“You’re very welcome,” before you say thank you – it’s the Irish way and what you hear upon arrival in Dublin with North & West Coast Links Golf. No worries about driving on the wrong side of the road. Spirit of Ireland will transport you. Take in the miles of rustic and coastal scenery along the Wild Atlantic Way. No need to count sheep at night, you see them all day. We licked our chops thinking of theirs and the golf to come. While modern, Northern Ireland is about traditional golf. The Captains and Lady Captains with lovely lilts welcome visitors to walk talk and play in the salty air.

Courses in the gorse:
Narin Portnoo GC begins with a couple mundane fairways, then hills get steeper, grass taller and the scenery takes a coastal shape with a par 3 over a gorge with the sea beyond. We push our trolleys with a skip in our step – wahoo! We’re golfing in Ireland! Difficulty increases in parallel with beauty as waves crash against the sandy beach of the panorama far below. We’ve found our true links.

County Sligo at Rosses Point passes a marina and a lighthouse on the Atlantic. It has the slickest of greens, ditches to maneuver, and ocean to mountain views. Unusually warm and sunny weather was our lucky charm.

Connemara Golf was special from the opening ocean scene when fog mystically rolled in to the first tee, to the 19th sunny clubhouse balcony spanning views of Connemare ponies, stone cottages, a pirate witch’s castle and plenty of coastline. 

Enniscrone GC reflects all Irish aspects with pastures of blatting lambs prancing to mama ewes, skylarks singing, ocean waves roaring, breezes blowing, slight rain and sun, played with a good Irish couple, Gordon and Jenny. Under the highest point of mounded dunes lie the remains of a Viking raiding party that came ashore and met their demise when the Irish warlord dispatched his fighters. It’s imaginable.

Ardglass GC was carved around capes of waves with views of Coney Island, Isle of Man and one of the oldest clubhouses in golf beside a colorful harbor. Along the row of canons our starter advised, ”You have the Irish Sea to the left and Ireland to the right, I suggest you aim at Ireland.” We suggest you play this course.

Portstewart GC Strand Course – the most breath taking opening shot in Northern Ireland. Perched on the highest point in Portrush with the beach and blue sea to the right, the downhill par 4 introduces a hidden front nine series with tricky grassy hills. This beast tames on the back nine, stringing hollowed as well as hallowed golf holes. Finish to a seagull serenade.

Royal Portrush GC, the site of the 1951 Open, is a who’s who of history. Rory, G Mac, and Darren Clarke are members.  A suited starter announces the round and explains the first hole. After a poor shot, he informed, ”Sir, you may have a mulligan.” The course meanders to the coastline of white limestone cliffs, Dunluce Castle and the islands. When asked about the town of Portrush, the caddie quipped, ”It is 5,000 alcoholics clinging to a rock.” Love the Irish humor.

Glashedy Links, named for the island off shore was our favorite. All 36 at Ballyliffin GC are championship caliber. Fresh Guinness, a sandwich and hearty soup are the rewards after every round in Ireland. 

Favorite lodging:
Harvey’s Point over looking the Lough (lake) Eske in the County of Donegal mixes lavish suite accommodations with Irish cheer and great food.

Slieve Donard Hotel’s window view is a great wakeup call as Mount Mourne drifts down to meet the sea. A bottle of Bushmills on the breakfast buffet is not for decoration but as nectar to top the porridge. In our group, only the Scot (with a single t) took advantage.

The Bushmills Inn is close to the distillery and across the creek from a flock of sheep. Every nook and cranny is cute, old and whimsical. Upstairs a bookcase revolves into a secret room like a Scooby Doo episode. 

Mount Falcon delivers a sports trifecta. Robert is renowned for fly tying and teaches the graceful technique of whipping the line like a conductor’s baton to reel in fish. Stewart teaches clay shooting – a steady motion, lock eye with flying target, squeeze the trigger; follow through, much like golf which may be practiced on their driving range.

GlenLo Abbey stages unforgettable dinners in their actual Pullman car from The Orient Express with original lace curtains, linen dressed tables and fine cuisine.

From ocean activities to hiking, castles, spas, much more golf and natural wonders like the Giant’s Causeway, Ireland is an intoxicating adventure and “You’re Very Welcome.”

www.northandwestcoastlinks.com • Photo Pallery – www.americasgolfingcouple.com