| Hibernian handicaps  Over
a quarter of Ireland's 400 golf clubs are in the Midlands and east coast
of the country, with some amazing parkland courses and a few traditional
links courses. This year the whole area has been given a boost by the
Ryder Cup being awarded to the K Club in Kildare. Malcolm Rogers looks
forward to the golfing year in Ireland.
Ryder’s on the range
The Ryder Cup, probably one of the last great sporting events where prestige
is more important than money, is one of the very few which unites the
Irish, the Brits and other Europeans against the Americans.
The event traces its origins back to 1921, to Gleneagles in Scotland,
where an all-British team turned out against the US, soundly defeating
the Americans 9-3.
The event proved so popular that the germ of an idea for a regular series
was born. The fledgling feud (as it has occasionally turned out to be)
got a boost when the Royal & Ancient — golf's governing body
— decreed regional qualifying rounds before the 1926 Open Golf Championship,
forcing overseas competitors to make their transatlantic trek earlier.
With extra time on their hands, the American contingent agreed to form
a team for an unofficial match against the British professionals at Wentworth.
This time, the Americans’ defeat was worse, but the day was memorable
because in the crowd was English seed merchant and entrepreneur Samuel
Ryder, a member of the appreciative gallery.
In a very British way, it was suggested over tea that Ryder, a well-got
sort of chap, provide a trophy and encourage matches between the two protagonists
on a regular basis. Ryder agreed at once and commissioned the design of
the gold chalice that bears his name.
The inaugural series was held at Worcester Country Club, Massachusetts
in 1927, the US winning this time.
Fred Daly, a British Open winner in 1949, was the first Irishman to grace
the contest, starting a trend which has continued with famous contributions
from the likes of Harry Bradshaw, Christy O’Connors Senior and Junior,
Darren Clarke, Eamonn Darcy, Philip Walton, Paul McGinley et al.
K Club OK
This year, the 36th Ryder Cup will be held at The K Club near Straffan
in Co. Kildare.
The Europeans will be captained by Welshman Ian Woosnam, with assistant
captains Peter Baker and Des Smyth (from Dublin).
Also known as the Kildare Hotel & Country Club (but not often), the
complex boasts two championship courses, the Smurfit and the Palmer, not
to mention a five-star hotel and spa.
The courses occupy some 220 acres of prime Kildare real estate, featuring
11 lakes and the River Liffey. And it would be safe to say that the courses
are probably not for novices. If you have to shout “Fore!”
as you putt, it’s probably not the sort of place for you.
Challenges there are aplenty on The K Club, even for the most dedicated
professional, and according to Christy O’Connor Sr, the 16th, 17th
and 18th represent one of the best finishing stretches in Ireland.
Mind you, that’s a bit ominous, because I've always believed, no
matter how good a round of golf you've had — birdies and eagles
all the way — the last three holes will adjust your score to what
it should be.
As you might imagine, The K Club is not terribly cheap. Until March 31
one night’s accommodation in a Superior Room, breakfast and a round
of golf and dinner will cost you €292.00 per person sharing
For two nights’ accommodation in a Superior Room, breakfast each
morning, a round of golf on each course and dinner each evening you're
looking at €551.00 per person sharing — and that's only from
Sunday to Thursday. The price climbs steadily towards the summer —
but remember a round of golf without even staying at the hotel begins
at €105, rising to €170 in the summer.
By the way, if you do avail yourself of the above packages and your partner
doesn’t play, they can make use of the many spa, relaxation, fitness
or beauty treatments available.
Various deals are available for the Ryder Cup weekend in September, but
you'd be well advised to get on the case as allocations are filling up
even as you read this.
The K Club, Straffan, Co. Kildare, Ireland. tel: +353 (0)1 6017200 fax:
+353 (0)1 6017297 email: resortsales@kclub.ie.
Fairways to heaven
 They say that your
best round of golf will be followed almost immediately by your worst round
ever. The probability of the latter increases with the number of people
you tell about the former. It’s helpful, therefore, that the golf
courses of Ireland offer much in compensation in terms of scenery, conviviality
and indeed variety.
The east coast and the Midlands are blessed in that regard, even if your
budget doesn't quite run to The K Club.
Just up the road in Glack, the County Longford Club on the Dublin Road
will give you a more than serviceable round for €25 — less
than 20 quid. And for that you’ll get a quiet round in almost soporifically
beautiful surroundings — parkland, manicured bushes and giant conifers.
Dinner, or lunch at the bar, won’t bring your outgoings for the
day much beyond €50.
Tel: +353 (0) 43 46310 colonggolf@eircom.net.
The Esker Hills Golf Club in Co. Offaly has been designed (by Christy
O’Connor Jr) to blend into the beautiful eskers and gravel ridges
that surround Tullamore. A round there will cost you €35 during
the week, but if the sun shines and your ball manages to miss most of
the water hazards, then you’ll experience a golfing day that would
be the envy of anyone in Europe.
Just remember, however, that all vows taken on a golf course are valid
only until sunset.
Tel + 353 (0) 506 55999,
www.eskerhillsgolf.com
One of the best value courses in these islands has to be Moorpark Golf
Club, Mooretown, Navan, Co. Meath. For €15 during the week, or
just over a tenner in British money, you can play a peaceful round in
the shadow of the Hill of Tara. In the rolling terrain of Royal Meath
you can tackle a course which boasts five lakes, a challenging design,
and a truly terrific 19th hole. Tel: + 353 (0) 46 90 27661
To round your golfing off, you could dig deep in your pockets and head
back towards Dublin, stopping in Co. Wicklow at the Druids’ Glen
Golf Resort.
In the heart of Wicklow, this 400 acre site offers everything for a memorable
golfing weekend. Home of the Irish Open for four years, Druids’
Glen can rival anything the US or Europe has to offer. It's the sort of
place God might have designed to get his handicap down.
Druids Glen Golf Resort, Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow. Tel: + 353
1 2873600 www.druidsglen.ie A round is likely to set you back in the region
of €120.
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