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Spent the morning preparing for an afternoon’s golf at Ballybunion. I had not really intended playing any golf here, especially as I hadn’t hit a ball in anger for about three years but after enjoying hitting an hour of practice balls at the driving range I was inspired to take up cousin Paudie’s offer of a round of golf on the famous course.<br />

An Afternoon's Golf at Ballybunion

Chris Jack
2006-02-28 19:20:59

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An afternoon’s golf in Ballybunion.

Thursday 8th September.

Spent the morning preparing for an afternoon’s golf at Ballybunion. I had not really intended playing any golf here, especially as I hadn’t hit a ball in anger for about three years but after enjoying hitting an hour of practice balls at the driving range I was inspired to take up cousin Paudie’s offer of a round of golf on the famous course.

As mentioned in my first Irish entry, things are very expensive in Ireland and a round of golf would usually set you back €135 however, as my cousin is a life member “I’ll show them my gold medal!…” he exclaimed, it was only going to cost me €10.

The morning started with a brisk walk around the town, followed by 1030am visit to church (I needed to pray for a good first shot, I didn’t really worry about the rest of the round, but I couldn’t afford to duff my first shot into the cemetery sitting on the right hand side of the first tee, especially with so many departed relatives in there watching on!)

After Mass it was time to collect my golf gear. A friend of the family had lent me some left handed the clubs the previous day and I eventually rustled up enough clothing to at least look like I could play golf.

It’s a very busy week at the golf club, there is an overseas member’s tournament taking place , and so the place is full of very rich Americans with large bank accounts and even larger handicaps so we were very privileged to get on for a game.

At 2.30pm we headed down to the Club. On arrival I was presented with a nice little memento of the day, a small leather pouch full of handy things such as golf tees, a guide to the course and ball markers.

By the time we got out on the course the weather had turned wild. I had never been out in wind as strong as it was yesterday, yet the locals were calling it a calm day!

Without boring you too much with the details of the round, my prayers were answered on the first hole when I drove the ball dead straight down the fairway at about 250yds.

I was happy (inwardly ecstatic), my playing partner Paudie and caddie Luke were both impressed and the relatives buried next door were able to continue
to rest in peace.

Unfortunately the rest of my round didn’t quite match the standard of my first shot however, with the sky beginning to bruise and a gallery of Wall Street stockbrokers in the clubhouse watching, I drove my last ball off the 18th tee even better than my shot off the first, landing a metre short off the famous Sahara bunker, 255 yards away.

As with most rounds of golf that I play, it was a very frustrating four hours, though the frustrations with my swing were outweighed by the joy of being out on this beautiful and most challenging golf course.

NOTE: PHOTOS TO BE ADDED LATER, DIAL UP ACCESS HERE IS DEAD SLOW, ITS TAKING ONE HOUR TO UPLOAD ONE PHOTO!