My Dear Old Dad was as straight as they come apart from on the course, but I’d have opened him up to a hole lot of fun in Portrush and around the world.
The truth is we enjoyed playfully sending him up.
So one Christmas we bought him a joke book The World’s Most Difficult Holes.
Which included tees on the peak of one mountain and greens on another.
And, of course, Mum had to get us to stifle our laughter as he scratched his head about how to play the hole.
Ireland back on course
Would that Dad had hung around and I could have taken him to Royal Portrush when the Open returned to Ireland after nearly 60 years in 2019.
An experiment that proved so successful that the R&A are revisiting the Antrim course next year.
In preparation for Portrush 2024 TV’s Golf’s Greatest Holes visits Ulster’s famous links.
This special six-part series will be devoted entirely to the challenging 18 holes of the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush.
Tee for two
The series, supported by Tourism Ireland, will be fronted once again by golfer Paul McGinley and BBC presenter Chris Hollins.
And feature former Open champion and son of the Ulster sod Darren Clarke.
It will be seen by millions across Britain when it premieres on Sky Sports later this year.
And will then be screened around the world, including the US.
The series is set to feature a number of well-known local golf stars and golf-loving personalities.
Siobhan McManamy, Tourism Ireland’s Director of Markets, said: ‘It’s a great way to shine a spotlight on Royal Portrush and the island of Ireland.
‘Showcasing our world-class golf and inspiring golfers everywhere to put Ireland on their ‘wish-list’ for their next
Millions of reasons
The first series of Golf’s Greatest Holes reached a global TV audience of millions, thanks to repeated screenings by more than 40 broadcasters.
As well as on the inflight services of many airlines around the world.
The series also reached more than 50 million digital viewers.
Now should Irish great Paul McGinley need a teaching assistant for his show then let me proffer that yours truly is a star student.
From his academy in Quinta da Lago in the Algarve.
Then be sure we’d have a hole lot of fun in Portrush and around the world.
