Royal Portrush

It took a little over an hour to get up to Portrush from Belfast. This terrain was very different from what I had seen in the other courses so far. I could see mountains, not too big but when you come from Florida anything is huge, cliffs and rolling hills all over the country. The place reminded me of New Zealand that I love so much. I made sure to get there early and have a proper warm-up. I was assigned Derek as my caddie and at first I wasn’t too sure what to think of him since he put my bad on a trolley cart instead of carrying it. I would guess he was about 50 years old. I found out through the course of the day that he’s been a caddie for over 35 years. We really hit it off as he called me “boss” and would say, “I’m here to do the work and you’re here to enjoy yourself.” The guy was a class act. He didn’t always get the club or yardage correct but I’m sure I had him guessing between the great golf swing and the bad one. 

You go in and pay at the pro shop for your round but you get your caddie and start from the caddie master. I was just walking up from the range and I had twenty minutes to go and was planning on putting and relaxing a bit. The caddie master tells me I need to go, so I went.

Hole 1: Is uphill and not too difficult. Stay right for an easy shot and less slope into the green.

Hole 3: I think I hit a 395 yard drive. About 260 in the air and another 135 at least on the ground that put me in a bunker about 90 yards from the green. It’s weird to hit a ball that far because you start to realize you don’t have any control over where that thing is going to stop.

Hole 5: I knock my chip onto the green after a fantastic drive of over 350 yards, down-hill.

Hole 13: The signature hole that runs up to the beach lived up to its name, “calamity corner”. My short chip hit the green and it just kept rolling through the green and down the embankment to the beach.

Hole 14: I hit a great 3 wood 195 yards into the wind that ended up just off the green in a hollow. The hollow is named after a guy who hit his ball in there all four rounds of the British Open and pared the hole every time.

I really loved this golf course and can’t wait to play it again. While the first the courses were great, this one in my book was the best of them. 

After the round I went up stairs to the restaurant for lunch, ordered with Joy and then went back down and took a shower. They don’t allow golf shoes or hats in the restaurant so it was taking a little longer than usual for me to get situated. I started telling Joy that we should go over to Rathmore which is Graeme McDowell’s course next door. I saw the pro shop from the 18th tee box. It’s not a big deal at all and my caddie said the member there are also members of Portrush. I told her I bet Graeme is in town since he wasn’t playing this week and he is playing next week at the Open in England. No sooner do I say this and a guy comes in and sits down with his back facing the room and starts talking to another guy. He orders a coffee and I hear his voice and I say to Joy, I think that’s McDowell. She starts giving me crap like don’t tease me, I say listen to his voice, she starts to get nervous and says omygosh, it is. I say, you better get over there and ask for a photo. It took her about 5 minutes of listening to him for her to get up the courage. He couldn’t have been nicer. I did apologize to him for my wife stalking him. He commented on my Pebble Beach shirt (where he won the US Open) and asked me about my round and plans, and where we were from. 

Joy said she’s good, she got all she came for. It’s funny, I remember teasing Joy that we only live 2 hours from him in Florida, but we’ll go 2500 miles to meet him. What are the odds? The stars were aligned and everything came together and I’m so happy that Joy got her moment. Definitely a memory that will last a lifetime.

Location: Royal Portrush Golf Club, Dunluce Road, Portrush, County Antrim
Website: http://www.royalportrushgolfclub.com/

Played: July 2012
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Tags: Ireland, Royal Portrush, Golf Course, July, 2012, Summer, World

Portmarnock Golf Club – Rolex Top 10 Worldwide (Championship Course)

I called up the course this morning and asked for the starter. They transferred me over to Tony…

Me: Hey I’m John from the USA and want to come out and play later today. Can you get me on?    

Tony: We have a tournament going on, I can probably get you on after around 3 but it might be slow. 

Me: See you around 3...

Me: I walk in at 3pm, is Tony around? 

Random guy: Sure right over here.

Me: I’m John and I called about coming out this morning. 

Tony: No problem John, let me get your caddie. 

