There was more than one statistical barrier standing in-between Clarke and success. It had already been over ten years since the last attempt at a major, and Clarke had fallen out of the top 100 ranking. The age difference between him and the competition was nothing to scoff at, either.

There had been no other golfer who had managed to win the Open after more than 15 starts. Clarke’s lifelong dream had been centered on the Open, though, and he kept trying even as the center stage shifted to younger and younger players.

The conditions of the tournament were less than desirable. As typically seen with the British Open, rain and wind plagued golfers from the moment they stepped on the green.

His defining moment was a well executed eagle putt at the seventh hole, but he was a steady force throughout the Open. In the end, he had an amazing three-shot win over the competing Americans.

Phil Michelson started out a strong lead in the major with a slew of birdies in the early Sunday hours, but his luck seemed to run out as he ventured further down the stretch. A consistent failure on his short made him an inconsequential threat to Clarke’s steady drive.

Johnson nipped at Clarke’s heels on the green. With two birdies at the back-nine, he was breathing down his neck with only a two shot deficit. Unfortunately, a wild out-of-bounds shot ended any chances he had at overtaking the older man.

It wasn’t just North Ireland who cheered Clarke on in that finale hour. His persistence had made him a popular figure across many countries and cultures. He was a golfer with a career that many considered past its expiration date struggling against men who were in their prime.
Even so, he was well loved by thousands of people. He drew a sort of empathy from viewers and from the gallery that is rare in the sport. He was by no means perfect, but he had an indomitable spirit that led him to show up at the Ryder Cup even after the recent death of his wife.

His success at the Open inspired a level of empathy among his fans. As they saw him succeed, they felt like they had overcome the odds and succeeded with him.

In the aftermath of his victory, it is speculated that Darren Clarke may end his golfing career on a high note. He is planning to move back to his home in Northern Ireland permanently after finally achieving a dream that many considered impossible.

Darren Clarke has had a lifetime worth of nudging the line between fulfillment and prospect. At the close of the Open, he finally stood at the end of a field with only eighteen holes between him and the crowning that would end a lifelong ambition.

Ireland is one country that always had a steady supply of great golf players. It seems that every year, an Irish golg champion is being born. So who are the top 5 Irish golf players in 2011? Read the list below and see the crop of Irish players who are currently making waves in the world of golf.

The Old Course has beautifully contoured fairways and has consistently been rated among the top courses in the entire world.

The Trent Jones Cashen Course offers breathtaking views with a rugged and untouched look to the place.

To book you should contact the Club to check availability.  When bookings are accepted and confirmed, a 50% non refundable deposit is payable to the club within 14 days.  A booking form must be completed with the deposit.  Full payment must be made at least 30 days prior to the date you are playing. Failure to do so will result in tee-times being automatically released for resale.

Visiting golfers are required to have an official handicap.  28 max for men and 36 max for ladies.  Visiting golfers should arrive at the Club at least 30 minutes before the tee-time

PGA professionals will be granted courtesy of the course. ID will be required on check-in.

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Royal Portrush was designed by Harry Colt and will put even the most seasoned golfer to the test. The course has a variety of challenges with elevated tees, tricky bunkers, sand hills and menacing dunes.

Royal Portrush is a members’ club which welcomes visitors all year round to face the challenges of its courses and to brave the testing conditions.

The Golf Club has amongst its members Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell.

Tee Reservation can be booked in advance by telephone and is subject to a non-refundable deposit of £50.00 per person. All visitors should be members of a recognised Golf Club and to hold a current Playing Handicap.

A Certificate of Handicap with a maximum of 18 for males (24 for females) on the Dunluce Links, must be presented along with a Letter of introduction from Home Club.  Both these are strict requirements and are conditional prior to play.

The clubhouse dining Room is open 7 days a week from April to September, with reduced hours, between the months of October and March. Groups can be catered for outside of normal hours with advance notice.

Portrush has tons of holiday accommodation, ranging from hotels to Bed and Breakfasts, hotels and camping sites/caravan parks.

