Golf News... Episode 3

Portsalon's 12th green from the left hand side.
The club celebrates 125 years in 2016.

There are several events going on at Irish golf clubs in the next month or two, and new figures show the ups and downs of Irish tourism and Irish golf.

Esker Hills

When you have a superstar like Shane Lowry as your golden boy, why wouldn’t you take advantage? Esker Hills are running a four day

Lough Erne to Host the King's Cup

Who would like a shot at representing Ireland in the inaugural King’s Cup, at Fermanagh’s fabulous 5-star Lough Erne Resort. Think 'Ryder Cup' for us amateurs.

The inaugural King’s Cup will pit a 16-man team representing the United States against an Irish team this April at Lough Erne Resort. And you could be in with a chance to be playing.

The event takes place at Lough Erne from April 27th - 29th, with its spectacular setting on a private 600-acre peninsula between

Ireland's Golfing Augusta

The par three 8th at Druid's Glen

For golfers, the word 'Augusta' evokes visions of lush, sweeping greens, greener jackets, perfect water features, blazes of colour and instantly recognisable golf holes. And so many great golfing memories.

Perhaps that is why golf courses around the world are so eager to boast their own Amen Corner. Ireland has several* and

Spreading the Destination Golf Love

Castlemartyr's 7th and 5th greens

I spent yesterday driving part of Ireland's south coast, visiting four excellent golf courses to drop off copies of Irish golf's latest magazine: Destination Golf's Guide to Ireland.

West Waterford, Castlemartyr, Fota Island and Cork golf clubs. Remarkably, given our weather of late and what the forecast had predicted, I got to see the courses

St Anne's in Irish Golfer Magazine

The par four 4th at St. Anne's

It is always intriguing returning to a course you haven't played in a few years. I remember St. Anne's being a fairly flat and lifeless course. My review of this Irish links in Hooked is hardly going to inspire travelling golfers to play here.

But things have changed and are continuing to change at St. Anne's, which is tucked away on Dublin's Bull Island, next door to the more highly regarded Royal Dublin. 

Here are 11 photos to show off its charms.

Golf Promotion Night, 17th February, Belfast

If you're an Irish golfer and you're not doing anything on Wednesday 17th February, and you just happen to be in the vicinity of the the Europa Hotel in Belfast, drop along for the annual Golf Ireland Golf Promotion Night.

It's a gathering of golf clubs and various other golfing organisations... as well as passionate golfers looking for society deals, golf breaks and a general chit-chat about the state of the game and why it is still so good to be golfing on this beautiful island.

Views over the 18th and 15th greens at Malone Golf Club.

It's free of charge and there will be plenty of freebies to give away, as well as a golf simulator to have a lash at. Who knows what might come your way.

See you there.