As I reflect on our third TurfNet trip to Ireland, I recall that people often ask “What inspired you to set up this trip in the first place?” It really goes back to our first TurfNet Goes to Ireland video series in 2008. That year I travelled along with our video crew – Jim King and Patrick O’Rourke from Sleeping Warrior Productions in County Leitrim. When I met the four course managers we profiled that year, I thought, “Our TurfNet members need to meet these guys.” They were fun, innovative, and willing to share their ideas on maintenance – pretty much the traits of most TurfNet members. In addition to these specific individuals (and all the other course managers we’ve profiled and visited over the years) there are people we came across this year who were just fun to be around and added to the experience of playing golf and taking in the attributes of this special country.

Some of them simply helped us along the way. I would like to take this opportunity to mention and thank those people in Ireland who made this year’s trip extra special.

Early in the week we met with John Rouine at Lahinch Golf Club who spent plenty of time with us (at his facility, around the course, and after the round) despite having a new General Manager on the property for his first day. Later that same night, Ross Collins (formerly superintendent of Rosses Point Golf Club in County Sligo) joined us for dinner. He is now growing in a course in Bulgaria and shared his experiences there. We have Ross to thank for lining up most of the courses we played this year in the Southwest.

Also at dinner was Paul Brock of the Brock McGuire Band. A resident of Ennis, Paul (and later his wife Anish) stopped by to tell us about Irish music and how it evolved between the US and Ireland. He also told us about his latest project where he recorded a CD with Ricky Scaggs and other musicians in Nashville. The CD blended bluegrass and traditional Irish music in an innovative and entertaining way. Dinner sponsor Syngenta arranged for each member on the trip to receive a signed copy of the CD, appropriately titled, “Green Grass Blue Grass.”

At Ballybunion, Course Manager Dan Blake (at the course 35 years) arranged for three members of his staff (including his son Ian) to mix in with our group during our round there. It was great fun to learn first hand about the maintenance (and playing strategy) as we went around the historic course. Later that day, an innovative receptionist at the Killarney Towers hotel arranged a great way for us to dry out our rain gear overnight using the natural heat generated in the hotel’s laundry room.

Mike Murphy gave us a great tour of the maintenance facility at Waterville (his staff built the building with the exception of the steel work so he was quite proud of it.) He also came to the clubhouse after the round to see how we fared. Wednesday night, Dermot Moynihan (featured in our 2008 series at Killarney Golf and Fishing Club) joined us during our pub night at Dunloes and sang with the musician there for a few numbers.

On Thursday at the Island Golf Club, we were joined by Nigel Murphy and Kevin Carter (members of their maintenance staff), Eddie Donlon from nearby Rush Golf Club (Eddie was featured last year in our video series) and Gary Johnstone, the course manager at Portmarnock Golf Club. Both course managers had spent a full day at their respective courses yet found the time to join in to the TurfNet Emerald Challenge starting at 1:30 PM. They joined us for dinner (except for Gary whose day wasn’t done – he had an important meeting back at his own course. He greeted us the next day as we played Portmarnock.) The chef at the Island Club was especially intent on making our dinner great and the steaks and salmon he prepared (for twenty with only one assistant) was some of the best food we had all week. The golf pro Dave Costigan presented each member of our group with a bag tag after the round. As I recall, the knit hats were big sellers in the pro shop before the round.

Gary and Peter have already mentioned how great it was to have a knowledgeable bus driver add to our enjoyment of the week. John Costello was a walking (or driving?) encyclopedia of information on Ireland.

The last special person I’d like to recognize is my taxi driver as I headed to the airport in Dublin. He asked if I minded if he talked to me and explained that most people thought that was OK. He said he couldn’t imagine being a driver and not talking to the people in the taxi. He said, “take you or anyone I take to the airport. I’m one of the last people who can make you feel glad that you visited our country. I may be your last impression of Ireland so I try to be friendly about it.” How right he was.

 

I have often said that I love visiting places but abhor the process of getting there and back.  This trip to Ireland was relatively innocuous travel-wise, which was nice. The flight home yesterday was an hour longer (due to a strong headwind) but the few extra inches of legroom in the ‘Economy Comfort’ section (still a misnomer) was appreciated. The new terminal in Dublin has everyone pass American customs over there rather than Stateside, which obviates the need to pick up your baggage upon arrival in the States and then check it through again to “your final destination”.  That’s one large hassle eliminated, and the new system was obviously integrated well into the design of the new terminal.

