GolfPlus Sept 18 Digital Edition (Sept 2018) | Page 56

7UDYHO
3rd Killeen Par
18th Mahony Par
and excellent signage. Rounds of golf were
arranged for me by Failte Ireland. Thanks for
doing this, Rory Mathews.
County Kerry juts out into the Atlantic.
With striking terrain. A rugged coastline.
The Wild Atlantic Way and Ring of Kerry
offering scenic driving routes, skirting edges
of the Iveragh peninsula along the ocean.
Between towering MacGillycuddy Reeks and
the Caha mountains. There are no big cities
like Dublin or Cork in this part of Ireland.
Just towns, hamlets, and vast countryside.
And, of course, loads of Links courses!
We really liked the fact that we could
drive out to play golf one day. And take
the next day off. To go walk up the hills
Waterville Clubhouse bar
66 G o l f P l u s
along the N-71, visit the lakes at Killarney
National Park, or roam though the gardens
of Derry Nome Manor in CaherDaniel. Get
a taste of history, like taking a tour of the
well-preserved heritage property Muckross
House in Killarney. Visit the Sneem flea
market along the Ring. Or drink a Guinness
at any one of a zillion pubs in the region.
Yes, there is much to do in Kerry outside of
golf.
We stayed a couple of nights in
Killarney, where the proximate downtown
area becomes pedestrian-only in the
evenings and is full of life. In summer the
temperature is just about perfect and it rains
only occasionally. So it was a joy to stroll into
shops laden with local curios or artwork or
Waterville Clubhouse dining room
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2018
books from a time gone by. We even bought
a beautifully crafted sailboat, that was on
display in a restaurant window of all places,
made by an artist from Cork but at the
restaurant because the artistÊs wife was the
Chef there! It now has pride of place in the
living room of our Mumbai flat.
One evening we started at the Killarney
microbrewery. Then hopped into MurphyÊs
on College for Guinness and live Irish folk
music. Then strolled into Laurels for a
different Irish band and more drink. Then
OÊDonoghues. Ending at Stonechat for a
sumptuous meal of Irish lamb shank in
tomato sauce. You have to eat lamb because
the sheep are local and the meat is fresh. I
also loved the calamari at Porterhouse. For
vegetarians, like my wife, Stonechat had
a good choice of pasta, salads and veggie
dishes. There are also Thai, Italian, Mexican,
Chinese or even Indian cuisines on offer in
other eateries there.
Oh, I forgot to mention two most special
elements in Kerry: amazingly friendly people
and a whole lotta Soul.
Now does all this not make for a perfect
summer Golf Vacation? Super golf in
the daytime. And the fun times at night.
Remember, County Kerry for the best in
Links golf«and more!