Lifelong Friendship

Mike & Chuck - As far as I am concerned, Lifelong Friendship was the "phrase" of the week. I was once told that the definition of a lifelong friendship is that after not seeing each other for many years, the conversation still flows as if you were a next door neighbor. That feeling of the most comfortable shoes or clothing that you wear. We three have been through many an adventure and this was one of the best. As usual, golf was the excuse to travel and meet new and friendly people in a truly genuine place. Mike - Our captain, commissioner, travel planner and restaurant selector - Props for all of the effort! Chuck - Man of philosophy, golf, cigars and all things "T" - Tanks! The loss of Doug while on the trip gave time for reflection as memories of him will stay within our hearts.
Any reader that has the chance to spend time with either of these two...let that time envelope you and savour it, for it is worth every minute. As you both have heard me say, I am not sure most people realize just how much fun it is to be me! You are a couple of the reasons why.
Until the next time that we meet on the First Tee!
Slainte!
Bino

WCC - Day 4 - Donegal

Donegal GC is located in a gorgeous setting on the Murvagh Peninsula. In fact, members refer to it only as Murvagh, and it is accessed by a narrow 3-mile road giving rise to a welcome clubhouse and expansive links. Unlike some other difficult, even punishing links layouts, Murvagh is a course anyone can play and enjoy repeatedly. It was where we completed the final round of the WCC. Fabulous day in Ireland -- sunny and little wind. (There is always wind in Ireland, so "little wind" usually translates into a 2-club wind.) The problem for us visitors is that the course was playing to a distance of 6800 yards, no small challenge for any golfer. We placed a friendly last-day 5-Euro wager with our Dublin competitors who were licking their chops at the prospect of taking money from their new American friends. And how right they were to expect the cash! Murvagh proved a huge test, and, despite the course length, we fell short of our expectations and paid our collective debt. It was difficult golf -- demanding solid and accurate ball-striking. Chuck and Mike tied for 27 points each, with Chuck rolling in a terrific birdie putt on his final stroke of the tourney. Mike garnered one bird to grab the tourney birdie title with four. Bino struggled with his driver all day (links lesson #1: keep the ball in the fairway off the tee) and was able to muster 24 points. We finished the tournament in the veritable middle of the pack -- not scaring the WCC leaderboard, but not embarrassing ourselves either. It was a remarkable experience to compete in this 23-year-old tournament and to share food, drink, and fellowship with Irish players. We were invigorated by this supreme golfing challenge but are looking forward to coming home -- where the rough is manageable, where the lies are level and not as tight, and where the wind is gentle. Once again, we thank our spouses for allowing us to do it. And thanks to all for your encouraging comments.

Ode to Bungee Cords

We were fortunate to heed Bill Healy's advice and use bungee cords on our golf trolleys (walking carts). The cords enable the bags to remain stabilized on the trolleys while searching high and low for errant balls over and atop drumlins and dunes. They also kept the bags on the trolleys when the wind blew them over! A must-carry accessory for any links trolley user.

Boyle, Ireland

Here's to Weezie Boyle Rubino -- expert blog commentator -- whose husband insisted on driving to Roscommon County tonite to visit the town which bears the name of Weezie's ancestors. And a grand and friendly place it was. This is a photo of Boyle Abbey which is being renovated in the town center.

Fellow Competitiors from Dublin

Pictured with Team Torrington USA is a 3-ball team from Dublin City, a golf course located seven miles south of Dublin. This is a trio of very good golfers. They demonstrate a mastery of the Stableford scoring system, registering very few "dings" in their team play. They hit it straight; they recover well; and they are excellent 5-10 foot putters.

In short, they are beating us soundly at the links game. We have, however, placed a wager on tomorrow's competition at Donegal that includes post-round drinks to the Stableford victors, and maybe that will provide the incentive for Team Torrington to play to its potential, to get beyond poor efforts and try not to do too much with any recovery shots.

We all dined together at the wonderfal Fitzgerald's Hotel tonite, with rousing and animated discussion about politics and healthcare. Guinness and healthcare --quite an evening. Tom (far left), the owner of Dublin City GC, has extended an open invitation for us to visit his course. Peter (next in line) has a driving range and multiple real estate interests in Dublin. Gerard (on the right) is a retired farmer and possibly the most intelligent golfer in the photo. All great guys -- and three reasons why we visit Ireland.