Upon entering the terminal at 7:00AM we were greeted by a deafening roar from unseen but obviously very large crowds — all gathered in the various lounges watching Ireland vs Wales in the Rugby World Cup televised from New Zealand (hence the early timeframe). Victory for the Irish was not to be, however, as Wales triumphed 22-10 to quash Ireland’s hopes of a World Cup championship. And Ireland is NUTS about rugby (as well as both hurling and Gaelic football).

Reflections on the trip…

The weather this year was the mirror image of both previous years, in that rather than one day with 9 holes of rain we had four days with at least nine holes of rain each… some of which was horrendous.  John Paquette described the wind-driven rain (and at times sleet) at The Island Club on Thursday as being like “having carpet tacks sprayed into your face”.

John Paquette described the wind-driven rain (and at times sleet) at The Island Club on Thursday as being like “having carpet tacks sprayed into your face”…

Most amazingly, from my vantage point working on my laptop in the warmth of the clubhouse most days, was that everyone came off the 18th tee EVERY DAY smiling and exclaiming about the wonderful golf course they just played.  Not a peep of grousing, bitching or moaning, all of which deserves a tip of my new patchwork Donegal tweed cap.

I have to also mention once again the great good humor of the Irish people.  Their economy is in a shambles. many have lost their pensions and their work weeks reduced by days, but there are more smiles per capita on that island than I’ve ever seen anywhere else.  If that were America, we’d be jumping off bridges and buildings and otherwise going postal on each other.

I have to also mention once again the great good humor of the Irish people…

As our new friend and playing partner Caoimhín (pronounced Qui-VEEN, Irish for ‘Kevin’) Carter of The Island Golf Club explained to our table at dinner Thursday night (after a few pints, of course, and with a laugh), “We just don’t give a sh*t!”

I’m sure that’s an oversimplification, but after centuries of invasions, displacement, famines and troubles, it seems they have learned to roll with the punches. We could certainly take a lesson from the happy-go-lucky demeanor of the Irish.

Speaking of the Irish economy, I was happy to hear Michael Murphy, course superintendent at “Wild Wet Waterville” (as Gary described it) say that he feels the golf economy has rebounded somewhat from the bottom two years ago.  ”People are playing golf again,” he told us, and that’s a very good thing for everyone.

It was nice to get back on Vermont soil late yesterday afternoon, about twelve hours after taking off from Dublin.  My wife and I both commented how Ireland is very much like Vermont, and vice versa, with such an obvious presence of open green spaces and agriculture. Daughter B had supper waiting for us as we stopped to pick up our dogs on the way home (not sure who was more excited, us or them), and after a good night’s sleep it’s back to reality for me.

I have to also add my kudos and thanks to Jon Kiger for organizing this entire trip.  I was very literally a “hanger-on”.  And, as Gary said, I also find his energy level amazing.

Thanks once again to our sponsors, Syngenta, LebanonTurf and IVI/Sandtrapper for the wearables, dinners, pints and making the entire trip possible.  We will be off to a different destination next year, so watch for the announcement.

 

Would you like chips with that?

Experience has shown us that’s a question you aren’t likely to hear in any Irish eatery. That’s because everyone knows, your waiter and everyone at the table, that you will have a big bowl of chips (french fries) before the meal is over. And besides, you’d never hear “with that”, it’s going to be a little more like “wid dat”. So after a week of the Full Irish breakfast and lots of chips, yours truly heads for the states feeling a little bit pudgy. It’s time to cut way back on the input and to work off some calories.

Kudos for Kiger

Jon certainly did a fine job with both the planning and the execution of this trip. We played great courses and stayed in fine hotels and for the most part, didn’t have to worry about a thing. He even hired a bus driver in John COST-tell-oh who is a walking, talking, driving Irish Encyclopedia. Thinking back, it makes me scratch my head a bit that he was so steeped in the history of Ireland but seemed not to care a bit about their upcoming presidential election. I don’t understand. But I digress (so what else is new?).

I’ve known Jon since 1999 and golf has alweays been a part of our friendship. We met on the date of Payne Stewart’s funeral and that’s when LebanonTurf began its relationship with SuperNEWS (which, of course, was folded into TurfNet). It has been a great run.