The guys at the pro shop gave me 25% off because they thought I was one of Tony’s old friends. I got all setup, slipped Tony a twenty and got a flash of his Irish smile.

The weather was much better today and Tony insisted I get going right away as a four-ball was going out right after me. My caddie was Sean, a local guy who’s a welder by trade but can’t give up the outdoor job as a caddie. He just loves being out too much. One thing I’m learning is that with all the rain they’ve had this spring and summer the rough is just insane. The course isn’t meant to be played with the kind of rough out there. I decided to take a different approach with this round since I was playing by myself.

I took the scorecard and just put it away. I was going to just enjoy playing one the world’s best golf courses. I can’t honestly tell you what I shot, if I had to guess, somewhere in the eighties.

Rather than go hole by hole I’m just going to put out some feelings. 

Many of the fairways are extremely narrow to even if you hit the ball well, odds are you’re going to be in the first cut or rough. I think I hit 3 or 4 fairways all day. The course is setup on what I would guess is its own peninsula. On one side you have a bay and the other side is the Irish Sea. The ocean side has a few small islands that make for a great view and the beaches are just massive and very flat. I can’t think of any course that really compares, maybe Kiawah if you could put a bay opposite the ocean. I made a bunch off putts and worked on my game a little bit. My caddie kept me entertained.

On the 8th hole we came on a fox that was just hanging out.  Sean says “Hey John, you got some chocolate, that fox will be your best friend”. I grab my trail mix and give it a shake and sure enough the fox knew he had me. He comes over and I toss some out to him and he gobbles the whole thing up.

 The highlight of the day had to be the roast beef sandwich. Tony told me to stop by after the 9th and he’d have a sandwich for me. I was thinking it was going to be some crazy Irish meal with crazy crap on it and stuff. Nope… were talkin Roast Beef cut up like left overs and a slice of cheese package in tin foil. I think it was the best meal I’ve had since arriving in Europe. Let’s just say when the fox met up with me again on the 10th green all he got was the crust. Simple and delicious. Thanks Tony.

I’ve got to mention the 15th hole. A nasty par 3 on the ocean, reminded me of Whistling Straights on Lake Michigan. It was 195 yards playing about 220. Sean told me we had favorable winds and that normally it blows even harder on this hole. The locals say it’s the shortest par 5 in golf. I got a four when my putt lipped out.

I had a great time at Portmarnock and if you ever get to Dublin call Tony and tell him John sent you.

Location: Portmarnock, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
Website: http://www.portmarnockgolfclub.ie/

Played: July 2012
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Tags: Ireland, Portmarnock, Golf Course, July, 2012, Summer, dublin, Top 10, Worldwide,  Rolex

Ballybunion Golf Course (No. 17)

Let’s start with everything I did wrong.

1. Got to the course 15 minutes before my tee time – had to take a ferry and drop off laundry
2. No warm-up
3. Drove two hours by car prior to the round – great for the back
4. Forgot to take Advil
5. Didn’t have any money for the halfway house to get food or drink
6. Didn’t eat breakfast or lunch

Add all this to 20 mph winds and light rain and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. I shot an 86 and that’s with a mulligan off the first tee, out of bounds over the cemetery and into the street. Mulligan on 18 when I brain farted and whiffed my tee shot 50 yards out to the right. Put that together and it’s over 90 for sure, but let’s get to the course.

Hole 1: Doesn’t look too tough, just can’t go right off the tee. Most of the holes are narrow and just require accuracy or you will be in the long weeds. Since it’s been raining for the last 9 months everything is green, long and gnarly. Stay out of the rough.

Hole 6: Beautiful dogleg left that bends down to the sea. I got par and was pretty pleased.

Hole 7

Hole 7: Down along the sea, the hole went straight out. When the weather is really bad they use a green that goes out to the left.

Hole 12: A super nasty par 3 that was 195 yards up hill and was into the wind, oh and a very narrow landing strip of a green. My 3 wood was pin high missing the green on the right and as a result went 30 yards down the hill. A guy in the group hit a driver and came up 40 yards short. They should give you a certificate for hitting this green.

