Thursday, May 27, 2010

Ireland Golf, Guinness, and More



You can easily imagine the rolling green meadows and parkland boasting over 350 golf courses in a land known as the Emerald Isle. There’s a reason that golfing has shot up to number six on the
Lonely Planet’s guide to Ireland’s “must see/do” attractions.

As golfing has been a popular sport in Ireland nearly since its birth in nearby Scotland, Ireland golf has produced several top players in recent years, with players like Padraig Harrington, Paul, McGinley, and Darren Clark. Led by Clarke, they were part of the European team that successfully defended the Ryder cup. A young star to watch is Rory McIlory, who just turned 21, and who has already hit the World’s Top Ten. (Note: He beat out Phil Mickelson by four shots in April 2010 when he won the Quail Hollow Championship on the PGA Tour, shooting a course record 62 on the final day.)
Small wonder that there are so many good golfers as the country is punctuated with links and parkland courses from Northern Ireland to the south of the Republic of Ireland. Some of the most famous golf courses include the very exclusive Royal County Down Golf, Ballybunion, and Portmarnock.
Backspin Golf Magazine, an Irish publication, has started ranking the links and parkland courses separately. This year Mt Juliet, K Club (Palmer), and Adare topped the parkland courses, while Portmarnock, Royal County Down, and Royal Porthrush (Dunluce) headed the links list. Portmarnock has a truly privileged location, curving along a stretch of coastline on the Howth peninsula just 12 miles from downtown Dublin and has hosted twelve Irish Opens. The course has three nines -- Yellow, Red and Blue, with the latter two combined to make up the Championship course.
Even so, there are less well known ones to be savored. Kevin Markham, author of Hooked, in a recent blog describedThe Island Golf Club as “the most fun links on Dublin's shores.” As Markham put it, “Portmarnock and Royal Dublin get the hype and the awards, but there's a dash of adventure and considerably more impressive dunes at The Island.”
When it comes to adventures in Ireland, there’s a lot more than golfing, of course. When you plan your golf vacations, consider some of the other great things to do in this small jewel of an island. How about visiting a castle (and even kissing the legendary stone at Blarney Castle) or ancient abbey? Naturally after some great golf you deserve some Guinness and singing at an authentic Irish pub!
Explore the natural wonders of the Aran Islands or the lonely heath, or stroll on the banks of the Liffey and take in the Dublin architecture. My own favorite Dublin experience is the Abbey Theater, home to great dramas and dramatists. Are you more into the outdoors? For hiking, surfing, sailing, biking, Ireland offers plentiful gorgeous venues.
So get in your golf and Guinness, but don’t forget to see more of Ireland! There are some great golf packages that can put it all together for you. And on the courses, may the luck of the Irish be with you!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Historic Scotland: Home of Golf

For golf many golfers, the ultimate pilgrimage is to the land that birthed the game, Scotland, in the 1500s. While the country has been a part of the United Kingdom for just over three centuries, it has maintained its own cultural identity—including golf, whisky, poetry, and dialect. What golf trip could be better than one with all that?
Given the historical connection of Scotland with golf, it is no surprise that there are so many outstanding golf courses, with a range of styles. The Scottish dream courses for the golf connoisseur include Troon, Glen Eagles, Turnberry, Muirfield, Loch Lomond, Carnoustie, and of course the historic Old Course at St. Andrews. Even if you cannot get into these exclusive courses, venues for the British Open and the Ryder Cup, you will find many exciting golf options in Scotland. Given that it is practically the national sport (competing with soccer/football for that title), there are also many public and private courses with easy access, especially in the Lowlands
For me, the epitome of a golf vacation to Scotland includes more than golf. Given my Scottish ancestry, the perfect trip also includes nature, history, literature, and single-malt whiskey! Can you ask for more?
Enjoy Unique Landscapes
One of the truly remarkable aspects of golfing in Scotland is the integration of golfing with spectacular and unique terrains. You will find link courses, parkland courses, and heathland courses. Parkland courses are fairways are graced by old stands of trees and natural waterfalls and ponds, some laid out over rolling meadows.
A day at a heathland course with its disctinctive scrubby heather and gorse may make you feel like you are living out a novel by the Bronte sisters (remember Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre from high school lit class?)
Connect with History and Poetry. Now of course for me there is nothing more poetic than a great golf swing. Yet when surrounded by castles and picturesque villages, I love nothing more than to explore the nooks and crannies of the region. For that, the Ayrshire area offers an exceptional experience. Not only do you have 44 golf courses to choose from , but you can also check out the historic castles and visit the home of the beloved poet, Robert Burns (of “Auld Lang Syne”).
History meets modernity in the capital city of Edinburgh, where after a memorable round of golf, one can enjoy some funky cafes and bars by night and tours of castles (including the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots,) and ragged coast by day.attractive countryside. History buffs can head for the remains of Linlithgow Palace, the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots.
The Home of Golf
Just across the Firth of Forth from Edinburgh lies the Kingdom of Fife. There you will find Dunfermline, residence of early Celtic kings, with an historic abbey and Piteencrieff Park—land donated by the town’s most famous emigrant, philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. And here is the Mecca of golf, the world-renowned, magnificent St. Andrews! For full details on courses, events, and more, see the official website for the St. Andrews Links, the oldest and largest golf complex in all of Europe.
If you want the experience of a life time, look into golf packages that will give you the royal golf experience! The most exclusive do require considerable advance reservations, so it’s never too early to plan. At the same time, given the extensive opportunities, it is also never too late to pack your bags and enjoy Scotland and golf!