Most of my early golf takes place at Hillview. I did not venture to many other places early on or try anything new because I was scared out of my mind of trying new courses. To me the idea seemed like a trip into an unmapped area of the Amazon basin. Why leave the comfy confines of what I know and I have come to love? I could shoot almost any shot on "my" course with my eyes closed. Well I guess I could do the same anywhere with similar results but with less comfort. Eventually curiosity got the best of me and I ventured out to many places around the area. Later on in life however I really had the chance to venture out...WAY out. I have golfed twice in the country of Ireland. The first time was on a little links course in the middle of nowhere. Kelly and I were driving around Ireland (in our standard car with the steering wheel on the wrong side of the car and the shifter on my left hand) checking out all of the sights. We drove into a town called Lahinch
and as we drove through I saw the most incredible looking golf course I had seen to date. There is a picture of the course on the left. This was a true links course with the rolling undulating fairways, long golden fescue for rough and greens that were large and appeared to be littered with craters and hills. It was amazing. We stopped and decided to stay for the night since we were close to the Cliffs of Moher anyway. I should say I begged Kelly much like my dog begs at every member of my family on pizza night. She, being gracious and amazing, decided to agree. We found out though that there was a tournament on the course and it would not be able to be played until days later. The next day we left and continued on our journey. After seeing one of the most amazing sights I have ever seen at the cliffs, we drove through the countryside to our next destination. On the way I saw a sign for a little public course and coerced Kel into playing that day. She agreed and we pulled in. The course was small but difficult and the wind was blowing around 30 or 40 miles an hour off the ocean. The clubs that we got from here were less than stellar. They actually reminded me of my first set, I could not believe someone had found and repaired that old wooden driver and somehow shipped it to Ireland. These clubs were terrible, but it was a fun day. Kel and I were partnered up with a young Irish boy who I swear was straight out of a movie. We introduced ourselves and he said "I'm Patrick...This is Proper golf weather isn't it?" in his finest Irish accent...or I guess in his case lacking our crazy American accents. Kel and I looked at each other and giggled like the first time we heard a health teacher refer to a man's or women's private bits in front of our whole class. The day went as good as could be asked with those sets of clubs. The scenery was amazing and the company was hilariously Irish. All in all we had a blast. Next time I will tell you about the second time playing in the Emerald Isle. Until then hit em long and straight...unless you are playing a dogleg!
and as we drove through I saw the most incredible looking golf course I had seen to date. There is a picture of the course on the left. This was a true links course with the rolling undulating fairways, long golden fescue for rough and greens that were large and appeared to be littered with craters and hills. It was amazing. We stopped and decided to stay for the night since we were close to the Cliffs of Moher anyway. I should say I begged Kelly much like my dog begs at every member of my family on pizza night. She, being gracious and amazing, decided to agree. We found out though that there was a tournament on the course and it would not be able to be played until days later. The next day we left and continued on our journey. After seeing one of the most amazing sights I have ever seen at the cliffs, we drove through the countryside to our next destination. On the way I saw a sign for a little public course and coerced Kel into playing that day. She agreed and we pulled in. The course was small but difficult and the wind was blowing around 30 or 40 miles an hour off the ocean. The clubs that we got from here were less than stellar. They actually reminded me of my first set, I could not believe someone had found and repaired that old wooden driver and somehow shipped it to Ireland. These clubs were terrible, but it was a fun day. Kel and I were partnered up with a young Irish boy who I swear was straight out of a movie. We introduced ourselves and he said "I'm Patrick...This is Proper golf weather isn't it?" in his finest Irish accent...or I guess in his case lacking our crazy American accents. Kel and I looked at each other and giggled like the first time we heard a health teacher refer to a man's or women's private bits in front of our whole class. The day went as good as could be asked with those sets of clubs. The scenery was amazing and the company was hilariously Irish. All in all we had a blast. Next time I will tell you about the second time playing in the Emerald Isle. Until then hit em long and straight...unless you are playing a dogleg!
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