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Here you will find some of the best  IRISH GOLF TOUR OPERATORS

Southwest Ireland Golf Swing

Address: South West Ireland Golf, 24 Denny Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry, Ireland
Phone: +353 (0) 66 7125733
Fax: +353 (0) 66 7123651
E-mail: reservations@swinggolfireland.com
Website: www.swinggolfireland.com

Description

SWING  established 22 years and promotes some of the first courses in the south-west Ireland, namely, Ballybunion, Lahinch, Dromoland, Doonbeg, Killarney, Tralee, Adare, Dooks, Dingle, Waterville, Ring of Kerry and Fota Iceland. It also operates a professional tee time reservations and ground handling for all of Ireland, which is very popular with many travelers and tour operators, as it saves time and money and ensures an excellent service

Golf Hotel Ireland

Address: Columcille, Thomastown, Kilkenny, Ireland
Phone: +00353 (0) 85 1654376
E-mail: info@golfhotelireland.com
Website: www.golfhotelireland.com

Description

Golf Hotel Ireland specializes in planning and organizing trips to the best golf courses in Ireland. Reservations can be applied directly for the golf course, thanks to our extensive guide to golf and Tour golf.

Well Played Ltd

Address: 10 Lansdowne Village, Kenmare, Co Kerry, Ireland
Phone: +353 (0) 64 89169
Fax: +353 (0) 64 89169
Mobile: +353 (0) 87 9818784
E-mail: info@wellplayed.com
Website: www.wellplayed.com

Description

Wellplayed Ltd is proud to provide a full tour throughout Ireland. Pre-booked tee times, accommodation, transport (including flights, bus driver and / or rental car),

Special Tours Ireland

Address: Golf Special, Special Tours Ireland Limited, 3 Wellington Street, Clonmel, the Republic of Ireland
Phone: +353 (0) 52 6170630
Fax: +353 (0) 52 6170629
E-mail: cathal@specialityireland.com
Website: www.specialityireland.com

Special Golf Tours organize tailor-made golf tours of Ireland for individuals and groups, large and small, throughout the world.

Use our online trip planner on our website to browse and select courses suggested itineraries, accommodation, transport and travel data. We will provide more proposals, options and prices. Or call us now +353 52 6170630 to plan your special golf vacation in Ireland.

Irish Golf Tours Ltd.

Address: 34 Garden Sweetbriar, Tramore, Co Waterford, Ireland
Phone: +353 (0) 51 381728
E-mail: info@irishgolftours.com
Website: www.irishgolftours.com

Description

Irish Golf Tours Ltd. is a family business / management company based in Tramore, Co.Waterford. We offer a truly comprehensive golf vacation package for all golfers visiting Ireland. Our services include air and sea, by land travel – car hire, bus driver. We offer accommodation at all levels, pensions, rent, through the whole range of hotels from 3 * to 5 *.

Tee times are guaranteed in every program. The network of contacts we have established with all the commercial vendors in the past ten years, we are in a unique position to ensure a personal and professional service for those who enjoy and explore the natural beauty and quality of Irish many areas of the Gulf

Irish Pro Golf Tours

Address: Alacken, Cavan, Republic of Ireland
Phone: +353 (0) 49 4335446
Fax: +353 (0) 49 4372709
E-mail: info@irishprogolftours.com
Website: www.irishprogolftours.com

Description

Irish Pro Golf Tours offer a superior travel experience for our customers. Specialists in development and not golf courses – Golf Vacations in Ireland, we guarantee our customers a holiday treasure for ever. The experience of golf in Ireland with our local Irish travel specialists. Read more about the Irish Pro Golf Tours Read less about Irish Pro Golf Tours

Custom Ireland

Address: 47 Wellington Quay, Dublin, Ireland
Phone: +353 (0) 1 675 2248
E-mail: kenneth.lyons@customireland.com
Website: www.customireland.com

Description

Custom Ireland provide a professional and energetic team of employees for our customer service at the highest level. With the solid relationships with customers, business partners and suppliers with a view to providing the best incentive trips and for the programs.

Custom Ireland, Dublin-based Destination Management Company, was founded in 1996 with the objective of superior, personal experience for visitors to Ireland. As a specialist in customized group tours, Custom Ireland can be the ideal course for you and your group.  You can experience the thrill of the golf course and the Irish hospitality.

So what are you waiting for?  Plan your Irish Golf vacation today.

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When golfers think of golf training aids, they think of the Medicus, and other products. Well…using this tubing for your golf training program is fast, easy, convenient and gets results.

