How does a ‘hidden gem’ golf course ease its way into the big time? And can it be achieved without spending big bucks? Here’s a link to a recent article I wrote on Hidden Gems for Irish Golfer. One of the courses I didn’t include (the article explains why) is North West Golf Club, in Donegal. It is a favourite of mine and the club has recently been making strides in getting itself noticed… and booked. It is actively promoting itself and talking to people in the know. It is inviting these people to come and play. They come. They play. And they discover a mischievous low links of natural shape a ..read more

I admit to being mystified by the horseshit I’ve read on X about the Open Championship at Royal Troon, after the first two days.  Here are some samples… with their origins in brackets. “Troon is different from other links on the Open rotation. It denies certain shots, and takes clubs out of the hands of players.” (USA)   “No one has the skill to play Troon, because Troon is a different style from most courses. US courses are meant to test but be fun. Troon is meant to be goofy golf and piss you off. It requires luck to card a good score. Two different philosophies” (USA)   “It ..read more

Not for the first time I am posting a press release, below, with a few observations. It is easy to post a press release but it's the context that matters for me.  What Pitch does is to take golf into a studio, a room where technology allows you to play any number of famous, world-class courses, where you can get coaching and where you can have a sociable get-together with friends. I encountered something very similar at Adare a few years back. Pitch puts these studios in a city centre - Soho in London, for example - which makes it immediately accessible. Imagine if they could do that in G ..read more

 Let's tee things up for the Christmas golf gift you really want in 2023. Shoes Winter’s Coming! From personal experience, a pair of good waterproof shoes is a massive comfort on the golf course. But truly waterproof (some brands simply don’t fulfil that brief) is a tough ask. Top of the pile is Ecco. Footjoy is close behind, with Adidas, Nike, and Payntr also all strong considerations. Visit your local Pro shop and see what they have available, or try any of the retail golf outlets.  The Ecco Biom G5 is a pricey shoe (approx. €199) but what you get is comfort and both long-lasting ..read more

It all started with a conversation about how useful a printed calendar is these days. The reasoning, from my wife, went something like this: “Who uses a calendar when everything you need is on your phone, tablet, or computer?” Hares at Arklow Golf Links  Yep, it was a short discussion. For the most part it’s true because technology has rendered a lot of things redundant.   So, are calendars in or out?   There’s no question that your smartphone is the go-to resource these days but just as with books vs e-books, there’s nothing quite like the touch or the experience or th ..read more

Carne Golf Links will once again play host to the Irish PGA Championship 2022 from 17-20 August.   The 54-hole tournament is returning to the Wild Atlantic Dunes course at Carne Links, for the second year in a row, and will be preceded on August 17th by a Pro-Am (I'll post some pictures). The tournament, which is the oldest golf tournament in Europe, will once again be sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, whose CEO, Tim Boyle, and his family, owns Gearhart Golf Links in Portland, Oregon, which is twinned with Carne Golf Links.   Defending champion, David Higgins (Waterville ..read more

One of the greatest joys of golf is that it’s a sport for everyone, whether you’re five or ninety five. It is a sport for the ages… and for all ages. This summer will have a multitude of kids' golf camps, all around the country, so why not let your kid/s get a taste for the game in a setting specifically designed for them?   I started learning when I was five. My grandfather cut down a set of old clubs, strapped them up with leather grips and introduced me to a game that quickly became a passion. A lot of kids learnt like I did, with hand-me-down clubs and a family member prepared t ..read more

The popularity of the Kwack brand established itself quickly... even if back in its early days it was known as Duck Hook.  Here's a Q&A with the company. When was Duckhook founded? Kwack Golf, formerly Duck Hook, was initially founded at the start of the pandemic in January 2020. And by whom? Ben, Scott & Will. Ben & Will are first cousins while Scott & Ben have been friends since the start of secondary school in 2006. Why did you decide to start the company? What is your ethos? The three of us play a lot of golf together and even in a West Cork golf society ..read more

The recent explosion in Irish golf clothing brands may come as a surprise for Irish golfers… many of whom still don’t know what is available. It is all too easy to roll into a golf store, Pro shop or hop online and purchase Nike/Adidas/Under Armour/Galvin Green etc. products.  It wasn’t that long ago that the Irish golfer searching for Irish clothing was restricted to two or three brands… but the past five years – and the past two specifically – have seen a major shift: there are now at least a dozen dedicated golf clothing brands selling to an expanding market and a hungry audience. It i ..read more

As if you needed any more reason to visit one of Ireland's lesser known links gems this summer, Rosslare Golf Links has just announced a new 2022 Summer Series event. The Summer Series will consist of three Friday qualifying events (24th June, 8th July and the 12th August) played on the Old Course at Rosslare Golf Links. The club has a second 12-hole course, too (The Burrow). Each event is singles strokes, open to Ladies & Gents with a maximum playing handicap of 36 and 27 respectively. And each event has fantastic prizes up to the value of €1,000, awarded to the top 5 net ..read more