Over the years I’ve come to think of Jon as 30-hour-per-day Kiger because I felt that was how many hours he tries to fill every day…

Over the years I’ve come to think of Jon as 30-hour-per-day Kiger because I felt that was how many hours he tries to fill every day. Ten-plus years ago I could keep up with him. Now, as I’m purposely slowing down a bit, it seems that Jon still has his foot firmly on the accelerator. On this outing, I considered the possibility that Jon has found a way to clone himself. Wouldn’t that be great? Wear one unit out and then start up the other one. I thought he might be doing that. That seemed to be the only way anybody could do all the things Jon was doing, staying out late, pub-hopping til the wee hours and still greeting everyone at breakfast. Clone or not, great job Jon, thanks!!

Dublin Farewell

It was great to finish the golf with a fine day on Friday at Portmarnock. A terrific course and a bright breezy day made it a perfect finale for the week. Personally, I was happy to find my swing again and I heard others say just about the same thing. I was afraid I had left it forever at The Island Club on Thursday. I would like to know just how hard the wind was actually blowing there. All I know is that when we discussed hitting 100, 150, and 180 yard drives into the wind and 200 yard wedges down wind, nobody seemed to take issue with the possibility that the wind was gusting over 50 miles per hour. That round is officially in my top three (should I say tree?) for the toughest ever along with Wild Wet Waterville on Wednesday. Two in two days, go figure.

That round is officially in my top three (should I say tree?) for the toughest ever along with Wild Wet Waterville on Wednesday.

We had a great caddy on Friday and he had some good stories to tell. One had to do with Ireland’s Eye, which is the mountain you can see from this shot over Portmarnock’s practice green. Ireland’s Eye is an island which has a very large rabbit population if not much else. One day, a buddy of our caddy boated out to the island and collected “turty or fahrty” rabbits. On his way back to the mainland, he pulled some lobster pots belonging to some fisherman friends and traded rabbits for lobsters. Needless to say, the fishermen were not happy to find rabbits when they expected lobsters. I’m not sure what happened at the pub when all these lads got together but fortunately, the story got a little funnier as time passed and the fishermen calmed down.

So we all return home. We made wonderful new friends and shared ideas about turf management with experts from both sides of the ocean. At this point, we’ll look forward to the TurfNet Beer and Pretzels Gala on Tuesday evening at the Las Vegas GIS. It will be great to catch up with all those who have attended all three Ireland events.

To all of you from the previous two years, you were missed. Looking forward to seeing you in a few months.

Slainte’, Gary

 

We wound up our 2011 TurfNet Members’ Trip to Ireland on a high note with a sunny (but still windy) round at Portmarnock Golf Club. With the group having played Portmarnock on Friday of our trip last year (check it out here), I figured no sense in doing the photo thing all over again. 6:00AM breakfast and 7:30 tee times convinced me to sleep in a bit, take care of some business and join the group at Portmarnock for lunch before heading over to the Guinness Storeyard (the most popular tourist destination in Ireland) for a tour and a lesson in “the perfect pour” in the afternoon.  Quite an experience in brand marketing!

 

The clouds parted late in the afternoon at The Island Golf Club and I was able to scoot out on a buggy to take a few photos of the guys on holes 16, 17 and 18. Even though the wind was blowing gale force (check out the bend in the flagstick in a few of the photos), with the sun low in the sky and highlighting the undulations in the terrain, I have to say The Island Club has to be one of the most spectacular pieces of land I’ve seen anywhere. Breathtaking.

With twelve golfers in our group (incuding a couple of high handicaps) vs only four from Ireland, the TurfNet boys brought home the Hurley Trophy by a handy margin for another year. We had a nice dinner and many laughs at The Island Club with our Irish friends — Gary Johnstone from Portmarnock, Eddie Donlon from Rush Golf Club, Kevin Carter and Nigel Murphy from the host club.

Photos from late in the day below:

I’m not real big on wearing logo gear, but I usually buy one thing that jumps out at me for a souvenir of the trip. With a few minutes to kill before the first group teed off yesterday at Waterville, we wandered into the pro shop where I spotted it: a driver’s cap of patchwork Donegal tweed made by Gerry Moran, the Hatman of Ireland. Now I’m appropriately stylin’.

As the groups came through the clubhouse at the turn yesterday, the general consensus was “windy, but not too bad… at least it’s not raining…” They jinxed themselves, as the rain started ten minutes after the last group headed toward the 10th tee and lasted the rest of the day. And I’m talking rain, sideways.

But the weather cleared as we headed back toward our last evening in Killarney, where we enjoyed a night of music (including another guest appearance by Jon Kiger on the microphone), pints and camaraderie in a pub across the street from the hotel… as everyone’s rain gear dried in the hotel’s drying room.

