A lot has happened in the last two years since I sat drenched on the banks of the Royal Portrush greens but now we’re Open again for golf,
It is doubtful whether the demure folk of Royal St George’s in Sandwuch, Kent on the English south coast will holler their man home.
The way the Northern Irish did County Offaly’s Shane Lowry on that deluge of a day in County Antrim.
Champion Golfer
Shane has been a unique Champion Golfer of the Year in that his reign has spanned two years.
After last year’s tournament was cancelled because of Covid.
A bit like your Travel Editor of the Year who was honoured by Irish Travel as their Travel Editor of the Year in 2019 before the world shut down.
And is yet to truly open again.
Golfers have, of course, been waiting excitedly to get their clubs packed again for foreign trips.
Shane knows he has little to worry from this direction as I usually stick to the driving range.
But here’s a mixed bag of my golfing misadventures abroad. Fore!
Quatre en France
The Old Course, Cannes, France: And continental Europe’s oldest course is where to play with Cannes’ Fast Set.
You’ll even have la joie of traversing a small stream between holes on a boat.
But be sure to remember the international language of golf when slicing your shot.
As I was reminded by the match behind to shout Fore. Needless to say it wasn’t Bryson DeChambeau!
My Ryder
Quinta do Lago, Portugal: Word had obviously reached Paul McGinley and his Golf Academy in the Algarve.
That I was open for golf again.
My driving was better than my riding with me going off road on our cycle and almost ending up with the spoonbill birds.
Another round in Vegas
Topgolf, Las Vegas: And in Vegas the pitchers are the jugs of booze.
They come to your golf range table with chicken wings and dips. And it helps with your golf driving.
As I also found on a Liverpool course as a guest of Irish Ferries and Jameson Whiskey where a drinks trolley would come round every few holes.
What a Player
Royal Liverpool, Hoylake, Wirral: The north-west of England rivals Scotland as Golfland and where I wrote a golf column.
And where I got the tip that a Japanese TV station were filming a round with Gary Player and would I like to join them.
While I channeled my inner Gary at the Press round before an Open and putted back off the clubhouse wall as Gary did in ‘74.
Turk that
Turkish Airlines Lounge, Istanbul Airport: And the dream of golf nuts who will find every opportunity to play…
An airport lounge driving range on the way back from Istanbul.
Just go easy on the cornucopia of food and drink at the TA lounge or you’ll follow through.
So we’re Open for golf again and there’s an Open invitation to you all to come and see us in North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland.
Although my cousin Greg is still avoiding me after he stood too close to me on the tee box at North Berwick Golf Club
When we were kids and I clunked him on the head. Fore!
Chic: On the French Riviera
Check out Croatia
View of Washington from Arlington
Ryanair, flyin’ air
Lady Liberty is calling
