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The H&B Country Club members' Choice Awards for Irish Golf Tourism Best course: In a very close race, Royal County Down with Donald Steel’s recent revisions for the 2007 Walker Cup matches over the Dunluce Course of Royal Portrush.
Best of the least known courses: Carne Golf Links. Nearly all of you who’ve played Carne believe it belongs hands down on the list of the world’s top 100. When I finally made my first pilgrimage there a couple of years ago, I found it to be the best new course I’d played since Kingsbarns opened in 2000. Most improved course: The Lahinch Old Course gets the nod for Martin Hawtree’s superb work. His new 8th hole, for example, is simply stunning. Fazio’s work at Waterville and Faldo’s revisions at Ballyliffin Old Links are tied for second.
Most over-rated course: Although we were tempted to give this award to the European Club because a number of you have been disappointed in the experience there, I do not share that view and I do fear the wrath of Pat Ruddy, the Club’s owner and resident architect. The truth is more of you have left Ballybunion a bit disappointed than any of the other famous Irish courses. Frequently faulted are holes 4, 5 and 6 plus the weak finish with 18. Having said that, the other 14 holes are grand and the course is a must play for any golfer visiting the Irish southwest.
Best caddie programme: Sadly, there is no longer as much competition for this award as there once was. The number of Irish willing to toil for caddie wages has decreased in almost direct proportion to the growth in the country’s economy. Members of the Forces frequently laud their caddies at Old Head and Doonbeg as the best they had in Ireland and rarely complain about a bad one at either club. Best meal after golf: The Oyster Tavern in Spa midway between Tralee and the Tralee Golf Club. If you can’t schedule your tee time so you can have dinner at the Tavern after golf, then plan to have lunch there. It has a convivial bar and a large selection of seafood in the restaurant. The menu also includes various meat dishes but who would be so daft as to order a steak or pork roast at the Oyster Tavern? Best club logo: Another close one here between Royal County Down and Royal Portrush. Oh what the hell! Buy something from both pro shops. Most bizarre club logo: How about a green frog with hideous orange spots on its back? That’s the official logo of Dooks Golf Club, home to the Natterjack toad. We know one H&B member whose golf bag sports Natterjack head covers. Now those are conversation pieces. Best value: The eleven true links courses you can play in little more than a week’s visit to the Irish Northwest. This Carne to Ballyliffin odyssey of exceptional golf prices like all of Ireland did five years ago, a savings of about $1000 over any other golfing region in Ireland. The accommodations have vastly improved in the last decade and the region is no longer remote thanks to improved roads and better air service. Some day the Northwest is going to be “discovered” and the prices inevitably will rise. Try to play there before they do. A very big thank you and fond farewell to Damian Ryan, the Irish tourist board’s tireless ambassador for Irish golf ever since H&B began sending folks to Ireland. He recently retired and will be sorely missed. In fact, he is already. Enjoy your leisurely back nine, old friend! You’ve earned it. |
