Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Resort, Ireland
Rosapenna, situated on County Donegal’s Rosguill Peninsula in the extreme northwest of Ireland, was traditionally overlooked when a roll call of Ireland’s great golf locales was taken. The links laid out by Old Tom Morris in 1891 was pleasant enough, but hardly worth a go-at-all-costs pilgrimage, especially considering its remote location. Now, however, the […]
The Royal Dublin Golf Club, Ireland
When the guns on the Western Front fell silent at the 11th hour of the 11th day in the 11th month of 1918, among the estimated 35,000 Irish who perished in the Great War was the country’s finest golfer. Michael Moran, the first Irishman to win prize money in the British Open, was mortally […]
Portmarnock Golf Club, Ireland
Apparently they couldn’t wait for Christmas. But who could blame them, given the sporting potential of the grounds that beckoned W.C. Pickeman and George Ross to the peninsula of Portmarnock, northeast of Dublin? On Christmas Eve 1893, Pickeman and Ross left the tiny village of Sutton, manned a rowboat and skulled across Howth Bay […]
Ballybunion Golf Club, Ireland
The speech and rhythms of the west country of Ireland are far different from the majestic lilt of Dublin, where English is spoken perhaps more beautifully than anywhere on earth. But the speech of western Ireland reflects the nature of the harsh and terrible land, which that gives off a beauty more memorable than […]
Cork Golf Club, Ireland
In the spring of 1897, Maudsley and Sharmon Crawford were sailing the Lee Estuary on their way to the Cork City Regatta. At the time (and to this day), men of means in Cork were yachtsmen. Ireland’s second-largest city is a seafaring town, and the Cork Yacht Club, founded in 1720, is the world’s […]
The European Club, Ireland
If playing a links is an experience to be cherished, what must it be like to actually develop, own and operate such a course? Pat Ruddy’s demeanor indicates it is a pleasant experience indeed. A bear of a man who always has a warm smile, a welcoming hand and a flash of wit, Ruddy […]
A Long Weekend at The Omni Homestead, Virginia
Where to Play: Cascades: Sam Snead helped build this Golden Age William Flynn course and honed his Hall-of-Fame game on it as its first head pro. The front nine is built into the hillsides, while the back features one of the most unusual and fun finishes in golf with two par 3s bookending two […]
Historic Golf Vacation in Williamsburg, Virginia
When the Brits arrived at Jamestown in 1607 to establish the first permanent English settlement in North America, they could not have had golf on their minds. Four centuries later, golf still doesn’t necessarily spring to mind at the mention of Williamsburg, Virginia, but it’s at least gained a foothold in a region more […]
Golf Travel: Williamsburg, Virginia
History is at the heart of Williamsburg, from the restored 18th-century town that was the capital of pre-Revolutionary Virginia to the country’s second-oldest college. The history even extends to the golf—the area is home to one of the first island greens. But there’s far more to Williamsburg than the past: Lodging options like the […]
The Omni Homestead, Virginia
For more than two centuries, The Omni Homestead has provided a haven for sports enthusiasts, the perfect relaxation of the most renowned mineral springs and Spa, and the finest Southern hospitality. Today, The Homestead invites guests into a timeless world of exceptional golf on three top-ranked courses, the best of Spa hydrotherapy and massage […]