tittle-tattle? Clearly this is going to be a long term problem as HD TV takes over and TV screens grow to the size of a house. Millions of people watch, and every spit, every curse, every blade of grass, every ball can be seen, reviewed, enlarged and looped in high definition. There is no escape.
Perhaps most worryingly for the professional is that the better he/she is performing in a tournament, the higher the chances that the TVs will be glued to him. If he was down the bottom of the field, he could practically pick up the ball and toss it in the hole without anyone knowing. No, the better you’re doing, the more likely some muppet will decide you’ve committed a cardinal sin and you must be punished.

· Who are these sad individuals who feel it is their right – nay, their duty – to be interfering with a tournament thousands of miles away? I don’t care if you know the rules back to front (I certainly don’t), who the hell are you to affect the outcome of a tournament that has got nothing to do with you?

The options are obvious:

1. The European Tour (and others) need to have a referee glued to a TV for the entire tournament so that they see exactly what the viewer sees. As a referee, he/she then gets to decide if an infraction has been committed.

2. If the armchair bandits wish to prove that they are all-powerful and contact the different tours to inform them of a transgression (I notice no-one has made an official complaint about Poulter’s dress sense), then feel free… but this information must only be taken into account AFTER the tournament (assuming it hasn’t already been noted by the tournament body). I don’t care if Rory is spotted kicking his ball out of the rough; if he’s not called on it at the time or before he signs his card, then it has to be accepted… at least until after the tournament is finished. In the technology age we live in, most popular sports have a review system that allows a player to be banned/fined/cited after the event… why not golf?

Take the Rory example – yes, he picks up a cheque for thousands, but he has to bear the shame of being cited, he could be fined or he could be banned for a tournament. If you doubt me, consider how Vijay Singh still carries the mark of ‘cheat’ from an incident in 1985. In fact, do a google search and you’ll find that it’s one of the top search results for Vijay.

Oh sure, I know there are holes in this argument… what if Whiteford had gone on to win in a play-off that he shouldn’t have even been in, you ask. Well, my answer is simple: I don’t make the rules… but then neither do the people sitting at home watching TV.

The Irish Winning Majors 2012

How many majors will Irish golfers win this year? That was a question I asked recently, and after the successes of recent years it's no surprise that answers varied as much as they did. Based on comprehensive research from a total of 14 respondents, the results are as follows:

No Majors 28%

1 Major 50%

2 Majors 7%

More than 2 Majors 14%

I reckon Rory will pick up one, so I'm with the majority. If he wins the Masters then who knows... he could head to the Open Championship with two 2012 Majors under his belt. Following his slightly stroppy interview blaming the weather after finishing Tied 25th at Royal St. George's, he'll probably be doubly determined to perform well this year at Royal Lytham and St. Annes. Let's not forget that he holds the record of 61 at Royal Portrush, which he carded at the age of 16. He has no fear of links and while the weather might blow him off course, if the weather is half decent he'll be there or thereabouts over the weekend.

Padraig winning seems highly unlikely due to his erratic displays over the last couple of years. He always seems to be working on something to do with his game, and not just playing the game itself. He's shown he still has what it takes, but his consistency has deserted him and his scoring on par fives makes for worrying reading.

G-Mac has had an interesting time of it. He blew a couple of good leads last year, delivering terrible rounds that knocked him right out of contention. That must be a concern and it is something he has exhibited before (his 79 in the final round of the 2006 US Open for example). Perhaps the thought of the Ryder Cup will inspire him this year. I doubt he'll win a Major in 2012, but a couple of wins anywhere will be all he needs going to Medinah Country Club. And if those wins come early enough, he might well see himself in contention on the last day of something big.

Darren Clarke got the win he wanted last year. Against the odds, too. He might win again, but he's just going to enjoy himself from now on, happy in the knowledge that he won the big one. He's always had that laid back air, and that's what makes him so popular.