Putt In Your Office – I’m dead serious! Bring a spare putter to your work and do it whenever you can. Shut your door…grab your putter…and give it a go! A simple putting drill is to lay a glass on its side and putt your ball into the opening of the glass. You’ve probably seen this drill before, but have you ever done it? It works!

You can also putt to a spot that’s maybe 8-10 feet away if you don’t want to do the glass drill above. If you have any kind of thick carpet, the ball is not going to roll as well, but again…it’s better than nothing.

These are just a few of the many different golf teaching aids available on the market today. Each one can easily help you improve your golf game by giving a more correct swing, along with more distance. Isn’t that something that us weekend golfers are always looking for?

The origin of golf is unclear and open to debate however the most accepted golf history theory is that golf (as practised today) originated from Scotland in the 12th century, with shepherds knocking stones into rabbit holes in the place where the famous Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews now sits.

Scholars have claimed references to a form of golf from hieroglyphs found on stone tablets dating to ancient Egyptian Pharaohs. Chui Wan (“chui” or ? means striking and “wan” or ? means small ball in Chinese), a game consisting of driving a ball with a stick into holes in the ground, was first mentioned in Dongxuan Records (Chinese: ???), a Chinese book of 11th century, and Chinese professor Ling Hongling of Lanzhou University claims that the game was brought to Europe by the Mongols in the 12th and 13th centuries. It is also believed that golf is originated from another ancient Chinese game “Ji-jou (??)”. A Dutch game was mentioned on 26 February 1297 in a city called Loenen aan de Vecht. Here they played a game with a stick and leather ball. Whomever hit the ball into a target several hundreds of metres away the most number of times, won. The Scottish game of goulf (variously spelled) was mentioned in two 15th century laws prohibiting its play. Some scholars have suggested that this refers to another game, which is more akin to bandy, shinty or hurling than golf. There are also reports of even earlier accounts of a golf like game from continental Europe.

However, these earlier games are more accurately viewed as ancestors of golf, and the modern game as we understand it today originated and developed in Scotland: The earliest permanent golf course originated there, as did the very first written rules, the establishment of the 18-hole course, and the first golf club memberships. The first formalized tournament structures also emerged there and competitions were arranged between different Scottish cities. Over time, the modern game spread to England and the rest of the world. The oldest playing golf course in the world is The Musselburgh Old Links Golf Course. Evidence has shown that golf was played here in 1672 although Mary, Queen of Scots reputedly played there in 1567. In 1646 King Charles I of England, whilst held captive by the Scots in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, was reported to entertain himself by playing golf in Shieldfield.

As stated, golf courses have not always had eighteen holes. The St Andrews Links occupy a narrow strip of land along the sea. As early as the 15th century, golfers at St Andrews, in Fife, established a customary route through the undulating terrain, playing to holes whose locations were dictated by topography. The course that emerged featured eleven holes, laid out end to end from the clubhouse to the far end of the property. One played the holes out, turned around, and played the holes in, for a total of 22 holes. In 1764, several of the holes were deemed too short, and were therefore combined. The number was thereby reduced from 11 to nine, so that a complete round of the links comprised 18 holes. Due to the status of St Andrews as the golf capital, all other courses chose to follow suit and the 18-hole course remains the standard today.

Rainfall is therefore a particularly prominent part of western Irish life, with Valentia Island, off the west coast of County Kerry, getting almost twice as much annual rainfall as Dublin on the east (1400 mm vs. 762 mm). Across the country, about 60% of the annual rainfall occurs between August and January.

January and February are the coldest months of the year, and mean daily air temperatures fall between 4 and 7 °C during these months. July and August are the warmest, with a range of 14 to 16 °C. The sunniest months are May and June, with an average of five to seven hours sunshine per day.[26] Though extreme weather events in Ireland are comparatively rare when compared with other countries in the European Continent, they do occur.

Explosive Atlantic depressions, occurring mainly in the months of December, January and February, can occasionally bring winds of up to 160 km/ph (100 mph) to Western coastal counties; while the summer months, and particularly around late July/early August, sudden and violent thunderstorms can develop, more especially, but not exclusively, across midland and western areas of the country.

Slieve Russel (Cavan)

The Slieve Russel Golf Course is found among the lakeland and drumlin valley district of Ballyconnell in County Cavan.

