Ship Crashes Golf Course Afternoon Fourball

I've heard about rushing to the course when you're late for your tee time, but this is pushing it!

No idea where this was taken, but found on Twitter thanks to https://twitter.com/ThatsEarth

Irish Golf for Free. Play Baltray on Sat May 18th

Irish Golf is a beautiful thing... Free Irish Golf is even better!

I have a tee time booked for 2.10pm on Saturday 18th May for Baltray, a.k.a Co. Louth. I'm after three volunteers who'd like to play the scene of Shane Lowry's hair-raising amateur victory in the Irish Open (2009, in case you'd forgotten).

Inside The Ropes - Ballybunion

Views across to the 18th green and Ballybunion's clubhouse

Ballybunion will always be one of my favourite places to play golf. It is a course I had been aspiring to visit since I was a young boy – no older than Guan Tianlang – when ‘Masters’ referred to teachers with an impressive swing… even if it was only with a cane.

I have no idea why, but someone, somewhere, put Ballybunion in my head and it stuck. When I played it in 2008, for the first time, it didn’t disappoint.

Which is why I was so intrigued to see how Karl, Kevin and Patrick tackled the course on their first visit.

Golf Tips from the Pro 2

Most of us have got back onto the golf course by this stage - even if we are currently sitting in front of the TV watching the Masters. The winter hibernation is over and the sunlight on Augusta's dazzling array of colours makes golf seem beautiful again...

... I say this after being half drowned on the golf course yesterday and shrinking two shoe sizes.

Irish Golf Goes Augusta Style

The mad, mad frenzy that surrounds the US Masters and the first Major of the year... there's nothing like it, is there! Three golf organisations (I'm sure there are many more) have launched celebrations/competitions and general feelings of goodwill:

1. Fota Island (reduced rates)
2. My Golf Society (A prize draw for Druid's Glen Resort worth €€€)
3. Concierge Golf (Pick your Masters golfers and win)
4. And the others

Your US Masters Picks... for Prizes

It’s the Masters - the tournament that really kicks off the golfing year, so let’s get your three picks for Augusta, and whoever gets the best result will win a small prize (cap/towel, Golfdotz, other stuff). 

US Masters - The Fashion Show

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel slightly defiled by the big sports companies' promoting what the world's greatest golfers will be wearing on Augusta's fairways?

Here we have Tiger and Rory (and all the rest) turned into living dolls to prance around and promote their big sponsors.  Oh sure, you'll tell me that they've been doing that for years - I know, I know - but isn't golf supposed to be about... golf?

Inside The Ropes at Ballybunion - Golfers are...

The three names picked are
Denisoc16 (Boards)
Golfnut1 (Boards)
Pa Custy (Blog)

I'll be in touch. Hopefully you'll be inspired after Rory wins the Masters on the Sunday... even if my money's on Big Phil!

Ireland's Golf Gathering 1

I blogged about The Gathering a couple of weeks back, pointing out the large number of Irish golf events that are being held in 2013... but I have since discovered a couple of golf 'Gatherings' that are worth talking about.

1. Connemara Championship Links Golf Classic
2. In Search of a Golden Eagle

Golf Tips from the Pro 1

John Dooley is a PGA Golf Pro, based in Cork. He was the Pro at Doonbeg and now runs his own company - Concierge Golf - as well as teaching golfers of all abilities. He specialises in golf course operations, golf tourism and coordinating golf vacations to and from Ireland. 

Here are some tips from John about how to get the most from a practice session at the driving range... the last point is not something I ever considered before, but will do now!