WCC - Day 3 - Bundoran GC

Bundoran --- best weather day of the week -- sunny and 5-10 mph hour winds which seemed like a warm zephyr. This is the course where Christy Connor Sr. honed his iron play during his stint as resident professional in the 50's. It is not technically a links layout, but rather a seaside course with absolutely breathtaking views of the Irish Sea. We were buoyed by the forecast and anxious to produce good scores on a benign day. Weather is not the only determinant on Irish soil. Previous rain forced the tourney organizers to allow "lift, clean, and place" in one's own fairway. Very unusual on the draining links course. The Bundoran greens also proved to be a deterrent to scoring as subtle breaks were the rule of the day. Chuck was our leader today, tallying 31 points on the strength of one birdie and a five-hole even par stretch to finish his round. Mike was close behind with 30 points, scoring two birds to tie Bino for the tourney birdie lead. Bino had a tough driving day, but managed a credible 27 points with one bird. Bundoran was a friendly, accessible course -- none of us took true advantage of the scoring possibilities, likely due to our first-time tour of the track. Our team scores place us in the middle of the pack, but we are eagerly anticipating our final day at Donegal GG -- one of our favorite sites in Ireland and a course which each of us has previously played. (Note to Craig: hats are big hit in Ireland, with the "Onnet" logo. www.onnetdesigns.com)

WCC - Day 2 - Enniscrone

Gale-force winds were reported last night off the Connemara coast. Needless to say, we were met with our sternest test yet on arguably the toughest track in the tourney lineup. 35-45 mph winds, but other than a few short showers, thankfully no real rain. Golfers need to experience links wind to gain an appreciation of its formidable challenge. Mike's hat was blown off on the first tee. Bino's tripod bag was blown over four times. Chuck's trolley was knocked over backwards. You could feel the wind moving your clubhead on every shot. Any putt -- especially 2-3 footers -- could become an adventure. If (as in Mike's case) your driver goes south, you are left with a plethora of dings, i.e. no Stableford hole points. It can get ugly and demoralizing in a hurry. Mike should have left his driver in the car -- he scored a mere 20 points. Bino and Chuck fared much better, with Bino rallying on the back nine with 18 points for a team-leading day total of 30. Bino laced a 4-iron to four feet on a 150-yard hole and notched his 2nd birdie. Chuck, sporting a solid tee ball, was also able to solve the conditions and register a very respectable 28 points, highlighted by his reaching a 522-year par five in two (he missed the wind-blown birdie putt).
It was Mike's turn to buy the post-round guinness and it was enjoyed down the coastal road at the fabulous Aughris Head Beach Bar -- a slice of Irish heaven. Doug was on our minds throughout the day. A rainbow graced our presence at the beach.

"Holy Cow, Holy Cow..."

We almost almost didn't make it to Enniscrone.

En route we were greeted by a stream of bovine jaywalkers which were preventing any moo-ving vehicles from passing on the narrow entrance road. We were udderly stymied for a while. We herd the farmer shouting to no avail. Bino caught this shot as we hoofed it by...

Doug Astion (1950-2009)

This website is dedicated to the spirit and memory of one of Stockbridge GC's finest members and sportsmen. A round of golf with Doug was often a life and swing-changing experience. He exuded openness and compassion in pastel-colored style. His orbit was ever-expanding and inclusive of all.
Life is greyer without him.

Random thoughts...

Irish drivers are fond of acknowledging road courtesies by signalling with one finger -- which we are calling "the digit." (Note to Weez: just like Uncle Herb in Bermuda!) We like getting the digit.
A good score resulting from a nice save on a hole is called a "handy hole."
Failing to score a Stableford point on a hole: "a ding."
Tidy Towns in Ireland are very clean indeed.
We have yet to be served by an Irish waiter or waitress in Ireland, all restaurant employees being of Eastern European descent.
Food has been excellent -- Vegetarian Chuck very pleased.
Stableford competitions are the order of the day here, rarely medal play, and occasionally match play.
So far, Irish golfers of every handicap level appear to be superb putters.

