Golf notes
In Ireland ready for Royal County Down; Habitat, Bottomfeeders benefit tourneys
By Richard Davison (Special to the Index-Tribune)
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It's been nine years since I made the "trip across the pond" to my birthplace of Northern Ireland, but I finally made it back last Saturday.
Along with driving on the other side of the road with the steering wheel on the opposite side, I've had to get used to the eight-hour time change - but all that doesn't matter since I got "the call." I have been waiting for this call since I got here, and when it came I almost did cart-wheels down the street. What is it you ask? Well, next Wednesday, just two days before I return home, I will be teeing it up at the Royal County Down Golf Club. Royal County Down is one of those courses that once you have played it you begin to think about the next time you might be lucky enough to walk its fairways again. For me the last time I fought the wind and blind tee-shots was nine years ago, but, from the last time I walked off the 18th green until I got "the call," I have been thinking about it. People might be surprised to find out that it is ranked as one of the top-10 golf courses in the world, sitting behind such legends as Pine Valley and Merion, and very few have played it.
One person who played it and came away somewhat humbled was a certain Tiger Woods, who didn't break 80 the first time he made the trip to the town of Newcastle ("RCD" as it's sometimes known). The people who founded the club certainly got their money's worth, since they paid "Old Tom Morris" a whopping £4 to come over from St. Andrews and lay out the course back in 1889. It takes a little more than £4 to play it now, but when you consider it is in that elusive list of courses in the world, it's still a bargain.
Tom Watson, who won five British Opens, could be considered an expert on links courses and said that Royal County Down is "a pure links course" in the truest sense of the word. The course is known as being unforgiving to players who might be playing it for the first time; blind tee-shots are a plenty, but that adds to the character of the course. One of the greatest views in golf is after you have hit your tee shot on the par-4 ninth hole - you walk up past the white rock that you have hopefully hit your tee-shot over, and then ahead of you is a spectacular fairway that sits in a small valley.
Its cousin, Royal Portrush Golf Club, has the distinction of being the only course outside the British mainland to host the British Open - that was in 1951, when Max Faulkner won. But Royal County Down has never hosted a major championship, though its résumé has a few Irish Opens and the 2007 Walker Cup, which was a huge success. Still, it's as if the club is happy with its place among the shadows - hiding out behind the world renowned Slieve Donard Hotel.
I am, for sure, excited about it now, but when next Tuesday night comes around and I know my tee-time is approaching, my excitement level will be at an all-time high.
THE SONOMA COUNTY Habitat for Humanity will once again be holding its fundraising tournament, with this year's event being played at the Santa Rosa Golf and Country Club on Monday, June 16.
The event, which helps raise money to build homes for deserving people, will be a "shamble" format and includes a Lexus hole-in-one prize, $25,000 as a hole-in-one-prize and a putting prize of $5,000.
Beginning at 11 a.m. with a shotgun start, the benefit tourney donation is $250 a player, or $1,000 for a foursome which includes golf and hors d'oeuvres, as well as entry into the various competitions. Anyone interested can contact Habitat for Humanity at 578-7707, or visit h4hsc@golftourn@yahoo.com.
THE 12TH ANNUAL Bottomfeeders Open Golf Tournament sponsored by Murphy's Irish Pub will take place on Friday, June 20, at the Adobe Creek Golf Course in Petaluma, followed by awards, raffle, silent auction and dinner at the Swiss Hotel.
Entry fee for the tournament and dinner is $160 a player and proceeds benefit local programs for seniors at the Vintage House Senior Center. For those who don't have the golf bug, but would like to attend the dinner, tickets are available for $60.
Registration deadline for the tournament is Tuesday, June 10. For more information, stop by Murphy's Irish Pub, 464 First Street E., or call 935-0660; or contact the Vintage House at 996-0311 or e-mail at info@vintagehouse.org.
Along with driving on the other side of the road with the steering wheel on the opposite side, I've had to get used to the eight-hour time change - but all that doesn't matter since I got "the call." I have been waiting for this call since I got here, and when it came I almost did cart-wheels down the street. What is it you ask? Well, next Wednesday, just two days before I return home, I will be teeing it up at the Royal County Down Golf Club. Royal County Down is one of those courses that once you have played it you begin to think about the next time you might be lucky enough to walk its fairways again. For me the last time I fought the wind and blind tee-shots was nine years ago, but, from the last time I walked off the 18th green until I got "the call," I have been thinking about it. People might be surprised to find out that it is ranked as one of the top-10 golf courses in the world, sitting behind such legends as Pine Valley and Merion, and very few have played it.
One person who played it and came away somewhat humbled was a certain Tiger Woods, who didn't break 80 the first time he made the trip to the town of Newcastle ("RCD" as it's sometimes known). The people who founded the club certainly got their money's worth, since they paid "Old Tom Morris" a whopping £4 to come over from St. Andrews and lay out the course back in 1889. It takes a little more than £4 to play it now, but when you consider it is in that elusive list of courses in the world, it's still a bargain.
Tom Watson, who won five British Opens, could be considered an expert on links courses and said that Royal County Down is "a pure links course" in the truest sense of the word. The course is known as being unforgiving to players who might be playing it for the first time; blind tee-shots are a plenty, but that adds to the character of the course. One of the greatest views in golf is after you have hit your tee shot on the par-4 ninth hole - you walk up past the white rock that you have hopefully hit your tee-shot over, and then ahead of you is a spectacular fairway that sits in a small valley.
Its cousin, Royal Portrush Golf Club, has the distinction of being the only course outside the British mainland to host the British Open - that was in 1951, when Max Faulkner won. But Royal County Down has never hosted a major championship, though its résumé has a few Irish Opens and the 2007 Walker Cup, which was a huge success. Still, it's as if the club is happy with its place among the shadows - hiding out behind the world renowned Slieve Donard Hotel.
I am, for sure, excited about it now, but when next Tuesday night comes around and I know my tee-time is approaching, my excitement level will be at an all-time high.
THE SONOMA COUNTY Habitat for Humanity will once again be holding its fundraising tournament, with this year's event being played at the Santa Rosa Golf and Country Club on Monday, June 16.
The event, which helps raise money to build homes for deserving people, will be a "shamble" format and includes a Lexus hole-in-one prize, $25,000 as a hole-in-one-prize and a putting prize of $5,000.
Beginning at 11 a.m. with a shotgun start, the benefit tourney donation is $250 a player, or $1,000 for a foursome which includes golf and hors d'oeuvres, as well as entry into the various competitions. Anyone interested can contact Habitat for Humanity at 578-7707, or visit h4hsc@golftourn@yahoo.com.
THE 12TH ANNUAL Bottomfeeders Open Golf Tournament sponsored by Murphy's Irish Pub will take place on Friday, June 20, at the Adobe Creek Golf Course in Petaluma, followed by awards, raffle, silent auction and dinner at the Swiss Hotel.
Entry fee for the tournament and dinner is $160 a player and proceeds benefit local programs for seniors at the Vintage House Senior Center. For those who don't have the golf bug, but would like to attend the dinner, tickets are available for $60.
Registration deadline for the tournament is Tuesday, June 10. For more information, stop by Murphy's Irish Pub, 464 First Street E., or call 935-0660; or contact the Vintage House at 996-0311 or e-mail at info@vintagehouse.org.
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