Golf on the Links of Ireland

About the Book

Golf on the Links of Ireland features over 30 golf courses found along the spectacular coastline of Ireland. The author is a lucky man: he’s been blessed with a wonderful wife, five children, and a great son-in-law … and has been fortunate enough to play on over 300 courses in the British Isles and Ireland. With a passion for golf on links courses and with maternal roots lodged in Ireland, he’s always dreamed of letting his sons see the unique and disarming beauty of this enchanting island. So, in the summers of 2004 and 2005, two of his sons accompanied him on such a pilgrimage. They wanted to discover the soul of Ireland, to smell the crispness of an Irish morning on a seaside links, to hit that ever-intriguing blind shot over a sand dune. Dave, Mike and their dad played matches on 30 courses – some against each other and some against Irish golf club members. The author can honestly say that, although he’s played on all but one of the British Open courses in Scotland and England, his most treasured memories are those matches against local club members. John Low, in a book he wrote in 1903, Concerning Golf, described the merits of match play: “Golf is, from the nature of the game, a friendly affair … eighteen little games, eighteen new starts, eighteen opportunities … and each teeing ground may be a trysting place for fresh avowals of friendship.” The author comments: “To taste the salt in the breeze, blowing in off the Irish Sea, always invigorates me. We played The European Club, Doonbeg, Old Head, Waterville, Portstewart, Ballyliffin, and Enniscrone, all respectable tests of golf. We delighted in the artfully crafted greens of the Alister MacKenzie gem at Lahinch and we took a trip back in time in visiting the remote links of Rosapenna – only to find a modern links masterpiece sculpted by Pat Ruddy. Some of our most treasured moments came at the wee nine-holers at Cruit Island, Connemara Isles, Bushfoot, and Spanish Bay. “In the these pages you might find a few tips on raising teenagers, which, as those of you who are parents know, is always an interesting challenge. Read about how Dave and Mike dealt with playing junior golf and eventually high school golf. I have also chronicled a little bit about the relationship with my own father, one that hasn’t been as ideal as it could have been. “Many of the courses we played are unknown to the average person. And, that’s good, because generally they’re not crowded and a three-hour round is the norm, not the exception. M sons learned the essence of Irish golf: simple elegance and stark beauty and amazing hospitality. Well-kept secrets, many of these hidden gems showed us breathtaking scenery. And while most of these courses will never host a British Open, they offer good golf, a round under three and a half hours, and a chance to play with the Irish. So, sit down in your easy chair, open these pages, and join us on the shores of Ireland as we walk down the fairways, over the burns, and around the dunes. Feel the excitement as we battle in our matches. Revel in our birdies, cringe at our triple bogeys. Applaud our victories, mourn our losses, share our laughter. I hope that someday you and yours can take such a trip. Indeed I am a lucky man.” For golfers dreaming of a trip to this fascinating land, this book is a must. The following are some excerpts from the book. Chapter 1 – “A family photograph taken in 1918 shows my mother (at the tender age of two months), her mother (born to Irish parents in Pennsylvania), her mother (also born to Irish parents in Pennsylvania), and her mother, Catherine (Kitty) Reed, who was born in Dublin in 1827. The name Reed is not Irish; so perhaps she had an English father. Who knows? But I am lucky to still have this photo of four generations of women, tracing back our roots to the potato famine in Ireland. Kitty would have been 17 when the famine started and she may have left Ireland in a coffin ship bound for America or Canada, eventually

About the Author

Robert Kroeger, after retiring from dentistry, lives with his wife Laura in Cincinnati and is a certified personal trainer. An avid golfer, he also runs marathons, having qualified for Boston in over half of the 50+ marathons he's run. He also enjoys spending time with his children and grandchildren.Robert Kroeger lives with his wife and children in Cincinnati. When he is not practicing dentistry, playing golf, running marathons, or spending time with his family, he writes about the history and traditions of golf. A former U.S. Navy lieutenant commander, he is three-time club champion of Kenwood Country Club in Cincinnati. He has qualified for and played in two USGA Senior Amateur championships and he belongs to Royal North Devon Golf Club at Westward Ho!, the oldest seaside course in England. A former member of Royal Dornoch, he enjoys playing seaside links courses. A member of the Golf Collectors Society, he enjoys researching the history of the game. Having played on over 300 courses in the British Isles and Ireland, Kroeger has written six books on golf in these countries: To The 14th Tee, The Links of Wales, Golf on the Links of England, The Golf Courses of Old Tom Morris, Golf on the Links of Ireland, and Complete Guide to the Golf Courses of Scotland, a book that emphasizes the fun in playing the lesser known gems in the Kingdom.