Who else is there? Lowry, McGrane, Lawrie, Hoey, Maybin, Thornton, McGinley. I want Lowry to win this year. He has the talent, if not the most reliable putting statistics, and he shows bursts of form. All in all though, a couple of wins from this group would be a big success for Ireland. And wouldn't it be great to see Paul Cutler appearing on a leaderboard?

Realistically, it's all about Rory. He's shown already this year that shooting low is no problem, but closing out has been more of a challenge at the two big events. Then again, the same can be said of Tiger at the moment... and we all know what he's capable of.

So I'm sticking with one Irish Major winner in 2012. But I'm not putting money on it.

Clare Ultimate Golf Challenge

There are always innovative and – dare I say – cheap ways to play some of Ireland’s best courses. It’s hard to believe, given our profligate years, but the green fee structure has actually presented that opportunity for years, with the likes of Twilight and Early Bird rates being obvious examples, along with the ever popular Open Days.

[Photo: one of the best opening holes in Irish golf]

But the Clare Golf Challenge is something completely different and very, very special.

Now in its third year, it presents the opportunity for a team of four players to play ten golf courses in County Clare for a paltry €100 each, between April 1st and September 30th. That’s a tenner each and your team can play those ten courses at ANY time during those months (subject to availability obviously). And you don't have to play all ten courses.

But wait, it gets better! Among these ten courses are:

• The dramatic Dromoland Castle crammed with huge trees, a Special Area of Conservation, perfectly shaped holes and water features, and the castle constantly appearing as a back drop.
• The rhythmic Shannon streaking between dark trees, drifting around gentle doglegs and promising sweet shots at every turn.
• The entertaining East Clare, with its chocolate filled ponds, its wildness and its peacefulness.

There’s also Lahinch’s second course (Castle), which, while not in the same league as its sibling, retains the same quality condition and is still a quaint links that’ll put manners on you if you try to be smart. And yet it's even better again, because one of those ten courses is the exceptional Doonbeg links on Doughmore Bay, which has one of the best opening holes in Irish golf and popped out of the imagination of Greg Norman.

[Photo: the short par four 15th at Dromoland Castle]

I could write about Doonbeg till the snails come home, but you’re thinking there’s a trick, aren’t you! €100 for ten courses seems just too whacky for words when a single round at Doonbeg can cost you over €150. It’s completely genuine and if you don’t believe me, click on this link for the Clare website... but there are conditions.

Conditions

To play one of Ireland’s newest and finest links, tee times are ‘only’ available between Monday and Thursday, and after 2pm… which is not exactly onerous is it!

Think about it: regardless of whether you win or lose, or whether you play all ten courses, you can spend three days in gorgeous Clare and play a world renowned course, and a couple of other beauties for a mere €100.

The Challenge has a fairly lengthy list of terms and conditions but when you read them they actually make the whole thing look even better - assuming you're a GUI/ILGU member. For starters, there’s a gala final at Doonbeg, and your team of four can actually have a ringer or two if a couple of the group can’t make one of your rounds.

[Photo: the 6th hole at Lahinch (Castle)]

The Full List

Doonbeg
Dromoland Castle
East Clare
Ennis
Kilkee
Kilrush
Lahinch (Castle)
Shannon
Spanish Point (9 hole)
Woodstock

Entry is limited to the first 100 teams prepared to pay up. Accommodation suggestions are also made on the clare.ie website (including Doonbeg and Dromoland Castle), so it couldn’t be much easier to get involved.

And don’t forget the other non-golfing adventures in County Clare: Cliffs of Moher, The Burren, Loop Head and Lisdoonvarna, and that's just for starters.

The Bad News

There is some bad news, which is how the competition is regulated. It relies on golfers’ honesty when it comes to scoring/marking and submitting cards. In other words it is open to cheating, and the winners from last year had rumours swimming around them about dubious handicaps. In other words, you’re probably not going to win as there will always be some people prepared to push the boundaries of what’s acceptable.

And to qualify for the final your team has to submit a minimum of five cards (i.e. five rounds of golf).

[Photo: Doonbeg's 18th hole, with the Lodge behind]

But just keep telling yourself that you’re playing Doonbeg, Dromoland Castle etc., for €10 and you’ll realise that this is one of the greatest deals you're ever likely to encounter.

