Time to Play
Take part in the Golf Ireland Time to Play compilation of stories by sharing your memorable golfing moments.
Ireland is renowned for its golfing stories. From local golf club members to international golfers, everyone has a golfing story to tell: an interesting anecdote, a funny moment, or tales of the kind of luck that make a game of golf truly memorable.
Irish people are known for their stories and there’s nothing like a golf story shared to bring fun and laughter to a day out or evening at the 19th hole. Why not get involved and share your story with Golf Ireland Time to Play?
Your story could be in with a chance of winning a range of prizes or may even be used in a Time to Play ad. Or perhaps it’ll be one that will stick in a stranger’s memory for the rest of their lives. Make your mark, make your story known.
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Stories
Submitted by: Doreen Kenny
I watched Payne Stewart, Tiger Woods and Mark O’Meara play Ballybunion golf course. Payne Stewart got a hole in one and said to the crowd “Tha’s the luck of the Irish”. What a great day of golf!
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Submitted by: Den Coss
A few years ago I went to Galway on a society golfing outing. On the way, my car broke down twice. I met up with the group two days later and won a prize - for the longest drive!
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Submitted by: Justin O’Byrne
I attended the Irish Seniors Open at the PGA National Palmerstown House in 2007 and was around when they were sorting out volunteers for caddying.
As luck would have it, Constantina Rocca had no caddy and he wanted the same caddy for all three days. Some caddies could do it for one or two days but no one could do all three days. I volunteered for the three days and caddied for Rocca. He won the tournament.
I always dreamed of walking down the 18th in a major tournament but not with a bag on my back! Still it was a dream come true.
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Submitted by: Tim O’Sullivan
I’ve been the secretary of the O.L.H. Golf Society for the past 30 years. There are very few courses I’ve not played in the best golfing destinations in the world... Ireland!
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Submitted by: Mary Geraghty
My friend had a hole in one on the par 3 fourth hole at Shannon Golf Club. When asked what she played, she replied excitedly: “A Ram 3” .
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Submitted by: Ger O’Keeffe
I went to watch the Irish Open in Mount Juliet. I was watching one of the pros at the ninth hole. Just as he was about to pitch onto the green a little girl started eating a bag of crisps.
The pro stopped and asked the little girl to stop making noise. She turned to the pro and said “you can finish them - I’ve had enough!” With that, the crowd cheered!
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Submitted by: Michael O’Connor
As a bus driver, I had a group of golfers playing Tralee Golf Club one day. One golfer in the group was Bill O’Sullivan from the States. On one hole, he asked the local caddy about his ball because he couldn’t find it. The caddy answered “Your ball is in the long grass”. Bill was confused and asked "What does that mean?" The caddy replied “When your ball is in the long grass, you are in big trouble!”
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Submitted by: Michael Egan
A golfer hit a ball on the 10th tee in Birr Golf Club, Co Offaly. The ball went towards the car park so he declared it out of bounds and hit another and played on. After the game, he had a meal and a drink in the clubhouse before heading home. When finished he went to his car to find the back windscreen broken and his ball on the back seat of his car. The smile on his face was worth seeing. What are the odds !
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Submitted by: Marie Phelan
I have worked in Killarney before but never had any interest in golf. I, however, really enjoyed watching the golf at the Irish Open this year. There was a lovely atmoshpere and everyone was full of smiles. What a lovely place!
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Submitted by: John Brown
We were on a golf society outing in New Ross. While walking between trees one of my playing partners got nosey and wanted to know who was walking down the fairway opposite us. He kept walking without looking where he was going and smacked into a tree and nearly broke his jaw. We had to finish the round early with the laughing because every time he went to take a shot, he kept rolling his jaw to try and get it moving again. Great craic in the clubhouse afterwards telling the story. He’s been called the “branch” ever since!
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Submitted by: Jack Kellehan
I was working in a hotel in Killarney where eight Welsh golfers were staying. I didn’t know many faces in golf at the time.
