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19th Hole

Exploring Ireland: Where to golf, drink and stay on the Emerald Isle. Pt. 5. Parknasilla Golf Club, Kerry

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In these series of articles, I will be taking you around the Emerald Isle providing you with great golf courses to visit in some of the loveliest spots in Ireland. I’ll also be highlighting the best and most authentic Irish bars in these spots, as well as places to stay, eat and how to get there. Whether you’re taking a golfing holiday to Ireland in 2019 or are interested in doing so sometime in the future, I’ll make sure to let you in on the best places to spend your time.

In Part Four of our Exploring Ireland Series, we travelled to Bearna Golf Club in Galway. Now it’s time to move down the west coast and into County Kerry to explore the south coast of the country.

One of Ireland’s most famous tourist destinations, “The Kingdom” as locals call it, is well known for its impressive mountains, lakes, and great food, while it was also a favorite destination of legendary actor Charlie Chaplin. Whether it’s quiet countryside, gourmet feasts or all night sessions that you’re after, Kerry will certainly not disappoint.

Parknasilla Golf Club, Kerry

@parknasilla

Picking a 12-hole golf course when there are so many great options for golf breaks in this county (Waterville Golf Links, Kenmore GC, Tralee GC etc.) may seem strange, but with its beauty, location, value, and great mix of holes, Parknasilla GC gets the nod.

The course is located a few minutes from Paknasilla Resort itself (which we’ll get into later) and features a mix of both narrow tree-lined fairways, as well as wider ones. The smart blend at times allows you to open your shoulders, and at others makes it necessary for you to dial back and hit a dead-straight tee shot, knowing full well that if you don’t, you’ll find yourself in the woods. The hilly course will also test your club-selecting skills, while the sloped greens, at least when I was in town, are perfect to putt on.

@thejagobyrne

The course offers incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean and Kerry Mountains, while with its lush green fairways and colorful vegetation, the track provides you with the perfect setting to enjoy your golfing day out.

@parknasilla

The 12-hole course features two par-5s and one par-3 and can also be turned into an 18-hole course. While parts of Kerry are known for its hustle and bustle, you’re guaranteed a relaxed vibe around Parknasilla. Twelve holes will cost you around $25, while to play 18 the rate is $30.

Undoubtedly this course is one of the best bang for your book tracks in the area.

Food & Drink – Crowley’s Bar/Parknasilla Resort

@Crowleysbar

There are bundles of bars in Kerry hosting lively music sessions if that’s your scene, and you won’t have to look far to find them. However, I’m taking a different tact for this part of the series.

In the town of Kenmare sits Crowley’s Bar, which is approximately a 25-minute drive from the Parknasilla Resort, and it’s a bar which will provide for a very different and authentic experience.

For starters, when I visited, the pub didn’t even have a till, so don’t bother taking your card out in this joint. You grab your drink and just chuck your money into a box and get on with enjoying your pint. You won’t find any tv’s here, and it truly is a joy to tuck into a pint of Guinness in front of one of the many open fireplaces at this little gem.

@paulhughesgee

No thrills, no food and few tourists, Crowley’s is an old school bar that is all about drink, conversation and friendly locals who will give any visitors from abroad the red carpet treatment. In the evening you’ll also be able to enjoy live music, so don’t think you’ll be missing out on a good traditional music session should you decide to visit this bar.

@9to5pianist

While Crowley’s doesn’t provide food, Parknasilla Resort sure does, and its Pygmalion restaurant is the place to be after hitting the fairways. The restaurant is located in a large, stunning room within the complex, and offers up an excellent three-course meal including tea or coffee for $45 per person.

Where To Stay

@renneestraussbh

Parknasilla Resort of course. If you’ve seen Yorgos Lanthimos’ film The Lobster, then you’ll know all about the beauty of this hotel and its surroundings. The film starring Colin Farrell was filmed in the resort, and it genuinely is as beautiful in person as it appears on the big screen.

@parknasilla

The luxury hotel features an excellent spa, tennis courts, walking trails and more, and will provide you with the perfect spot to explore all that Kerry has to offer. A double room costs in the region of $140 per night.

Besides golf, there’s plenty to do in Kerry. I’d certainly recommend a visit to Killarney National Park which offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. Snow-capped mountains and waterfalls are just some of the highlights of the park.