Holes 16, 17 and 18 are by far the best 3 holes of the course.

Hole 16: is a par 5 dog leg that goes up from the water. I tried to cut the corner of course, caddie told me not to, did it anyway - ended up in the long grass, chip up 100 yards and then onto the green with another 100 yard shot. Par wasn’t too bad. Just loved this hole.

Hole 17: is back down to the water again, I’m getting tired going up the hill and back down. Nice elevated dog leg. Hit a 200 yard shot that left me with an 8 iron into the green. It was good to be in the fairway.

Hole 18: is all the way up the hill to the club house. A huge bunker is at the end of the fairway so my caddie made me hit 3 wood. He was right and a 9 iron into the green was just 5 feet from the hole. I missed the putt, just that kind of day.

I didn’t do much right today, definitely a learning experience. Even though I didn’t play well I don’t think I would put this course on the top of any of my lists. It had 5 or 6 great holes but many mediocre holes that just got you to the next area. My caddie told me to play Dooks and Old Head next time I’m in Ireland. He said they’re both very good. So far I’ve got a list of 3 or 4 courses to play next time I make it to the West Coast of Ireland.

Location: Sandhill Road, Ballybunion, County Kerry, Ireland

Website: http://www.ballybuniongolfclub.ie/
Played: July 2012
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Tags: Ireland, Ballybunion, Golf Course, July, 2012, Summer

Doonbeg Golf Course (Ireland)

Getting off the plane and driving to Doonbeg on the left side of very tight roads got me prepared for the types of hazards Ireland has to offer. I declined the extra car insurance and I’m really second guessing that decision. Keep in mind the car is 200 Euro for 5 days and they wanted 350 Euro for insurance. The roads aren’t too bad until a semi-truck is going the opposite direction and it feels like you’ve got inches between you and certain death. Ok, I’ve taken a deep breath, on with the golf.

Doonbeg is a premier resort with everything you could want and a centralized location for golf on the Southwest coast of Ireland. Many people stay here while they play at Ballybunion (tomorrow’s course) and Lahinch among others. We got a villa overlooking the 17th green and fairway and it’s the lap of luxury. I give it a 5 out of 5 for accommodations.

Make sure, when you travel to this part of the world you’ve got a really good wind beanie cap for your head that will cover your ears. The wind is your enemy so forget the traditional hat and take care of your ears. You’ll be amazed how taking care of your ears will keep you in balance and also help you from over hitting because that wind is whistling through them. The course is a links style that goes out and comes back. The front nine the wind was right to the left and the back nine it was left to right. I met my caddie Sam and off we went.

Hole 1: When you hit your approach shot to the green you feel like you need more than 1 extra club because of the wind. Just make sure you stay short of the back of the green. I went long because my caddie told me to play two extra clubs and of course it was only one extra, that put me in the waste brush behind the hole and got me a bogey.

1st Hole looking back to resort

Hole 5: My caddie tried to talk me into laying up on this 331 yard hole. I had laid up on hole 3 which was 327 yards and I was not going to do it again, even though I did shoot par. I hit a perfect draw that split the fairway rolled up the green and then off to the side. Now we’re having some fun….

Hole 8: The number one handicap hole lived up to its billing. From the tee… no big deal, long par five and pretty straight forward. I was in the right rough off the tee and now this is where you get the beginner lesson… I lay up a well 10-15 yards from the cross bunker and guess what… the ground drops off. So... even though your ball lands safely it kicks forward and of course rolls into a very difficult bunker. Several shots later I settle for a quadruple bogey.

Hole 9: My caddie tried to get me to lay up (??? You have number 9's) way left and with the wind blowing left it’s hard to hit that shot. I’d do it all different of course and I think I would get four shots back.

Hole 9: My favorite scenic hole. There’s a peninsula of land that sticks out and it would be a great spot for an incredible par 3. Instead the peninsula is covered with cows grazing and it just makes a great back drop for this short little par 3. My caddie says the golf course has tried and tried to acquire the little piece of land but to no avail the cows have it. Front 9 out with 44. Should have been a 39.