One night this Welsh group were down down for dinner so I thought I would show them a few pointers only to realise in the morning who one of the golfers was: Philip Price.
He went on to be part of the Ryder Cup team. I’m always told it’s my pointers which got him picked !
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Submitted by: Caroline McKenna
My nephew Stephen was at the Irish Open in Killarney. When he went to go use the toilets, he bumped in to the Great Padraig Harrington. It made his year as he got an autgraphed hat which he’ll treasure forever !
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Submitted by: Patricia O’Neill
Two retired gentlemen, on the wrong side of 70, tee off from the first of Killarney Golf Club/Killeen course.
Having hit his drive, one turns to the other and asks: “Did you see where that went?”
The other replies: “I did but I can’t remember where”.
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Submitted by: Paul Cronin
I got a hole in one on the 12th hole on Mahony’s Point Golf Course in Killarney. I hit a six iron - 2 bounces and it went straight in.
Unfortunately the ground staff had moved the hole and didn’t refill the old hole! Guess which hole my ball went in...
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Submitted by: D. MacCarthy
Golfer: “I’ll move heaven and earth to hit this shot.” Caddy: “Keep on digging up the course and you’ll soon only need to move heaven!”
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Submitted by: Miriam Hannon
My husband threatened to give up golf as I got a hole in one and he still hasn’t!
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Submitted by: Shane O’Donoghue
At the Irish Open this year in Killarney, I met Shane Lowry on the practice range and he signed a golf ball for me.
Later I met Padraig Harrington on the putting green. My dad spotted Rory McIlroy and I raced up to him. He was very gracious and signed a ball for me too.
Three heroes in one day... Perfect!
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Submitted by: Michael Casey
In the first Irish Open in Killarney, Payne Stewart, after winning the US Open, claimed on the first tee he was tired after the flight over to Ireland.
He lined up his ball after the starter announced his name and recent title master achievement. He hit a great shot down the first hole.
A comment from the crowd clearly expressed that “there was no jet lag on that ball!” which received an acknowledgement from Payne!
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Submitted by: Loretto Dixon
I played with Maura Sutton from Corrstown who had two holes in one in the same week: the first at the Hermitage and the second at Corrstown. I however got my name in the paper as her marker!
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Submitted by: Helen King
We got lost going to the Ladies Irish Open and went to the wrong golf course. It was half over by the time we eventually got there but we still had a great day!
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Submitted by: Maura Corona
I went to see my favourite male golfer, Padraig Harrington. He signed my book which was about him. It was one of the happiest days of my life !
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Submitted by: Maura Norton
When I was out playing golf it started to rain. I put my hand into my bag to grab my rain gear but I felt something furry. I found a small squirrel in my bag and needless to say I jumped and added a few expletives!
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Submitted by: Tatiana Trusova
I heard about the Ladies Iirsh Open from a friend and we went to last year’s event at the Links Portmarnock which we loved. This year we went to Killeen Castle for the event and were even more impressed - the castle, beautiful grounds, great golf. We will come every year !
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Submitted by: Mark Cooney
I persuaded my five-year-old son to accompany me to the first round of the 2004 AMEX championship in Mount Juliet Golf Club.
In my enthusiam to introduce my son to golf, I totally forgot about the difficulties involved in keeping a 5 year old interested enough to last the day at a golf tournament.
After some panic, I had a brainwave.... We sat behind the ninth tee to watch the players drive off and await the arrival of Tiger. After a while Michael Campbell arrived and my son Connor asked “Is that Tiger?” ”No son, not yet,” I answered.
Same thing with the following players. Eventually Tiger arrived and Connor looked at me, exasperated and said: “Is that f***ing Tiger Woods?” loud enough for Tiger to hear and react!
One embarrassed Dad, son and Tiger!
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Submitted by: Marian Sheils
I had my captains day at the Slieve Russell Hotel. We got washed off the course after two holes and proceeded to the clubhouse and partied until 4am. Great day!
