Ireland is one of the places where the sport of golf was born, long before it was played in America.
The tiny Shamrock isle, no better than 300 miles long and 150 wide, has almost as many golf courses as it has pubs and bed and breakfasts. Two of the best professional players in the world – Graeme McDowell and Rory McElroy – call Ireland home.
Walter Roth (left) sits with his two sons, Chris and Brian, during their trip to Ireland. Roth said the notorious Irish weather was surprisingly good. (Photo provided)
Anyone who plays golf regularly hears stories about the wonderful experiences of playing golf on Ireland’s windy, picturesque, challenging courses and hoisting a pint in its charming pubs in nearby villages. Golfers calmly tolerate delays from herds of cows and sheep on the roadways, and the constant, relentless rain.
Walter Roth, N.17, and his two sons, Brian and Chris, heard the stories and often talked about taking a golfing vacation there. In 2010, as Walter approached his 75th birthday in 2012, Brian and Chris acted. They called their dad, a retired sales executive, and suggested a 10-day trip in June of this year.
“It took two years to schedule and organize the trip,” Roth said. “On June 20, we were off to New York’s JFK airport, then on to Shannon, Ireland for 10 days of links golf along Ireland’s scenic southwest coast.”
The father-and-sons adventure included eight rounds of golf in nine days, all walking without carts. The group stayed at four different bed and breakfasts along the way.
“The golf was fantastic, and we actually didn’t have much rain after we were told to expect lots of it,” Roth said. “I walk four miles a day at home, and I found out how valuable that was because we walked around Irish courses for 10 days. I enjoy a round at Whisper Creek or other courses each week in one of the Sun City golf leagues, but this was very special golf.
Walter Roth stands on a golf course in Ireland. Roth’s sons took him on a 10-day trip to Ireland for his 75th birthday. (Photo provided)
“The best part was the chance to bond with my sons, who were able to schedule the trip away from their jobs and family distractions,” he added. “We played courses with exotic names like Lahinch, Doonbeg, Ballybunion, Tralee, Waterville, and Old Head. Ireland is a beautiful country with very friendly people. We were prepared for some rain every day, but had mostly sunny and very windy days with temperatures in the high 50s and low 60s. We rented a van with a GPS, and it got us around very well. We survived hundreds of roundabouts and stoppages for cows crossing roads to get to their barns.”
What is links golf, anyway? Well, it’s treeless, windswept but scenic fairways, bordered by 3-4 foot-deep rough, rock piles and ravines, often on top of rocky cliffs next to the ocean.
“One course we played had a cemetery located alongside one fairway. The fairways are hilly and uneven, usually offering no sight lines to greens. On most holes, I had no idea where to hit the ball when I stood on the tee,” Roth said.
That’s where caddies came in.
“A caddie is absolutely vital to anyone playing these courses for the first time” Roth said. “They often are members of the course on which we were playing. They know the course very well, and they are very helpful. They were always calling us ‘laddies.’
“We met other American golfers either on the courses or in pubs and enjoyed their company,” Roth said. “Whether it was about golf or common acquaintances, it reminded us again about what a small world it often is, and we always felt at ease and welcomed.
“We even had a brush with celebrity,” Roth added. “At the Old Head of Kinsale course, we were approached by Secret Service agents and asked to step aside for ex-president Bill Clinton, who had dropped in by helicopter to play a round of golf. It didn’t really bother us and made for a good story later.”
There were challenges off the courses as well.
“We had to adjust to driving the rental car on the left side of narrow, winding local roads. To minimize the risks, we moved our bed and breakfasts four times, so we could often walk from our rooms and restaurants to the courses.”
For a grand total of $5,000, the group got high winds, little rain, golf on some of the most historic and picturesque courses in the world, left-side-of-the-road driving, lots of cows, friendly people, and a pint of Guinness in the pub every night. “I’m not a beer drinker; I prefer wine over here, but I sure got to like that Guinness pint,” Roth said.
