Category: Blog

GOLF ON THE EMERALD ISLE

At the beginning of the summer, my family got the chance to embark on the trip of a lifetime to the beautiful country of Ireland. Not only was this the first time I’d been to Europe, but this was also my first chance to play golf outside of the United States. I would like to share my thoughts on what makes Ireland such a great place to visit, and especially, to play golf. Being from Louisiana, the first thing I noticed in Ireland was the weather. Summers in Ireland are mild with highs rarely topping 70 degrees. This was a welcome change from the hot and humid New Orleans weather. Second, I noticed the people. Irish people are very welcoming, happy, and humorous (see Rocky below). The people in every town we visited made our trip that much better. Lastly, the incredible green landscape for which the country received its nickname, “The Emerald Isle,” and mesmerizing views from coast to coast, can only be done justice by seeing in person. The only thing missing was a little golf… . In a small town outside of Galway, we scoured the internet for the best courses, available tee times, and local recommendations. All fingers pointed to Lahinch Golf Club. The course, founded in 1892, is in a town of less than 1,000 residents, right on the Atlantic Ocean. Lahinch is golf at its purest – no trees, no carts, no nonsense. It was the perfect setting – just us and the golf course. And Rocky. Our forecaddie. Rocky was a local guy in his mid-40s who started caddying at Lahinch when he was 15 years old. Rocky guided us through the rolling dunes for the next 5 hours, keeping the mood light by cracking jokes all afternoon. As the day went on, we realized the round was more about the memories we were making and less about scores. The one exception was my eagle 2 on the drivable Par 4 13^th. That was special. Not long after that play, the sun began to set. We walk off the 18^th green 9:30pm, concluding what was one of the most memorable rounds in one of the most unique places. My wish for all the kids I coach is that one day, they can take a trip across the pond and make memories like mine. You will not be disappointed with what Ireland has to offer. To read more about Lahinch, click the button! http://www.lahinchgolf.com/ PS: Also, check out the 2019 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open… Coach Brad

Coach Perry Reflects on a Valuable Lesson learned from the passing of Jarrod Lyle

  I wanted to start this series off by discussing the history of golf, but something happened the other day that prompted me to share a more important message. The golf world was stunned by the devastating news that Australian Professional Tour player Jarrod Lyle passed away at the age of 36 after his third battle with cancer. The news had a profound impact on me, as it made me recall my dad’s (a cancer survivor) battle with cancer. My dad introduced me to the game of golf and it is a love that we share together to this day. A few months ago, I was privileged to play with him during his first round of golf since treatment. We were in Lake Chautauqua, NY and he shot 84 – not too shabby for a someone who had just undergone a year of surgeries and radiation!  When I heard about Jarrod’s passing, it made me realize how lucky I was to share that round of golf with my dad. It will be a round that I remember forever, and I hope to make many more memories on the links together. The reason I share this story is to remind both our First Tee parents and participants that golf is far more than a score you put on your card, or the place you finish in a tournament. As said by Jarrod: “I feel like I’m the luckiest golfer goin’ around, because so many people took an interest in me and took an interest in my fight. You know, to have so many friends around the world, whether they’re spectators, whether they’re golfers, whether they’re marshals …whatever, to have that kind of support … to go to every tournament, is a great feeling.” Jarrod passed away reflecting not on his many victories, but on the relationships he forged through the game. So, participants, think of Jarrod the next time you are lamenting a double bogey or a three-putt. The moments in golf that you will carry through your life have little to do with your performance on the golf course. Parents, I ask you to reflect on how the game of golf has impacted your relationship with your child. I hope that many years from now you will look back fondly on these moments. They are times you got to spend together. Author: Coach Perry Photo: Getty Images