Sometimes we can forget how great the golf experience is at home.
We jet off to the Mediterranean sun or to Scotland for a golf buddy trip and perhaps forget the fun and value that can be found nearby.
I was reminded of it recently when I took part in the Writer Cup, an annual tournament setting northern journalists against southern media in a Ryder Cup-style format.
It’s eight golfers a side over two days, playing four better-ball matches and eight singles. The competition is promoted by Tourism NI to showcase golf in the region and to encourage southerners to travel north to play Northern Ireland’s great courses, but it’s also a reminder that some great things are near to hand.
We played Holywood, a course on the edge of Belfast unknown outside of Ireland until Rory McIlroy became a world star and people wanted to visit the course he learned his skills at.
Not surprisingly Rory has nice things to say about a course known for its beautiful views of Belfast Lough.
“Holywood was a great course for me to learn the game on, it has all the traits that develop your game from playing it regularly. It helps you to learn to shape your shots, places emphasis on your short game and creates more versatile and adaptable golf game through the variety of different shots encountered. I have no doubt that the course helped me to become the golfer I am today,” said the four-time major champion.
After a night in the super Hilton Hotel in Belfast city centre, we returned to Co Down to play majestic Royal Belfast.
One of Ireland’s oldest course, it is set out across 140 acres at Craigavad, running down to the shores of Belfast Lough. In 1925 the famous Harry Colt designed the current course which opened for play the following year.
The opening five holes are among the finest in Ireland, with the course particularly noted for its striking bunkering.
And it can also claim a link with the local superstar, as Rory McIlroy counts Royal Belfast among his memberships.
Golf tourism is increasingly important to the Northern Ireland economy with Portstewart hosting the Irish Open this year. It was the first time in decades the tournament was held in mid-summer and was part of the three week run of links courses on the European Tour, starting with the Irish Open, then the Scottish Open and culminating with the Open.
And of course The Open itself - one of golf's four majors - will be held at Royal Portrush in 2019.
The exposure is likely to have a significant affect on tourism numbers, with more people than ever enjoying the tremendous golf we have to offer.
Oh, and by the way, the north won the Writer Cup for the second year in a row!
