St Patrick's Day Golf

Maybe it's just me, but this year there seem to be an awful lot more Irish golf clubs running open events on St Patrick's Day (and over the weekend). Is that because it's a Friday? Is it because St Patrick's Day is becoming the traditional day that fair-weather golfers come out of hibernation? Or is it because clubs have realised that they can open up their course to visitors and - without being cynical - they can generate some cashflow?

Or is it because some of these events will be the first of the year to affect handicaps. Given that this is the GUI's month of #TheFairWay campaign it is worth noting that for every golfer who
deliberately manipulates their handicap there are 999 who are endeavouring to get their handicap as low as possible. They will be out in force on Friday and this weekend.

A week or so ago I was thinking of writing a piece on the clubs running a Paddy's Day event but there really is no need. Look on Twitter, look on Facebook, look on the clubs' websites and you'll find out pretty quickly what sort of event is being held, and where... and when (Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon).

[I have a Twitter List dedicated to Irish Golf Clubs so if you want to know what's going on - and not just on the 17th - take a look]

Rathcore Golf Club

Here are 43 clubs with open events/tee times over the St Patrick's Day weekend:

1. Ardglass (Mixed Foursomes, Friday, £20)
2. Arklow (Open 4 Person Team, Friday, €25)
3. Athy (Open Singles, Friday, Open Scotch Foursomes, Saturday and Sunday, €15)
4. Balbriggan (Open Singles, Friday, €15)
5. Balcarrick (Open Team on Saturday, €17, Open Singles on Sunday, €20)
6. Bangor (Open Singles, Friday, £10)
7. Blainroe (Open Singles, Friday, €20)
8. Blarney (Open 2 Person Scramble, Friday, €15)
9. Bray (Open Singles, Monday, €20)
10. Bunclody (Open Singles, Friday €25; Four Person Scramble, Sat & Sun, €25) 
11. Castlemartyr (Open Singles, Friday, €30)
12. Castlerock (Fourball Texas Scramble, Friday, £12)
13. Concra Wood (Open Singles, Friday, €30, includes Bacon Bap, Tea/Coffee)
14. Coollattin (Open 4 Person Team, Friday, €20)
15. Donegal (aka Murvagh) (Open Singles, Friday, €30)
16. Dunmurry Springs (Open Champagne Scramble, Saturday, 4 man team - €80)
17. Glasson (Charity Event Open Singles, Friday, €25)
18. Gort (Champagne Scramble, team of four, over the 3 days. €20)
19. Headfort (Open tee times, Saturday, €30, includes Breakfast Bap, Tea/Coffee)
20. Killarney (Killeen) (Open Singles, Friday, €40)
21. Killeen Castle (Open Team event on Friday, Singles on Sunday. €45pp)
22. Killerig (Various events over the 3 days, €15)
23. Kirkistown Castle (Open Singles, Friday, £10)
24. Lough Erne (Open Singles, Saturday, £40)
25. Macroom (Open 3 Person Team, Friday, €15)
26. Mahon (Open tee times, Friday, €20)
27. Mannan Castle (Open Singles, Friday, €15)
28. Moate (Open Singles, Friday and Saturday, €12)
29. Naas (Two Person Team, Friday, €20)
30. Newbridge (Open Scramble Team of 3, Friday, €12)
31. Newcastle West (Open Fourball, Friday, €20)
32. North West (Shamrock Open Singles, Saturday, €25)
33. Palmerstown House Estate (Open Singles, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, €35)
34. Portarlington (Open Scramble, Friday, €7.50)
35. Portumna (Open Singles, Sunday, €15)
36. Rathcore (Open Singles, Friday, €20)
37. Rathsallagh (Open Singles, Friday, €20)
38. Roscrea (Fourball Scramble, Friday, €15)
39. Slieve Russell (Open Singles, Friday, €30)
40. Strandhill (Open Singles, Friday, €30)
41. Thurles (Open Team of 3, Friday and Saturday, €15)
42. Tramore (Open Singles, Friday, €30 including Golfer's Grill)
43. Westmanstown (Open Singles, Friday, €20)