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Submitted by: Fidelma McMahon
When playing golf at Stepaside Golf Course, a deer crossed over the ninth hole. It completely threw us off focus on the golf but it was worth it.
Nature and golf in Ireland.... what a wonderful day!
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Submitted by: Sally Goodman
I had a hole on one at Greenore and I told my husband not to tell anyone.
After a while I said “will I get anything for my hole in one” and he said “No”. I asked him why not and he said “because you told me not to tell anyone” !
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Submitted by: Mary Francis O’Driscoll
In my early years of golf and not completely understanding the rules of golf, I went to fetch a ball in a field of cows.
I got suspended on the barbed wire and could not move. I ended up showing my behind to the world and waiting for the next group of golfers to come and release me!
Lucky for me it didn’t spoil my desire to golf.
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Submitted by: Caroline Dunne
It was a damp and misty day when myself and some friends were out for a round of golf.
On the 16th hole, the heavens opened and I went to grab my rain jacket. Just as I was putting my first arm into the jacket, my hand felt something soft and furry.
The howls that came from my vocal cords drew the crowds over to the 16th who thought I had an eagle on the hole but in fact I had a little starling stuck at the bottom of the sleeve in my jacket!
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Submitted by: Diane Swift
I played golf with some friends in Ballybunion for the first time. We followed Jack Nicklaus into the graveyard off the first tee.
We had torrential rain, howling winds and then sunshine. There was spectacular views and we saw some incredible tides.
We saw dolphins in the bay and laughed a lot. Most of all we had a fabulous day!
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Submitted by: Vera Rock
I was buying golf balls and was asked what my handicap was to which I replied 18. I was told anything round and white would do me!
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Submitted by: Brendan Kinsella
Following the wedding of a granddaughter in Wicklow, we went out for a rounds of golf the next day with the local parish priest. One of our buggies was parked at the first green.
As we were putting we heard a noise - the buggy was careering down a hill towards the next tee box where four fellow golfers were teeing off. We shouted fore and they looked around just in time and dived off the tee box.
The golf eventually resumed and the priest said that it was only for the grace of God that they weren’t killed!
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Submitted by: Michael O’Donoghue
On my first outing on a pitch and putt course, I achieved a hole in one. My friends all demanded a free drink which cost me a fortune.
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Submitted by: Terry Crawford
Peter Oosterhuis was playing the 14th in Portmanrock in the Irish Open. He sliced his drive into the rough where a marshall, a Kerryman, couldn’t find his ball. “Your’re not much use as a spotter,” said Ooterhuis. “If you were any bloody good, you wouldn’t be in the rough” was the reply from the marshall.
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Submitted by: Nuala O’Connell
I played in Cabra Castle Golf Club with three other female beginners. Somehow we managed to get into the middle of a men’s competition. One of the girls said to me that one of the men ahead had left something behind him on the green. I said we would catch up with him on the seventh hole. On reaching the seventh, I was running over to the guys when I suddenly realised what my friend had picked up - a measuring tape and pencil they had nearest the pin competition on the previous hole!
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Submitted by: John McDowell
In 1991 at the first tee in Portrush – Rathmore – watching the North of Ireland qualifying, I was asked if I would caddy for some guy who had no caddy, which I agreed to. The guy shot 68 and a 69 the next day at Royal Portrush. I thought this guy is good. His name was Paul McGinley. It was an experience I will never forget!
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Submitted by: Bridget Gilson
I played in my first Pro-Am and I asked the pro what his handicap was!
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Submitted by: Barbara Bowler
I went out for a game in Skerries Golf Club with my aunt, a seasoned golfer. She was explaining to me how to set up for a good drive and then swung her driver. She hit the ground and all of sudden her false teeth flew out with the impact. The lesson had to be abondoned as she recovered just off the tee box!
