I discovered Ireland's Best Kept secret!

[Music] Earlier this year, I hopped onto the Stenoline Ferry from Hollyhead to Dublin Port to discover Ireland's ancient east, and it soon developed into an incredible week on the Emerald Aisle. I discovered some of the most dramatic and spectacular courses I have ever played, and most of which I've never come across before. A great mix of the finest Parkland and Lynx golf. I also had the pleasure of meeting some great people along the way. And of course, we sampled Irish hospitality, which meant plenty of Guinness, smithics, and some great food along the way. I even made my way over to Croak Park to see the GAA Irish football final. Over the next few weeks, I will share with you my experience, where I played, where I stayed, and where I visited along the way, and let you know how you can do the same. [Music] And my first stop was a Parkland beauty by the name of Headford, which is home to two 18hole courses. the championship designed by Christy O' Connor and the old course. And this afternoon, I'll be showing you around both. This is my host for the week, Tannon from Club Choice Island, who you'll see lots of in the upcoming episodes. And from his first T-shot, I thought better of suggesting a small wager. And with the first T-shot that seemed destined for the bunker on the left, I was pleased to see when I'd pulled up short. Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for the greenside bunker. And whilst there are plenty of excuses lined up, we started the day with a par. Well, kind of. So, that's a par with what I'm going to call a ferry ball cuz I've already hiked one into the woods off the first tea. I've been here for about an hour and I played one hole and I already think that Headford is going to be pretty decent. So, don't go anywhere. And pretty decent was an understatement. The first five holes were incredible. Condition of the course was nothing short of immaculate patterns in the fairways, clearly defined, aprons, superb, and greens that provided no excuses. Where have they been hiding this place? [Music] My turning was six holes in at Headford. Is this a course that would this feature on your itinerary quite frequently? Yeah, all the time in fact and a lot of guys ask to come back again and again again particularly with the two courses here. Yeah. I mean and they're quite different. So this is the big championship Christian Connor design course and you see the quality of it. That's been incredible. Guys love it. I just said to you, Sixel, I mean this uh I know maybe a bit of an exaggeration, but the bridge and the contours of this green that it's like a gusta type of feel around here. It has a bit now. Let's just see if you can get the putt though. Yeah. Yeah. It' be a good good up and down. [Music] Hold your line. Hold your line. Oh, right over to you, bud. Let's see then if I can get this for the win. Oh, he left it short. Just dies away, doesn't it? Yeah. It's not an easy It's not an easy pinch to be fair. No, it's a tricky hole. Beautiful, though. Turn and swing look majestic and continue to find fairways. Not even the bunkers could deter Tannon as he turned into Sevy when he finally landed in the sand. And my ability to find the bottom of the cup was still eluding me. Right, front nine done. Uh, just to give you some perspective as to where Headford is in the sort of lie of the land. We came off the ferry at 1:30. I was on the first tea at 3:30 getting out of Dublin. Probably about a 45minute journey to get here and uh, clubhouse superb and and then like I said, we got this incredible weather. Uh, two courses. We're going to have a little look at what is the old course a bit later on, but right now this is the uh Christy O' Connor design championship course which I know Turner mentioned earlier and seriously I mean we we've played nine holes and you would not sniff at any one of them holes as being top draw and we're looking at 10 uh bit of a dog leg left to right over the water. Another absolute belter. Um it's so so good. You know, I don't know whether you've had a look at this on the map. It's quite a It looks quite a serious turn on the corner in terms of the dog leg left to right. That's probably probably the best today for me. I'll tell you what is interesting. There's a there's a lot of there's a lot of water on the coin. Yeah. And that's avoided all of it. That is down the middle. I know my ball has found uh a few of the uh few of the stretches and a few of them you can't see as well. That's my excuse. They're hidden away, aren't they? Well, I'm just not telling you about them. You see? I could be that as well. Yeah. Yeah. That's my kind of tactic. Right. Follow that. Yeah. It was a good one. Yeah. Solid. Hold on. Get down. It's in. It's towards the Aelas. You never want to hear that crunchy tree. That's That's that uh Augusta reference again. Bye. We can't see that one land in it. It's good though. I think there were two great shots. Is this the one we're going to have for the first round tonight? Nearest the pin turn. If that's what you'd like to do, sir. I probably wouldn't like to. No, because it's too damn narrow. But uh Well, I think we should. Do you? Okay. We need a bit of uh We start nearest the green and then nearest the pin. Go with that. Yeah. Okay. It's That is tight, isn't it? Yeah. Can you have a tight pot three? That's a good start. Anyway, that should look superb on the ball flight. That's brilliant. Well done. So, the pressure is now on. Pressure is now on. I thought I was just