We headed out early today on the next and final leg of our trip, from Killarney to Dublin with a “half one” (1:30) tee time at The Island Club in Donabate, near Dublin. We arrived to sunny skies but it quickly turned blustery, then a short but driving rain squall, and then just wind. Enough to make the guys in their rainsuits look like the Pillsbury Doughboy.

Ah, nothing comes easy on an Irish links course.

Today we’re being joined by two lads from the greens staff here as well as two local superintendents, Gary Johnstone from Portmarnock (where we’ll play tomorrow) and Eddie Donlon from Rush Golf Club. Both have been featured in TurfNetTV Ireland segments, so check them out below. Unfortunately, course superintendent Johnny O’Sullivan was under the weather today and couldn’t play (could he have been the smarter?).  You can visit with him below as well.

We’re holding a mini version of our TurfNet Emerald Challenge today, with a Stableford contest between the four Irishmen and the TurfNet guys.  At stake, the coveted Hurley (the stick used in hurling, a traditional Gaelic game)  Trophy.

Last year, Team TurfNet edged the lads from the NW Chapter of GCSAI by one point — 249 to 248 — to win the 2010 TurfNet Emerald Challenge and the Hurley Trophy.  The SW Chapter of GCSAI dusted Team TurfNet in the inaugural match in 2009 at Lahinch. so the count is even going into today’s match. (More from last year here).

I had every intention of grabbing a buggy and going out on the course to cheer the boys on, but there’s a gale wind blowing the rain (yes, it’s back) sideways again, so I think I’ll stay in the clubhouse, warm and dry. More from The Island Club in a bit…

In the meantime, visit with Johnny O’Sullivan, Gary Johnstone and Eddie Donlon, below:

Yes Virginia, there is a Waterville and it is probably going to be wet and rainy there.  For more, read on.

It’s an early start today as we head for Waterville.  It seems especially early because we did not get to dinner until 8:30 or 9:00 last night.  We’re staying at the Killarney Towers and that’s a treat because we get to spend two nights there and one can actually unpack your suitcase.  It’s also a fine hotel.  I’m impressed with how the better hotels in Ireland absolutely knock themselves out with the work in the bathrooms.  Tile and mirrors everywhere.  I really love the tile but I could do with a few less mirrors if you know what I mean.

One thing about Irish/European bathrooms is the type of shower and bathtub water controls (read spigots) they use.  I’m thinking that there must be a school of design for these things because you see something a little different each time you go to a new hotel.  It seems that complexity is part of the design plan – if it takes an American less than ten minutes to figure out how to get the water on and to the proper temperature, the design is too simple.  It’s great to figure these things out on the first or second try as you can begin your day with a real feeling of accomplishment.

It seems that complexity is part of the design plan – if it takes an American less than ten minutes to figure out how to get the water on and to the proper temperature, the design is too simple.

One thing I really like about the Killarney Towers is that there is a simple sign in the bathroom saying “Please reuse the towels”.  That’s so much better than a message that talks about how hotels have to wash millions of tons of towels every day and if we don’t reuse them, we’re killing the environment.  I’m fine with reusing my towels (and wash cloth if you’re lucky enough to get one), just don’t make me feel guilty every time I walk into the bathroom.

And so, John COST-tell-oh, what will you talk about today?  Our opening story for the day is fittingly about “turf”.  For a busload of guys (no ladies today, start telling your best jokes) who are involved in turfgrass management, this is a perfect topic.  It turns out that turf in Ireland is the name for chunks of dried peat that can be burned as a heat source.  John told us how it is harvested, how it is cured, and how you use the ashes for fertilizer so the entire process qualifies as being green.  John maintains that mainly problems of the world can be solved around a turf fire with some good Irish whiskey.

Just as quickly, we changed the topic of conversation to “pacheen” which is Irish moonshine.  We were driving through a section of the country where everyone knew that there was an old gentleman who made and sold pacheen along the roadside.  Like most good things, the Irish government stepped in and took over and now produces its own legal version of pacheen.  Trust me, it’s no good.

When we approached the Dingle Bay on the west coast, the weather began to turn more gray.  The windshield wipers were not on constantly but the wind was so strong that you could hear it inside the bus.  Good driver John Costello called it a gentle Irish breeze.  If we had been in the states and the weather looked like that, there would have been more than a few who would have said that it was time to just head for the clubhouse and have a Bloody Mary or an Irish Coffee and play some cards.  When you’re actually in Ireland though, you go through with the round as scheduled.  Four wet hours later, we had done just that.