@photographyPJM

The Dingle peninsula is also a beautiful area that is worth visiting should you ever find yourself in The Kingdom. With bars and restaurants galore, it’s one of the best spots in the county and a boat ride out to see “Funghi the Dolphin” is a great option if you have kids, or are just into dolphins in general!

@catherinemack

How To Get There

If driving, then Kerry is around a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Dublin. The closest international airport to the county is Cork airport, which is 90 minutes away. The area’s popularity means that its accessible from pretty much anywhere on the island through public transport.

 

 

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Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at [email protected].

19th Hole

3-time PGA Tour winner calls for LIV to buy Champions Tour to fix ‘joke’ purses

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While speaking on the Subpar podcast, former PGA Tour winner and current PGA Tour Champions player Chris DiMarco said he hopes LIV buys the Champions Tour.

“We’re kind of hoping that LIV buys the Champions Tour,” he said.

“Let’s play for a little real money out here. I mean this is kind of a joke when we’re getting $2 million. There were like seven guys last week from TPC (Sawgrass, at the $25 million PLAYERS Championship) that made more money than our purses.”

In 2024, the Champions Tour had a total of $67 million in prize money over the course of 24 events.

DiMarco also defended LIV players for taking the money and said he would take it also.

“They wanted to play for a lot of money, and they deserve it. They have had some great careers, why not go and get some money?”

DiMarco also offered insight on Graeme McDowell’s move to LIV.

“I saw Graeme McDowell at the Old Memorial Pro Member, and he goes, ‘Listen, I went up to Jay Monahan and said I love the tour but I am struggling to keep my card and these guys are offering me all this money and less golf. I’m sorry, I’m going.’ And I do not blame him one bit, and I said I would have too.”

DiMarco was ranked as high as 6th in the world in 2006.

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19th Hole

‘It won’t win you golf tournaments’ – Golf analyst rips Charley Hull’s course management

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Charley Hull came just short of her third LPGA Tour victory over the weekend at the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship when she played her last two holes at 3 over to slip all the way to 10th on the leaderboard.

After the round, Hull was blasted by Sky Sports commentator and former LPGA Tour player Trish Johnson for her lack of golf course management.

While speaking on the Sky Sports Golf podcast, Johnson spoke harshly of Hull.

“I’m probably her harshest critic, because I know how good she is. She doesn’t win anywhere near enough for her talent, and she doesn’t get involved enough, in all honestly.

“The thing with Charley is that you’re never going to change her. I read something the other day that said how much she loves the game and it’s her love of the game [that costs her]. She’s never going to change and she’s just going to go for every pin.

“In theory that’s great, but it won’t win you golf tournaments, it just won’t because she’s not that much better than anybody else. If you put Charley against Nelly Korda, then I’m picking Nelly every single day of the week.”

Johnson also made a fascinating comparison between Hull and a famous male golfer, John Daly.

“Golf-wise that’s the way she plays the game and it’s a little bit like watching John Daly I suppose.”

“There’s something that John Daly had that made him a major winner and a winner, but Charley is kind of lacking that. Her talent is not in question, but maybe her application is. Maybe it’s just the case of her never changing and that will cost her golf tournaments, there’s no two ways about it. You cannot go for every pin because that’s the way you play and it being fun, as other players are better than that and you have to have course management.”

Hull is still only 27, and therefore has plenty of time to work on her flaws to achieve the success her talent should allow.

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Former agent lifts lid on being fired by ‘zombie’ Tiger Woods

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Discussing his new book “Rainmaker” with the Daily Mail, Tiger Woods’ former agent, Hughes Norton, recounted the events leading up to and after his split with the 15-time major champion.

Norton was abruptly fired by Woods in 1998 after his 1997 Masters win and monster deal with Nike.

In the book, Norton talks about the way Tiger views his relationships, calling him a “zombie.”

The solace I can take, which doesn’t provide much, is this: He was an equal opportunity zombie with relationships, his swing coaches, his lawyer, the guy negotiated the IMG representation deal, with caddies, When it’s over, it’s over.”

Norton added:

“It is the way he terminates relationships with everyone. Whether it’s girlfriends, whether it’s his former golf coaches. It’s ironic, really. In a way he’s so good at confrontation on the golf course. If he’s playing you, he will beat your brains out every single time.

“But when it comes to confronting things like me and other people that are in his life, he has no social skills whatsoever. It’s maddening, actually.”

After he was fired by Woods, Norton was let go by IMG, which he believes was due to Woods’ influence.

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