Druid's Heath - the Devil's in the Detail

[Photo: Hole 1 par four]

"We had a lot of rain so the fairways are a bit on the soft side," said Mark in the Pro shop at Druids Heath, before sending me and my mate out, courtesy of the course.

As an Irish golf writer, I am always grateful for the opportunity to get back and review clubs that have scored well in my book... and even more grateful for the chance to play the ones that don't score so highly. Sometimes it's important to reassess and see if you've been off the mark.

Druid's Heath falls into the latter scoring category, receiving just 74 out of 100, despite oozing quality. The truth is, I can't warm to the course. It has everything that a top course demands - the quality, the greens, the water and the space - but there is that sense that it has been shaped to be difficult, and there aren't many of us who need a battle this tough. You don't always see your landing area (plenty of mounding, shoulders and natural elevation block your views), which means you're automatically that bit more tense standing on the tee... and on a course that measures 6,600+ yards from the whites, you're probably already tense. Unless you crush the ball 300 yards (and there's been a lengthy debate/argument on boards.ie about this subject) I suggest you play from the green tees (600 yards shorter).

Charlie and I only managed 9 holes - he got called back to the office and I was designated driver - but we enjoyed what we played. If you know what's coming then you're better prepared for it, so neither of us had expectations of peeling off birdies or pars. Add to that a four-club wind and a par was a rare treat. The 9th is 347 yards and was straight into the wind. I'd expect to hit driver and a gentle wedge on a calm day, but a full drive and 3 iron left me well short. That in itself can be taxing.

[Photo: the par three 5th. A tough target to hit, never mind the green slopes]

And the greens are not easy to attack because if you miss there is trouble everywhere. They can also be brutal: on the par three 5th I was 25 feet from the pin. I aimed six feet to the left and knocked the ball up and over the ridge, and then watched as the ball glimpsed briefly at the hole, turned 180 degrees and set off down the other side of the green... leaving me further away than I started. Imagine what these surfaces could do to you in summer!

No, there is practically no forgiveness here. I'd go so far as to say that if the Devil was playing you for your soul, this is the course he'd choose for the match... and you'd probably give him a walkover.

Don't get me wrong, Druid's Heath has quality in abundance (see some more photos here), and despite Mark's comments about the fairways they were grand. It's just not a course that fills me with enthusiasm because my golf needs to be able to get away with bad shots and I need to have some holes where I can relax a bit - Druid's Heath doesn't offer that. It's a serious test. If that's what you're after, you'll love what the Heath has to offer.

I'll come back in the summer and play the whole 18, see if the greens are as difficult as they appear, and play probably the most feared hole in Irish golf: the par four 12th - 462 yards off the white or 419 yards from the greens.

Strict course marshals at Druid's Heath

Slow play not recommended on the 2nd at Druid's Heath... we were followed for much of the way but a distinctly unimpressed pair... especially when we put an approach shot in the drink.

Top Golfer 2012

[Photo: the drive on 18 at Fota Island]

Top Golfer has just launched its 2012 Junior and Senior Scratch competitions.

The competition is designed for golfers with a handicap of 9 and below, and it creates a strong competitive environment for amateurs. Plenty of golfers in that handicap range already play for their club (Barton, Junior Cup and various others), but Top Golfer creates a more community spirit where you're competing against other golfers from across the country and results appear on line showing how you compare with your peers.

[Photo: some start to reach the 1st tee at Lough Erne]

There's also an order of merit that runs across all competitions, so it builds on that community feel.

The winner of each event qualifies for the Tour Championship, which will be held at Fota Island, while the Order of Merit play-offs are at the K Club in September.

[Photo: the superb 7th at Lough Erne]

There will be 43 events this year (see below). You can play in as many or as few as you like (subject to handicap) and there are some cracking courses, with some big names on the list. Undoubtedly the coup for Top Golfer has to be Lough Erne, on 22nd April (£50). That's seriously good value for a course this good. And it's an experience you're unlikely to forget.