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Submitted by: Brid McTague
I was treated to a round of golf in Doonbeg in the summer of 2009. The golf was exceptionally good on the day and I hit onto a green on the back 9 which I felt gave me the chance of a birdie...only to find my ball in a bunker which was in the centre of the green!
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Submitted by: Maria Burke
Many, many years ago at the Carroll’s Irish Open on Bull Island, all the old greats were playing like Faldo, Langer, Ballesteros. I was only about 11 years old at the time and was walking around with the crowds at the heels of my father when we stopped to watch a crucial putt by Olazabal. Up went the “Quiet Please” signs and you could hear a pin drop. Just as Olazabal was about to putt, my father let out this unmerciful fart, one which I have never heard as loud since. My Dad looked straight down at me and said “Maria” and with that everyone looked at me in horror. I’m sure Olazabal heard it too. I was so embarrassed and still cringe today when I think about it, although it was quite funny !
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Submitted by: Tony Sweeney
We played golf at Oughterard where one can buy snacks and drinks from the back garden of an adjoining house over a wall from a tee box - one of the joys of golf in Ireland!
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Submitted by: Shauna Stewart
A group of us were playing one day and one of us hit a bad shot and it headed towards a bunch of trees. The ball hit off a tree and the ball rolled straight into the hole for a par! Luck of the Irish!
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Submitted by: Maria Walshe
My electric buggy took off at speed heading towards the water hazard. Luckily one of my playing partners was a good sprinter and managed to stop the buggy. However she landed in the water herself!
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Submitted by: Richard Byrne
I played in a mixed foursomes. At the first par 3, I said to my partner “have a fresh air and I will put it on the green, two putts and it will be a good score”. My partner looked at me bewildered and said “which club will I use” !
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Submitted by: Catherine Bradley
My husband, Bill, thought he was the most popular man on the planet!. At the Ryder Cup in 2006 at the K-Club, we were leaving the closing ceremony along with hundreds of others. In the queue to get out, everyone was shouting “Hey Bill”, “Hi Bill!”, “Good to see you Bill”. My husband whispered to me as he was waving at everyone, “do we know all these people?”. All of sudden a voice from behind whispered in his ear “I think you’ll find they are talking to me” and the man burst out laughing. It was Bill Clinton!
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Submitted by: John Cushen
I was playing golf with my golf society here in Killarney. A fellow golfer went into the bushes looking for his ball on the fourth hole. He came out of the bushes and said he lost his ball. One of the other guys playing with us said “You're lost more than your ball!”. He went in to the bushes wearing a crown topper (wig) but came out bald! The topper was dangling in the bushes!
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Submitted by: Klaus Puchleitner
I love the Irish links, it´s always the wind and the waves there – and great golf. Playing golf on Ireland’s links makes me feel like the whole world back home collapses to a small box of humdrum things that don´t mean anything.
Last year in May I played Enniscrone and was all set for teeing off again at that great first hole. Suddenly an Irish man appeared. Richard, a local, was in his early 80s, almost deaf on his right ear and his walking abilities, I assume, must have been far better once. But of course he was still playing golf.
Richard joined me and we had some fantastic holes together. He even taught me some phrases in Irish. Playing with Richard was fun. His drives were short but also constantly straight. It was on the ninth he suddenly stopped and told me that he had to go.
This seemed quite surprising, since both of us obviously enjoyed our little game of golf on that fine day. “Why?” I asked.
Richard explained he had been having tea with his wife in their kitchen when they found out they were out of milk. Richard was going out to the supermarket to buy more milk but once out on the street, he convinced himself that he might as well pay the local golf club a short visit.
He believed his wife would be forgiving enough to put up with a little delay waiting for the milk. Spotting me as I was teeing off, he thought: “Well, now that I am here, I might play just one or two holes with that guy looking a little bit lost, who is obviously a visitor from abroad.” That was almost two hours before. “But now,” Richard continued as he gently waved a slight goodbye, “I really have to go home to have tea with my wife, who is still waiting for the milk.”
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