Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/78601
INTERNATIONAL GETAWAYS GOLF IN IRELAND THE PLAYIN' O' THE GREEN BY LISA "LONGBALL" VLOOSWYK After the tour it was back up to the tip of Northern Ireland. A 2 hour drive to the Old Bushmills distillery did not disappoint. It is Ireland's oldest licensed whiskey distillery and started producing "uisce beatha" (Gaelic for water of life) back in 1490. With a skip in our step it was now off to Royal Portrush, one of the most challenging tracks in the world. It is the only club in Ireland to have hosted the British Open. It is home to two 18 hole courses the Dunluce Links and the Valley Links. It has the strictest handicap restriction I have come across with a max factor of 18 for men and 24 for women. The Old Course at St. Andrews is 24 for men and 36 for women. I worked with Golf Vacations Ireland (www.golfvacationsireland.com) and with a delightful Irishman Eamonn Kennelly. My husband Anton and I arrived in Dublin early in the morning and were greeted by Eamonn. He gave us the most invaluable treasure on a golf road trip, a GPS with destinations preloaded and extra information on sites and dining. He bid us farewell and we were off on our adventure. We headed north to Belfast. We stopped briefly to check into our room at the Europa Hotel. It was a magnificent hotel located in the heart of Belfast. Contemporary dining, lavish rooms, grand entrance and positioned with shopping, tourist attractions and famous pubs all within walking distance. IRELAND We changed into golf attire and then were on the road to The Northern Coast. It took us 2 hours to get to our first course Portstewart. It was everything we expected. Beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean and River Bann. It was a phenomenal introduction to true links golf. There are 54 holes on site and we played the championship course The Strand. The opening hole is an elevated tee with stunning views and is thought by many to have the best opening hole in Irish Golf. It was very hilly but had relatively generous landing areas. The greens were in fabulous shape and lightening quick. After our round and on our way back to Belfast we visited World Heritage site Giant's Causeway made up of an array of over 40, 000 basalt columns created by a volcanic eruption. It was an amazing site and worth the stop. The next day we started off as tourists and did the Black Taxi Tour of Belfast. It was a wonderful 90 minute journey through Belfast's past and the history of the IRA and the U.F.F. Belfast is a fabulous buzzing metropolitan city. The course was nothing short of spectacular. Ocean views, narrow fairways and the rough was unbelievable. It was made up of natural grasses, fescue, bushes and gorse and was thick and long in many areas. Many bunkers were lined with the long grasses. There are tight lies which render a 60 degree wedge useless and putting off the green is common place. The next day it was off to Royal County Down, our most anticipated course. Constantly ranking in the Top 5 golf courses in the world, it's known for its stunning beauty and its true test of golf ability. Designed by Old Tom Morris in 1889 for the sum of 4 pounds, it is a naturally beautiful course. It sprawls out beneath the impressive Mountains of Mourne and runs along the shores of Dundrum Bay. The views as you embark on the first 4 holes are breathtaking. Bright yellow gorse punctuate the shape of the fairways in the spring and early summer and the fall brings the picturesque purple heather. The sand dunes help shape the course and the fairways are naturally undulating. The small greens require accurate approach shots and there are several blind Continued on next page 25 PHOTO COURTESY ROYAL COUNTY DOWN