There are other new courses too: Dun Laoghaire, Loughrea, Mallow, Grange, Blainroe, Naas, and Killeen.

If I had my way I'd try to get to a dozen or so, but for now I'm eyeing up: Dun Laoghaire, Rosslare, Mount Wolseley and Enniscorthy. And Concra Wood if I can get there.

[Photo: views from the top of Concra Wood]

Events start on April 20th with a Junior Scratch at Castle, in Dublin, and wrap up with the finals at Fota Island in October.

2012 TopGolfer Tour Schedule

Friday April 20th Castle Golf Club Junior Scratch Cup

Sunday April 22nd Lough Erne Resort Junior Scratch Cup

Saturday May 12th Dunmurry Springs Junior Scratch Cup

Saturday May 12th Dunmurry Springs Senior Scratch Cup

Sunday May 13th Delgany Golf Club Junior Scratch Cup

Saturday May 19th Loughrea Golf Club Junior Scratch Cup

Saturday May 19th Loughrea Golf Club Senior Scratch Cup

Sunday May 20th Glen of the Downs Junior Scratch Cup

Sunday May 27th Rosslare Golf Links Junior Scratch Cup

Sunday May 27th Lee Valley Golf Club Junior Scratch Cup

Sunday June 3rd Dun Laoghaire Golf Club Junior Scratch Cup

Monday June 4th New Forest Golf Club Senior Scratch Cup

Saturday June 9th Arklow Golf Links Junior Scratch Cup

Saturday June 9th Arklow Golf Links Senior Scratch Cup

Sunday June 10th Killeen Golf Club Junior Scratch Cup

Sunday June 10th Killeen Golf Club Senior Scratch Cup

Sunday June 17th Knightsbrook Resort Senior Scratch Cup

Sunday June 17th Enniscorthy Golf Club Junior Scratch Cup

Sunday June 24th Warrenpoint Golf Club Senior Scratch Cup

Sunday June 24th Grange Golf Club Junior Scratch Cup

Sunday June 24th Grange Golf Club Senior Scratch Cup

Sunday July 1st South County Golf Club Junior Scratch Cup

Sunday July 1st South County Golf Club Senior Scratch Cup

Sunday July 15th Cork Golf Club Junior Scratch Cup

Sunday July 15th Mallow Golf Club Senior Scratch Cup

Saturday July 21st Roganstown Golf Club Junior Scratch Cup

Sunday July 22nd Concra Wood Golf Club Junior Scratch Cup

Sunday July 22nd Concra Wood Golf Club Senior Scratch Cup

Saturday July 28th Bray Golf Club Senior Scratch Cup

Sunday July 29th K Club Junior Scratch Cup

Saturday August 4th Ashbourne Golf Club Junior Scratch Cup

Sunday August 5th K Club Senior Scratch Cup

Monday August 6th Woodenbridge Golf Club Junior Scratch Cup

Monday August 6th Knightsbrook Resort Junior Scratch Cup

Sunday August 19th Dromoland Castle Junior Scratch Cup

Sunday August 19th Dromoland Castle Senior Scratch Cup

Friday August 24th Rathsallagh Golf Club Junior Scratch Cup

Sunday August 26th Naas Golf Club Junior Scratch Cup

Sunday August 26th Mount Wolseley Junior Scratch Cup

Sunday September 2nd Delgany Golf Club Senior Scratch Cup

Sunday September 9th Charlesland Golf Club Junior Scratch Cup

Sunday September 16th Blainroe Golf Club Junior Scratch Cup

Sunday September 16th Blainroe Golf Club Senior Scratch Cup

Sunday September 23rd Order of Merit PlayOffs at The K Club

Saturday & Sunday October 6th & 7th TopGolfer Tour Championship at Fota Island Resort

There is no cost to join, just go to the website and sign-up. You even get some freebies on the day.

What does 2012 hold for Irish golf?