It’s one of the more “newer” golf courses on this list as it opened it’s greens in August 1992 and became one of Ireland’s top courses.

The parkland course was brilliantly designed by golf-course architect Patrick Merrigan and contains 300 acres of manicured gardens and 50 acres of lakes, so as you can imagine, water hazards are a major challenge on this course.

The course has played host to a number of prestigious golf tournaments such as the Irish PGA Championship in 1996, European Tour Events and the North West of Ireland Open in 2001/2002.

Royal Portrush (Antrim)

The Royal Portrush Golf Course is another top golf course in Northern Ireland and is located on the spectacular north coast of County Antrim. The course boasts a spectacular setting and is overlooked by the 13th century ruins of  the enchanting Dunluce Castle.

It has two challenging links courses – the Dunluce Links and the Valley Links. It has hosted the British Open, the North of Ireland Championship and the British Amateur Championship.

The Dunluce Golf Links was designed by Harry Colt and will put the most seasoned golfer to the test. The Valley Links lies between huge sands hills and some higher ground next to the shoreline. The course has its fair share of challenges with many elevated tees, menacing bunkers, sand hills and dunes.

Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell are big fans of this course while it is classed as a favourite for Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke.

Ballybunion Golf Club (Kerry)

Ballybunion Golf Course is located in the stunning coastal resort of Ballybunion, County Kerry on the south coast of Ireland. This golf club has two courses – the new course which (also known as the Cashen Course) and the old course.

Ballybunion’s Old Course is a magnificent 18-hole golf course and is regarded to be one of the finest links courses in the world. In fact, this golf course is nearly always listed in the Top 100 Golf Courses in the World.

Famous visitors who have once fell in love with this course include Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, Ernie Els, Phil Mickleson, Ian Woosnam and Vijay Singh (who has said that Ballybunion is his favourite course outside of the US!). Other famous personalities to have played there include Michael Jordan, Bill Murray and Bill Clinton.

Both courses are spectacularly located on sand dunes and boast some of the most breathtaking views of the Atlantic. Famous American golfer, Tom Watson once described the 11TH hole as “the best par 4 in the world”.

Druid’s Glen (Wicklow)

Druid’s Glen can be found in County Wicklow, nestled between the mountains and the sea, about 30km south of Dublin city centre. This classic parkland course is often referred to as “The Augusta of Europe” and the golf course especially comes into its own during the Summer months when the plants and flowers and in full bloom. The golfer will really feel a piece of heaven on earth here with its beautiful tricking streams, forests, flora and fauna.

In 2000/01, Druids Glen was awarded the title “European Golf Course of the Year” and it was the location of the Irish Open from 1996-1999.

Top golfers who have played here include; Ian Woosnam, Retief Goosen, John Daly, Jose- Maria Olazabal, Ernie Els and Nick Faldo.

Note: When on the 12th green – check out the pre Christian stone altar overlooking the green. It is believed to have been belong to Druids, hence the name of the golf course, Druid’s Glen!

Mount Juliet (Kilkenny)

Mount Juliet is located near Thomastown in County Kilkenny, just about a 20 minute drive from Kilkenny city. This 18-hole championship golf course was carefully designed by Jack Nicklaus and last year it claimed the title of “Best Parkland Course in Ireland” by Backspin Magazine.

Golfers of all abilities are put to the test on this stunning course with its bunkers, lakes and bridges. And if you need to brush up on your skills you can try out the driving range, the bunker and chipping green or the putting green.

Top professional golfers to have played here include; Sergio Garcia, Retief Goosen, Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington.

The luxurious resort of Mount Juliet also offers a deluxe 4 star hotel, a leisure centre, a gym, a spa and other activities like archery and clay pigeon shooting.

Killarney Golf & Fishing Club (Kerry)

This Killarney Golf & Fishing Club is blessed with a superb location at the edge of the stunning lake of Killarney with the McGillycuddy Mountain range providing a magnificent backdrop.

It can be found just outside the town of Killarney in County Kerry (on the Ring of Kerry road) and is one of the oldest golf courses in Ireland! This golf club has not one, but three championship golf courses, each providing its own unique challenges to the avid golfer.