Hole 11: Make sure you take enough club. I was short and my ball rolled all the way back down the hill.

Hole 12

Hole 12: Tough hole. The pin was way left and the wind is left to right. For some reason there’s a bunker in the middle of the green. Not sure why… Par with a great chip.

14 Hole

Hole 13: I hit my best shot of the day. 5 wood from 225 to an elevated green. A shot to remember as I was playing through a group. I got a lot of looks after I flushed it. My brother Fred always taught me to put out my best when playing through. I didn’t disappoint.

Hole 14: Just a sliver of a green. Reminds me of the par 3 number five at Pebble Beach. Just 106 yards and I played it for 80 yards. I was pin high but it rolled off. I chipped up and took my par.

17th Fairway with villa on left side

Hole 18: I was in the fairway bunker and the green has an infinity edge into the Atlantic Ocean. My caddie told me to stay right of the hole. I hit a perfect shot but it rolled off the green. I got up to the green and told my caddie, “you know if I aimed left of the green I’d be on the green.” No problem, I chipped to 5 feet and drained the putt for par.

Back 9 in at 38 for a total of 82. Not bad for my first round in Ireland and fresh off the plane.

18th hole in background with infinity edge. 

Joy makes the hole look much nicer. What a great course and good time. Thanks for puttin’ up with me Sam and I hope we can play it again.

Location: Doonbeg, County Claire, Ireland

Website: http://www.doonbeglodge.com/golf-ireland.html

Played: July 2012

Public

Tags: Bellybunion, Summer, 2012, July, Public, Ireland, Golf

Oakmont Country Club (No.4)

Fast.... Seriously fast. What a great track with no comparison. It was in the high 90's when we teed off at 12:40. I got there around 11am and changed in the locker room. This place has got to be king of old school. I felt like for a brief time i was like Gatsby hob nobbing with the in crowd. After the round the showers and facilities are all you could ask for and more. Hit the pro shop for shirts and gifts, tons of stuff so give yourself plenty of time. Before the round we took the golf cart to the range and warmed up. I allowed 30 minutes for putting and it made all the difference. I had three birdies and never 3 putt so get yourself in sync with the speeds and slope if you want any chance at a good day. The turn house has Debbie's Oatmeal cream cookies. They're the bomb. Make sure you get one with the great dogs and you'll be a happy camper.


1. The first hole is pure evil as the green slops away and is downhill. Good luck getting close on your second shot.
2. Just go for it. Laying up for someone that can stick a 5 iron on ass fault.
3. Church pews... It hit it right over them and into the 4th fairway bunker. The green is wicked as the back and side fall off and away.
6. Hit my pitching wedge 155 yards and birdied. Brilliance!!!!
8. Longest par 3 I've ever played. Stay right.
9. Big green so take extra club. Don't come up short.
11. The ditch that's 270 out goes all the way down the right. Stay left.
12. Let it fly and go for the green in two. Is was in the green side bunker. Got up and down for birdie.
15. Great hole. Stay left on approach. I was in the right bunker and bogeyed.
16. Hit opposit of the flag. It was on the right and I missed right and made double.
17. Gotta go for it. Is was 20 yards short and got up and down for birdie.
18. Stay left. Fairway hit makes this whole reasonable.


 I shot 46 on the front and 38 on the back for 84. Not bad... I can't wait to try again as I gave the front nine too much respect. This course has to be attacked and you have to keep the ball below the hole when possible. On the downslope greens, got for the front and hope for par. My caddie was Josh. Great guy, reminded me of Jethro, strong with an easy smile. I told him when he agrees with me he's always right. He was a quick learner.


After golf we went swimming next door with the family. What a great time that I'll never forget. Thank you Denny, Gene, Meagan, Joseph and the entire family for sharing your day with me.

Location: 1233 Hulton Road.Oakmont, PA 15139
Website: http://www.oakmont-countryclub.org/
Played: June 2012

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Tags: Oakmont, 2012, Summer, June, PA, church pews