We’re into February, so this blog is a month late (I was waiting for some GUI figures), but with little to dwell on so far - Rory’s silly 2 shot penalty aside - the sentiments remain the same. 2012 could be a defining year for Irish golf… or it might not.

Irish Professional Golfers

Will we win a Major or two? How many of our boys will make the Ryder Cup team? Will Rory or G-Mac win the Irish Open, or do the likes of Shane Lowry and Gareth Maybin have a shot? Can Padraig stop his spiralling decline down the work rankings? Can everyone’s favourite, loveable rogue put down the pint glass and get back to golf?

There’s not an Irishman around the world who doesn’t want to see Rory slipping on the Green Jacket after the disaster of last year. The question is – will he wrap up more than one Major?

[Photo taken from www.golftrainingaids.com]

As much as golf punditry focuses on Tiger’s return and his prospects for the year (don’t tell me he’s not going to start winning again), the Irish concern has to be on Padraig. In a couple of weeks’ time our greatest ever golfer is going to slip out of the top 100, and yet he keeps telling us that everything’s fine, that all he needs is a tweak here or there and he’ll be back. It pains me to see the man struggle, but I see a Tin Cup moment approaching when he’ll have golfing paraphernalia dangling from his head and an expression that says: ‘hey, this one’s gonna work.’ Personally, I think he’s trying too hard. Some time spent away from the game would do him the world of good... as if that's going to happen.

As for Shane Lowry, he’ll win something this year and keep the stream of Irish winners ticking over nicely.

Check out the poll on the top right of the blog and add your thoughts.

Irish Golf Courses

We lost three courses in 2011 (Kilkea Castle, Limerick County and Turvey), along with one of the Citywest courses (Lakes) which is set to become an interesting par 69 car park.

What 2012 holds is anybody’s guess but it is a serious concern for Irish golf. Most worryingly of all, it is not the weakest clubs that will fail necessarily. Take a bow, NAMA.

NAMA props up several courses whose owners have gone kaput thanks to the banking/property fiasco and their own greed/stupidity (delete as appropriate). The courses themselves are good (Tulfarris, Fota Island, New Forest…) and were simply luckless in who owned them , but with so much pressure being put on Irish golf in general, something’s got to give… and if it’s not the NAMA courses, then there will probably be casualties nearby.

[Photo: Views over the lakes and 13th green at Tulfarris]

That in itself is not fair, but the Government and their friends at the Bad Bank are trying – allegedly – to get the best value for money for the Irish taxpayer by funding these clubs, and if other just-about-financially-viable clubs suffer as a result of these actions, that's not the Government's concern.

Elsewhere, several golf clubs are in receivership/administration and not under the protective NAMA umbrella. And they are fighting for their lives. Deals have been made late in the day with banks who have provided assistance, extended overdrafts and get-out-of-jail free cards. Two clubs that have fought their way back from the brink are Knockanally and Beaufort, with the latter now run entirely by the members in an attempt to survive. Their efforts should be applauded and, as a fine and elegant course, I hope it does survive.

Without meaning to sound harsh, there is a desperate need for some clubs to fail so that others can prosper. But who would you wish that on? (Actually, I have a few in mind but I’m trying to be objective here.) If golf courses can get through this year and next, they have a good chance of making it the whole way. But there's a lot going on between now and then...

[Photo: approach to Moyvalley's 12th hole]

Golf Membership

Another worrying trend is the continuing fall in the number of GUI full membership golfers. The figures read as follows:

2007 148,342

2008 148,067

2009 144,613

2010 131,502

2011 123,118

Between 2007 (the peak of GUI membership numbers) and 2011 the number of golfers fell by 17%. Over 25,200 golfers have dropped out. A few have become 5 or 6 day members, others country members, but most have simply decided to save their annual sub and use their money for more important things. When they want to play golf – at any of Ireland’s courses – they have the opportunity and the means to do it.

The paradox is that many clubs have waved their joining fees in an attempt to attract golfers. Moyvalley is the one oft cited (from €75,000 to €800), but there were many others where joining fees could have bought you a very classy car and a three week holiday in Oz.

