A few people on the TurfNet Members' Trip went over early to extend their stay on the front side, including Mark Fuller, CGCS, of the Connecticut Golf Club, and Matt Crowther, CGCS, of Mink Meadows Golf Club (Martha's Vineyard, MA) and his wife, Cheryl.

Mark, a veteran of most of our trips to Ireland and Bandon, wasted no time getting started with networking, connecting with John Dempsey, course manager at Royal Curragh Golf Club in Co.Kildare. John is also a post-graduate researcher at the University of the West of England, looking into phosphite mediated suppression of Microdochium nivale in grasses. He has also presented several TurfNet University webinars, and is active on Twitter as @J_J_Dempsey.

Mark Fuller, CGCS, with John Dempsey at Royal Curragh.

To whet everyone's appetite (and perhaps tease a bit), Mark also sent along a few photos of his day at The European Club, situated between the towns of Wicklow and Arklow in Co.Wicklow.

Above and below, The European Club. Photos by Mark Fuller, CGCS.

Not to be outdone, Matt and Cheryl Crowther (below left) spent their "early day" on their first (and long-awaited) trip to Ireland visiting castles and finding Gibney's, our favorite pub from earlier trips, for their first pint.  Now, THAT is teasing!