WCC - Day 1 - Strandhill GC

We arose early to make the stunningly beautiful coastal drive from Clifden to Strandhill. Unusual scenery -- stark and desolate, but vibrant nonetheless amidst the piles of peat bricks and grey rock outcroppings. Strandhill Golf Club is a friendly club sitting a few miles outside Sligo, quite near its tonier golf cousin Rosses Point. It struck us as a working class club, fiercely proud of its natural terrain and welcoming tradition, the latter emphasized by a club logo with the motto: Friendship in Sport. The West Coast Challenge began here today under cloudy skies, with heavy rain expected in the evening. In a mild surprise, we were paired with members of other teams -- which is understandable under the rules of competition. We wished each other well and joined our fellow competitors. Mike and Bino led the way with 33 Stableford points, with one birdie each (Mike off the birdie snide!) while Chuck scored 28. The course, sitting in the shadow of the Knocknerea Mountain, is not overly long but provides breathtaking views of the sea from its undulating fairways and elevated greens. Lots of good shots today and lots of laughs. Our competitors made us feel welcome -- which is the stated goal of Strandhill. All of us are beginning to feel very comfortable with our drivers and with our games. A good scoring start -- and one that we are hoping to improve tomorrow at the formidable links of Enniscrone.

Kilkenny 28, Tipperary 23

Hurling needs to be seen to be believed. A combination of rugby, hockey, polo, lacrosse, baseball and soccer. This is non-stop action for 70 minutes. Players wield clubs or hurling cudgels which enable them to hit small hard balls with amazing accuracy into soccer/football goalposts.

The physical non-padded contact is intense -- with some players not wearing helmets. Today's championship match featured perennial powerhouse Kilkenny, winners the last three years, against upstart Tipperary which was seeking a major upset. Tipperary as a 10-1 underdog almost pulled off the miracle. Extremely exciting game with an earnest and appreciative audience. Kevin educated us about the rules and finer points of hurling. There were 82,000 screaming fans in the stadium, and the entire country keenly watching on the telly. Great stuff. The guinness tastes better in this environment. Note photo in the Ballyconneely Grill Room .

The adventure continues -- onto the West Coast Challenge!!!

P.S. Thank you again to our spouses -- Hi to Nora in Montreal!

Le Deluge

There were two events today in Ireland. One was the torrential downpours and strong winds that greeted us at the Connemara Golf Club (known only as "Ballyconneely" to the locals) as we arrived for our 1PM tee time. Sunday is traditionally Members' Day at Irish golf clubs. Connemara GC was kind enough to allow us to enter the member team competition which pitted two-person teams against a local field. Bino and Chuck paired off together while Mike was teamed with Kevin, a 9-handicap member who displayed fine form and true courage in playing with us. Today, weather was the victor as 25-30mph hour winds in steady rain forced us off the course after nine holes. Tremendously difficult golf. For the record, Mike and Kevin had two pars each, Chuck one, and Bino none. That was how hard it was. The photo depicts the wet, beleaguered foursome in the Ballyconneely bar -- where patrons are strangely prevented from wearing golf shoes before or after golf. We were drenched and beaten. (Note to Buff and Wagon: this was Portsalon all over again.) The golf course and mother nature won this round. Besides the conditions, what lured us off the golf course after nine holes was the second event of the day...
The All-Irish Hurling Championship being televised that afternoon...

Londoner Dave

We promised David from London that we would provide proof of his round at Lahinch by posting this photo.

He is in our personal hall of fame for being an affable companion on the golf course and for buying the first round of guinness of the trip. Slainte, Dave!

Connemara Golf Club, Ballyconneely

Connemara Golf Club was holding an open singles competition today and graciously allowed us to participate with local players. Weather cooperated other than the omnipresent 25-30 mph wind. Links golf is postgraduate golf -- very difficult to learn and play under the finest conditions. High winds make it doubly so. For example, on #8, a 449 yard par four against the wind. Chuck, no short hitter, hit a good drive and a decent three-wood, leaving him with approximately 120 yards to the green. He then hit a six-iron onto the front portion of the green, still a club short. Contrast Chuck's experience with Bino's downwind drive on #2 of 320 yards, leaving him a gap wedge 80-yard shot to a foot. (First birdie of the trip!) The wind is a constant factor and can disturb any usually routine shot. Couple that with hard, fast greens and you have the essence of links golf. That being said, there was some very competent golf played today, particularly by Bino who registered a very respectable 30 points in the Stableford competition. Chuck, with 24 Stableford points, reached the #7 par five (525 yards) with two prodigious shots and easily two-putted for birdie. Mike was steady on the back side with 16 Stableford points (26 overall) but remains birdieless, apparently a source of amusement to his fellow travelers. We are slowly acclimating our games to the links setting and getting the feel of these slick greens. Sand play by all players has been excellent. Tomorrow we return to Connemara for team competition. Can't wait. This is awesome golf.