The windshield wipers were not on constantly but the wind was so strong that you could hear it inside the bus.  Good driver John Costello called it a gentle Irish breeze.

On the ride home to Killarney, things got very quiet as most of the travelers got some shut-eye.  At least I think they did because I was probably one of the first to nod off.  I woke up to see the sun shining on Dingle Bay and a beautiful blue Irish sky.  We probably could have played somewhere today on the west coast of Ireland where we would not have gotten wet but I’m pleased that we got to play Waterville, wet or dry.

We stopped at the Red Fox Inn on the way back to Killarney, a little over half way.  This is a great pub that is absolutely in the middle of nowhere.  As I sign off, I’ll let the pictures do the talking, later . . . . . . . gary

 

 

It was gray but dry as we gathered outside of the Killarney Towers Hotel at 7:30AM this morning for the 90-minute drive around the Ring of Kerry to Waterville. The low ceiling around the Ring did not bode well for a sunny day on the links, and the blustery wind off the water upon arrival confirmed it.

As I walked past the caddy station, I heard one of them mutter, “It’s a right fookin’ ugly day today”. Yup. But so it can be with Irish golf.

We spent a few minutes with course manager Michael Murphy in the maintenance center (see video below from the TNTV Goes to Ireland series), chatted about his management programs (NO fungicides on the entire golf course) and looked over his equipment fleet. A pair of 11-year old Toro Greensmaster 3100s (2500 and 1700 hrs) were sitting there, and Michael commented that he couldn’t give them away because of their petrol (rather than diesel) engines. As a frame of reference, petrol prices over here hover around 1.5 euro per liter, which translates to about US$9.00 per gallon.

Enjoy a spin through some photos of Waterville Golf Links, below:

 

Day Two of our trip found us crossing the River Shannon by ferry on our way to Ballybunion Golf Club, where course manager Dan Blake (35 years at Ballybunion) spoke briefly with us before our four groups teed off. Three of the grounds staff (including Dan’s son, Ian) joined us for the round.

The group was a little beaten up by the terrain and a bit of drizzle but spirits were high as the groups came off the course.  Mike Hightower shot an 80, while John Brauer (IVI/Sandtrapper) got roasted a bit for his near hole-in-one on a par 5… his tee shot having bounced right off the flagstick.  Too bad it was on an adjoining hole!

Enjoy the photos below of our day at Ballybunion. Afterwards, we traveled to Killarney for dinner and overnight, with Waterville Golf Links on the docket for tomorrow.

 

We’re officially in Day 2 of TurfNet Goes To Ireland 2011. It’s a great group and all are having a fine time. The craic has been delightful even if we have had to deal with some poor weather.

When we teed off at Lahinch yesterday it was gray and windy. As the wind increased, so did the gray. While we were playing the seaside holes we could feel the sea spray on our faces. When we moved further inland we realized that the wet stuff wasn’t sea spray anymore and that the gray was now pretty black and moving toward us at a rapid rate. At that point it was a mad dash for the total rain gear package.

Four holes later the rain eased up, the wind died down to about 20 miles per hour, and you could see that the sky was brightening in the West.  The sun was shining as we finished and it was a beautiful day in western Ireland. The pints tasted especially good after a day like that.

Today we’re on our way to Ballybunion and part of the trip was a ferry ride across an estuary of the River Shannon on the boat in the photo. For me, this completes a cycle because I have now made this passage in both directions. I didn’t have any superstitions about this but it actually feels somehow satisfying to close the loop. Maybe it’s a little like making sure you leave and enter a room or a building using the same door door. Don’t laugh, I know some people who have to do that. No kidding. Like I said in my last post, you can’t make this stuff up.

Ballybunion is a fine course and once you get to the sixth hole and begin to play along the ocean, it gets even better.  We were once again fortunate with the weather because the worst thing we had to put up with was a little bit of spitting rain early in the round.  It was even fairly calm with only a few holes where we had to play the wind.

We’re now in Killarney and looking forward to making a trip to play Waterville tomorrow (Wednesday).  The time is flying by and we have our bus driver John Costello (pronounced Cost’-the-Low and don’t you dare call me Cos-tell’-o) to thank for that.  When this trip is over, everyone who was on it will be experts of Irish history thanks to John’s ongoing narrative.  We’re learning about the history or Ireland and it we have also learned a lot from the superintendents at the courses we’ve played.  Right now though, we’re looking at an early wake-up call for Wednesday and an early departure so this is the G signing off. More tomorrow . . . . later.

Gary Neyman is International Business Manager for LebanonTurf.