Golf Tourism

The positive news is that tourist numbers are up (7% overall in 2011), with the American golfing market particularly buoyant, with a boost of 25%; the bad news is that we’re still way down on the highs of 2006/7. But as long as the numbers are moving in the right direction there’s cause for optimism.

And with our green fees so severely slashed (and far more realistic), it makes Ireland a more attractive golf destination still. Then again, you’d have to sell your house or give up your three week holiday to Oz just so you can afford to take your golf clubs on a Ryanair flight.

The names of Rory, Darren, G-Mac and Padraig must also be a big draw and Failte Ireland are certainly doing their best to push these guys in their marketing campaigns.

Perhaps they should be building on the ‘Gathering’ planned for next year, and start a ‘Golf Gathering’ as well.

[The par three 3rd at the K Club Palmer course]

Playing Ireland’s Best

During the boom years there were some golf clubs that were, simply put, unaffordable for the average, hard-working golfer. The K Club led the way with monstrous green fees approaching €400. Never has a golfer wanted to play 400 shots in a single round of golf just so they get their money’s worth.

But smaller clubs weren’t blameless, with clubs around Leinster pushing green fees up towards the €100 mark. Many of these are down to the €30-€40 bracket again, and that can only be a good thing. Elasticity of demand and all that economics stuff, which I sat through in college, makes my blood run cold but I get the gist… and I hope golf clubs do too.

[Photo: Approach to Lahinch's 6th hole - all the more enjoyable when you play it for €50]

Today, if you want to play the big courses as a special treat, you can do so. At this time of year you’ll find some cracking deals (Royal County Down is £50, Lahinch is €50 and Druid’s Glen is €40), but even during peak season, prices are down by 25% to 60%. You just have to look a little bit. Last year the K Club had open ‘Festival’ days when you could play the Palmer course for €75.

Conclusion

Without murdering a cliché or two, Ireland is in the rough but there is plenty of light at the end of the tunnel. Irish professionals are winning, golfing tourists are coming back and green fees have come down. It sounds so easy when you put it that way. Now, as long as you support your golf club, we’ll be grand.

Papa Smurf to buy the K Club?

Yep, Smurfit is lining up to buy the K Club in its entirety. It's like an on-again, off-again relationship. I can't keep up with who owns what down there in Straffan.

The Irish Independent has a full article on it, but you know what I call Smurfit's €10 million... Chump change.

Fota Island Golf Offer

[The par five 10th]

Interestingly, a four day Fota Island offer advertised yesterday has 'sold out'. When I first saw it I thought it a rather strange one:

€87 instead of €174 for a round of golf, Fota Island branded polo shirt and 1 dozen golf balls.

Excuse me for being cynical, but 'sold out' seems unlikely unless they were selling only a handful of this deal. For one thing, it's not exactly an attractive offer (the golf balls were 'Noodles' by the way). At the moment, a round of golf mid-week is roughly €40, a polo shirt should be around €30, and a box of Noodles, for the sake of symmetry, costs €17. Dah-dah, that's €87.

How can that package ever have costed €174? And €87 isn't what I'd call great value either.

The positive thing is that the offer is something out of the ordinary, so it's good to see a golf club trying to be different. If it sold out, genuinely, then I'm very impressed, but I suspect someone screwed up along the way and either the offer or the price should have been something else.

By the way, I love the course and the facilities... it's just the offer that leaves me cold.

GB Prize Preferences

Following the blog on the prize preferences of Irish golfers from a few days back, some numbers came in through GB's Golf-Monthly Forum.

PRIZE	Ireland	GB
Crystal/China	9%	13%
Golf Gear	19%	15%
Golf Vouchers	34%	69%
Weekend Away	33%	0
Wine etc. Household items (lamp, cutlery)	4%	0
Green Fee Vouchers	1%	3%

Interesting differences, with a third of Irish golfers looking for weekends away vs. 0% from GB, and 7 out of 10 GB golfers preferring Golf Vouchers - twice that of Ireland. Based on this extremely detailed research study, GB golfers are far easier to satisfy than ourselves.