Killeen is the main course at the club and is the most challenging. Lacabane is the newest golf course while O’Mahony’s Point is probably the most scenic.

Christy O Connor Sr, Nick Faldo, Darren Clarke, Bernard Langer and Jose Maria Olazabal have all played at the Killarney Golf & Fishing Club.

Lahinch Golf Club (Clare)

Lahinch Golf Course boasts a breathtaking location overlooking the Atlantic Ocean near the picturesque village of Lahinch in County Clare. Often referred to as the “St. Andrew’s of Ireland”, it’s said to be one of the oldest golf courses in Ireland as it was founded in 1892.

Lahinch has two courses – the Old Course and the Castle Course and both provide a tough challenge for even the most intrepid golfer!

Portmarnock Golf Course (Dublin)

This gently undulating links course (27 holes) has a superb location in Portmarnock Dublin, just 8 miles north of Dublin city centre. This 18 hole links course was designed by Bernhard Langer and occupies a small peninsula which juts out into the Irish Sea.

The course is laid out fairly, with no tricks or surprises for the golfer with its gently undulating greens and low sand dunes. With the lay out of the golf course stretching across the curve of the peninsula, you’ll enjoy picturesque views from all greens.

This golf course has held a staggering 12 Irish Open Championships. It’s also been the venue for the Canada Cup in 1960 and the Walker Cup in 1991.

The K Club (Kildare)

The K Club can be found in Straffan in County Kildare and is regarded to be one of the finest golf courses in Europe. Any big fan of golf will know that the prestigious K-Club golf resort took on a starring role when it was chosen as the venue for the 2006 Ryder Cup.

The K Club has two courses (Palmer Course and Smurfit Course) designed by Arnold Palmer who is regarded as one of the greatest golf players ever. The Palmer Course (also known as the Old Course) was the course chosen for the Ryder Cup. The Smurfit Course is an inland golf links with lots of lakes, islands and wild species of plants randomly planted throughout the course.

If you’re an golfing enthusiast then a visit to the hallowed turf of the Irish Ryder Cup is a must – the course is just about a 40 minute drive from Dublin city.

The luxurious K-Club Resort also boasts a 5-star hotel, a number of bars and restaurants and an exclusive spa.

Royal County Down Golf Club (County Down)

This world class links course is located in Newcastle County Down, about 48km south of Belfast city in Northern Ireland. The course can be found at the foot of the majestic Mourne Mountains on the shores of Dundrum Bay.

The course lay out is challenging with its sandhills, bunkers, heather covered dunes and yellow gorse lined fairways. This is definitely a course to be played if you’re looking to test your skills with lots of blind shots and some of the fastest greens in Ireland. This course is definitely one of the top courses in Ireland and it’s also arguably one of the top golf courses in the world.

Royal Portrush (Antrim)

The Royal Portrush Golf Course is one of many top golf courses in Northern Ireland and is located on the north coast of County Antrim.

Portrush is a spectacular location, being situated on a mile long peninsula extending into the Atlantic Ocean on the North coast of Ireland. This affords panoramic views over the ocean of the Causeway Coast towards Scotland and the Donegal hills.

Portrush offers exceptional beaches, great restaurants, night clubs, super hotels & lots to do for the family, providing the perfect base for your Ireland golf Tour or to explore the surrounding region.

The course boasts a spectacular setting and is overlooked by the 13th century ruins of  the enchanting Dunluce Castle.

It has two challenging links courses – the Dunluce Links and the Valley Links. It has hosted the British Open, the North of Ireland Championship and the British Amateur Championship.

The Dunluce Golf Links was designed by Harry Colt and will put the most seasoned golfer to the test. The Valley Links lies between huge sands hills and some higher ground next to the shoreline. The course has its fair share of challenges with many elevated tees, menacing bunkers, sand hills and dunes.

Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell are big fans of this course while it is classed as a favourite for Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke.

Golf in Ireland is a joy for sure and also one of the best ways to enjoy your golf vacation. There are no business meetings, no phone calls to bother, just you and your fantastic new golf clubs. The best experience you can give to your life is golfing. If you love playing golf, golf in Ireland will provide you with great golfing experiences.

Finding a good golf course is very easy in Ireland. There are lots of golf clubs to choose from. You can find golf courses with sunny beaches or with more moderate climate.