The Only Thatch-Roofed Clubhouse in Ireland

Connemara Isles is a throwback. Motor vehicles must traverse an extremely narrow driveway to enter the course, recently rated #64 in Ireland. The thatched-roof clubhouse is undoubtedly unique and is managed by a gregarious and quite loquacious fellow who is the grandson of the builder. He corralled Chuck and regaled him with several stories, in English AND in Gaelic, about his family and the history of the golf club. His great-grandfather was one of 13 survivors of the St. John Brig disaster off the coast of Massachusetts in 1849, recently commemorated in 1999 in Cohasset with a monument. Chuck was lucky to survive the conversation. Word of the day: Lynch, the name of the ebullient, effusive, talkative owner of Connemara Isles -- a living testament to Irish sociability. The course itself wends itself around a bog with scenic views over coastal bogs. The quirky design had us yearning for local knowledge as Bino particularly was victimized by overclubbing some holes. We finished the round quickly in order to make our tee time at Connemara and begin our quest for Stableford competence in competition.

Onto Connemara...

Sad to leave the warm and friendly confines of the Vaughan Lodge in Lahinch. But we rose early for an early tee time at Connemara Isles, a nine-hole course in the bogs outside Galway. Some enthusiastic reviews had us intrigued about playing there.

Wagon -- this one's for you. The first guinness is always the best. You chase the taste the rest of the trip.

We decided to post a "word of the day". This word hopefully captures the spirit and the moment of the day -- used by someone during the course of the day -- and injecting some Irish "craic" into the trip and our blog.

Today's word: smarm -- uttered by our good-humored Dan Dooley employee who responded to our early-morning supercilious compliments by upgrading our vehicle to an automatic-transmission van. "Smarm gets you a better car," she said, thanks to the gracious Bino.

We are staying at the Vaughan lodge, a fabulous 4-star guesthouse very close to the Lahinch course. Michael Vaughan is a friendly and gracious host. Excellent food and hospitality.

Here we are at Lahinch -- where ol' Tom Morris designed two of the most famous holes in golf: The Klondyke and The Dell. The Klondyke is a short par five with hill in the middle of the fairway. The Dell is a bowl. These are two designs which are not part of the modern designer's repertoire. Tom Morris had timeless vision.

We arrived in our Dan Dooley diesel van in pouring rain. The clouds departed and we were greeted with serious wind gusts: 25-30 mph.

We are here to play golf, not merely to survive a round. That being said, it was a tremendous round of links golf -- testing every club in the bag in various weather conditions. The sun shone; the rain pelted. The wind died down; the wind blew. Great stuff. It was a challenging test -- and our scores reflected the challenge. We will soon be competing in a Stableford tourney in which pars are rewarded with two points, bogeys with one point, and birdies with three points. In our intiial journey on Irish soil, we decided to calculate our Stableford scores. The tally: Jim - 28 points; Chuck and Mike 23 points each. A very good Stableford score is 36 points. We have room for improvement. If only the weather will cooperate, we should be able to improve.

Today's glorious round was enhanced by the addition of Londoner Dave, who joined us on The Dell (#5). Dave is a headhunter in the currency trade field and was attending a wedding in nearby Limerick. Terrific guy and welcome addition to our sometimes beleaguered trio who struggled at times to produce shots into the gusty winds. There were definite highlights, to wit, Bino's par of #1 handicap hole into the teeth of the wind; pars by both Bino and Mike on both Klondyke & Dell; and Chuck's par on the difficult #17.

Arrival @ Shannon

Captain Considine is the lead driver as we arrive at Shannon Airport 5:30 AM Friday the 4th. "Keep Left Lad or the trip will be over quickly" We are off to the Vaughan Lodge, Lahinch for some breakfast and rest. Tee time at the Old Tom Morris track (Lahinch) at 2:00 PM. Rain & Wind at 14 mph is predicted.

Welcome to an old-fashioned golf journal/travel log. We are three old high school friends who are passionate about golf, Ireland, and friendly competition. We are fortunate to be able to play (and that our spouses allow it) in the four-day amateur tournament known as the Carlsberg West Coast Challenge. This is CWCC's 23rd year. The tournament is being held at four outstanding links courses: Strandhill, Enniscrone, Bundoran, and Donegal (Murvagh). We warm up at Lahinch, a championship test, and then proceed to Connemara Isles and Connemara Golf Club for a weekend of daily open competitions. Entering any links competition in Ireland with the opportunity to compete against experienced local golfers is what makes the prospect of this trip so keenly appealing. The weather forecast is fairly decent. More later as we try to get our games and legs in shape for the trip.