We took the short drive to the Golf Club, and when we got out of the bus, we all commented how the air temperature had changed and the wind was kicking up – but it was still sunny. We did the obligatory shopping – logo balls, ball markers and the like – only to find when we returned outside (not more than 5 minutes later), it was raining like crazy. We scurried to get our bags under cover and suit up for a rainy day as the clouds had moved in very rapidly and there was no sunshine anywhere to be seen. The vagaries of Irish weather!!
The next thing we noticed as we proceeded to the clubhouse for lunch is that we were grossly under-dressed (see Club Rules below). John Peer who was a shorts-wearing maven throughout the trip had to borrow Marty Lynch’s rain pants to cover up his shorts. We all had to “borrow” shoes from the closet behind the front desk since all of us had merely worn our golf shoes. Now, here is a situation – did you ever see an Irishman with size 14 tug boats? I haven’t, and it appears they don’t exist, which presented quite a predicament for Tim who was negotiating with the Club Sergeant at Arms about whether he would be allowed in the clubhouse for lunch or not without shoes. Finally, they came up with a 12½, and Tim merely flattened the back of the shoes and wore them like slippers. It was quite a sight to see Tim shuffling through this heavily decorated and ultra-fancy clubhouse up the steps to the dining room (PS: no cell phones allowed either).
We got to the first tee suited for wind and rain. Once again, we encountered the quintessential links golf course – some holes along the water (an estuary to some river that ran into Dublin Harbor), goat path fairways (very tight lies were a problem all day), deep bunkers, rough, gorse, etc. However, the course had reasonably wide fairways and they were basically flat. So, the course was definitely challenging but playable. I do not recall a lot of holes, and I would not describe the course as particularly scenic like some of the other courses we played, but it certainly had its charm. John Peer (ever the golf course evaluator and critic) thought it was a wonderful course and most others enjoyed it very much as well.
I thought the 13th hole offered the nicest vistas and was most fun to play. Honestly, on the 15th hole, when it started to rain pretty steady, after 8 days of golf, I think our group was ready to just take it in and call it a great experience. Fortunately, as with most Irish weather, we fought the rain for only a couple of holes and the sun reappeared for the 18th hole – so we got to finish in grand style.
View Behind the 13th Tee at Portmarnock
THE 18TH AT PORTMARNOCK
By the time we were done, the clubhouse had closed up and our driver wasn’t due back to pick us up for 30 minutes. We were standing in the parking lot of one of the world’s prestigious golf courses, a little wet, a little tired, out of golf balls, thirsty, hungry, but still discussing the course, the holes we liked best and the hole in 1 Chan almost got on the 12th.
We went to the hotel and met up with Debbie and Chris, who had returned from their trip, and we had a wonderful group dinner at the hotel. It was up early the next morning and off to the airport for the long flight home.
So, here I am at the end of the story not knowing how to finish it.
As the narrator/photographer/historian for the trip, I think I can say that we had an experience that has created memories to last a life-time, perhaps an experience that will be unmatched by any future golf trip. A friend of mine in Kansas City said, “I would rather buy experiences than things.” How true! There are so many remembrances that I wanted to write so that they would not be forgotten, but I am sure there are too many to capture. Things like:
· The 127 yard green at the European Club where John Peer had an 80 yard (not feet) putt. He sank a 20 foot putt to save a 3-putt.
· Pat’s caddy commented on one of Pat’s wicked slices at Waterville: “I do believe you’ve hit it out of the country,” as we watched it splash in the ocean 50 yards right of the fairway and 40 feet below.
· John Emhardt spilling a full glass of Guinness at McGann’s Pub. The locals howled.
· Emmie had his credit cards cancelled, so he owed everyone everything (pounds, euros, dollars).
· John Peer had an 80 foot putt at Ballybunion that rolled 150 feet before it stopped off the green and down a swale.
· Seeing people swimming in the 60⁰ surf on the coast at Lahinch.
· Pat making the world’s stupidest euchre play in the history of euchre (having called trump, the other team having taken 2 of the first 3 tricks, being the last to play on the 4th trick with an off suit and a trump in his hand – Pat opted to play the off suit and hold his trump card to make sure he won the last – albeit meaningless – trick.!!! Go figure).
· Why does JZ like pub food? Because it’s in a pub!! And all its corollaries … Why does JZ like pub music? Why does JZ like pub pictures? Why does JZ like pub waitresses? Wait … it’s not only because they are in a pub.
OK, I will end it here simply using the following Irish blessing that I had the chance to sing for the group while on the bus (ask Pat, it was a pretty good rendition).
An Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rains fall soft upon your fields.
Until we meet again …
May God hold you in his hands.
So long Ireland. I’ll be back. And until then, I hope the Good Lord sees fit to hold me in his hands.
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