going to be sitting pretty here. I can I can just taste the Guinness already. Yeah, I know. You don't have to just get it yet in. All right. inside it. Oh, now mine's awful. Pushed. Oh. Oh. Oh. Came back. Now my T-shot was never to be found and turn and rolled up past the hole and casually strolled up and held a par on what was an extremely tight par three for me. And now I owe him some Guinness. How about that for a backdrop? I think adilic is a word we could use, couldn't we? Quite comfortably. This place is seriously so so good. Um I've just snuck off. turning is uh about to hold a uh or attempt a birdie put on a hole that was just absolutely beautiful at 12 that is by the way par 4 very easy T-shot but then that second shot in I think I've leaked one right into the water which is a few of the swing issues I've got for those of you watching um my sort of train like a tour pro this is one of the things Lewis was worried about in particular I'm just not quite committing to it started off really well strike has been good but the last few iron shots have a little bit weak and non-committal. So, I'll try and liven that up a bit. At least I can recognize what that kind of problem is and uh hopefully get it livened up for tomorrow. This is a full-on golf tour and uh I've got plenty to show you. So, don't go anywhere. Don't go anywhere just yet cuz we're going to go on to the old course here at Headford very shortly and then moving on to where I'm staying for the next few days before we move on. Island Day. How good is it? My week's golf tour was organized by the team at Club Choice Island. They put together tailored golf tours that match your golf course preferences, hotel accommodation, ferry travel, food, and budget. Every detail is covered, and a very personable approach is very evident, ensuring your perfect golf tour is beyond expectation. This is Turnan, who is the MD at Club Choice. A great guy who was always on hand and taking care of our schedule. He isn't too shabby with the sticks, so if he offers to take you on for a few quid, I'd keep you euros in your pocket. If you're planning a trip to Ireland, then I would highly recommend contacting Club Choice and utilize their expert knowledge to build you a golf tour that you won't forget anytime soon. More details on how to follow in my footsteps can be found in the description below. Oh, it's better hand. Yeah, a solid strike. That was a lot better, was it? Been a bit non-committal over the last few, but that's uh No, you went through that. You got through that. Yeah. Oh, Ran, stop hitting that shot. Just cut it. Go, go, go. Yeah. Yeah. It's in the bunker. Bunker. Well, T, you've obviously been here before, but I mean, the par 3es are super strong, aren't they? On this course, they're excellent. Really are. Like, and water comes into play and freedom as well. Yeah. You know, I know that bit. Yeah. Yeah. Thanks for reminding me. Yeah. Yeah, they're they're excellent and and different clubs as well going into all of them. Been superb. But then again, they've got that variety of, you know, mixing up with the par fours and par fives. It's a proper good track, isn't it? It's It is. It's a real championship test. Yeah. And obviously on the green and I'm in the bunk. Another put for birdie. Andy. Yeah. Tell you what, there's a few snuck by, aren't there? Yeah. had a few ps. Burn the edges. I didn't read that going that way. Anyway, can't buy a foot. There's another putt left in that. I think that's uh that's matched to you, mate. Well done. Thank you very much, sir. Fantastic first day. Uh if that's day one, day two's got a lot of living up to. Right. So, 18 finished on the championship course. Now, I haven't got a tea time booked on the old course. Going to try and have a bit of a whiz round. Get the drone up. Hopefully get a few shots here and there where we can. It's very busy this afternoon, but hopefully give you a bit of a feel for what this place is looking like. I've had the drone up briefly. It looks uh fairly tight and narrow, very mature treeline fairways and uh hopefully can find some way to weave our way through and show a little bit of this back nine. So we played a few holes and a little look around the old course which was also in fine condition. A little tighter from the tea but less water than on the championship. Headoot is clearly a 36 hole venue of high quality. [Music] Right. So, we've just driven uh probably half an hour from um the golf course up at Headford. I mean, what a glorious evening. And the driveway in um castle on the left, you may see a quick glimpse of it. I'm looking at the golf course behind me. And this is where we're staying. So, these are lodges um as I described, but this is going to be where I'm going to stay and be based for the next three nights. So, half an hour headfort. Tomorrow morning we're playing Killian Castle uh which is obviously on site and then we drive up to County La the following morning where I'm going to play uh County La which is Belray uh or better known as Belray and then uh Seint the following day. Oh my word, what a first day. Or Lodge I believe. Right. Okay. Come on in. Take a look around. That's nice, isn't it? I think if you just carry on forward to the window, you can't quite see. So, the golf course is in the backdrop behind the trees. See a bit of a fairway there on the right. I'll see you all next Monday where it will be a proper look around Killing Castle as a golf course and as a whole estate and we'll see what else is going on around here. [Music]