Atlantic Coast Challenge 2017 (Golf at Carne, Enniscrone, Co. Sligo)

Views back up Carne's par four 3rd

As a golfer what’s the one thing you look forward to most in the year? There must be something!

The hour going forward? The first day of The Masters? Your first tee shot, whether it’s January or June? That holiday abroad? Or the arrival of your new driver? More than likely, it’s a combination of more than one of these things.

For me, over the past six years, it has been the anticipation of playing in the Atlantic Coast Challenge (ACC). The three-day tournament (3-5 July) plays over Carne, Co. Sligo and Enniscrone golf clubs and is open to all amateurs. It is links heaven, it’s a lot of fun and it is, by any stretch of the imagination, excellent value

All aboard... Portstewart Golf Club and The Irish Open

The 2nd hole - a short but daunting par four.

Wednesday last (17th May) marked 50 days until the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Portstewart Golf Club... which tees off on Thursday 6th July.

The event, as part of the Rolex Series, has raised the profile of this Co. Londonderry golf course considerably. Set on the magnificent Causeway Coast, the golf club boasts three courses but

What drives your golfing year? Try the Atlantic Coast Challenge

Approach to Carne's 17th hole. A tough, tough par four.

As a golfer what’s the one thing you look forward to most in the year? There must be something, right!

The hour going forward? The first day of The Masters? Your first tee shot, whether it’s January or June? That holiday abroad? Or the arrival of your new driver? More than likely, it’s a combination of more than one of these things.

For me, over the past six years, it has been the anticipation of playing in the Atlantic Coast Challenge (ACC). The three-day tournament (3-5 July) plays over Carne, Co.

ShopRite Twitter Poll... Philogyny or Phooey?

Sharmila Nicollet

Shopping around for the most attractive female golfers signals a new low.

In the first week of June, lady Professional golfers will play the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer, in Galloway, New Jersey. There will be 144 Pros competing for $1.5 million.

As with most of these events there are sponsor invitations. The tournament organisers announced last week that they would give a slot to one of four ladies based on a Twitter vote. This is the first time a player has been selected this way.

Yes, I’m being serious. Forget merit, this is all about social media popularity.

How do you feel about that? Is it good for golf? Are we embracing the social media age

Roar for Rory: Kids and the Irish Open

When Rory stuck his oar in to refresh the Irish Open, some three years ago, none of us realised quite how big a boat he was planning to row. The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open is rolling into town in two months’ time and the expectations are high. In 2015 (Royal County Down) and 2016 (K Club) visitors and even those who were intrigued by his involvement, that of his Rory Foundation and the lead sponsor Dubai Duty Free, have seen a tournament go from strength to strength. It didn’t hurt that last year, when Rory won in such scintillating style, he donated all of his winnings to the charities being supported by The Rory Foundation.

2017 is the ‘biggest’ year yet. There’s a music stage, there’s a superb links course,

Much Ado About Membership

A view of Mount Wolseley's 4th hole.

The level of doom and gloom in Irish golf is fluctuating. The hard hit, small courses - particularly those in the country - remain a bit down-trodden while the bigger courses, the resort courses and the links are seeing far rosier horizons. For those small clubs the decline in membership is a significant factor. They don't enjoy the same level of green fee visitors or corporate outings as the their bigger siblings, leaving it to golf societies to provide much needed additional income. At least the popularity of society outings is once again on the rise providing an important fillip for those clubs where membership has tumbled by 20-30%.

The membership dilemma is a tricky one. There are Pros and Cons to the argument... and I wrote a piece for the Irish Examiner earlier this week which lists 12 Pros and 5 Cons. There were actually 6 Cons, but one had to be removed as I do tend to waffle on! I've added this below. A link to the article is here (please click).

Bearna Golf Club, just west of Galway city.

Con 6. Lifestyle. Because of lifestyle and family/work commitments some golfers never know where their next round is coming from and that can make membership hard to justify. Similarly golfers in the 20-40 age bracket may find that their career takes them to different locations around the country (or world) so basing themselves at one club is not worthwhile.   

And if you are interested in membership... may I direct you to the mygolfmembership.ie website where you can get an initial grasp of what just about every club is asking for.

I have yet to see any 'summer membership specials' so if you know of any, please let me know.

Engaging with the Future of Golf for the Northern Ireland Open

Galgorm Castle Golf Club

In perfectly timed symmetry - and by sheer coincidence - Modest! Golf issued a press release that dovetailed with my rant against the ShopRite LPGA Classic in New Jersey, next month. Essentially the people running the US tournament have decided to issue one sponsor invitation based on a beauty contest. I'm not kidding. That is utterly the wrong way to promote golf. The right way to promote golf, on the other hand, is the Modest! Golf way and I applaud them for their approach. They will invite the leading Under 18 player to compete in the Northern Irish Open (10-