Ireland Vikings England Heathland Vikings This Fall

[Serenity Now]

I’m 2 weeks away from my trip to St Andrew’s & East Lothian and got some fantastic news this week:
 

Wow, The NFL announced that the Vikings will be playing in Dublin then a week later, they play in London. As a life long fan, I have no choice but to go!  The only caveat is that the games fall right in the middle of our Club Championship of which I am the defending champion. After debating for about 3 minutes, I looked at my wife and said “this is a once in a lifetime deal as no way to the Vikes ever play back to back in these 2 cities in my lifetime.”  Besides, today my partner and I won the Fourball Club Championships so at least I will have my name on something in 2025🤡
 

Been fortunate to have been to Ireland twice before but didn’t get to play golf in England in my previous trip there. Have read a bunch of stuff about the Heathlands south of London and am lucky to have a family friend w noble blood who happens to be a Viking fan. When the announcement happened, my WhatsApp was blowing up all throughthe middle of the night and my wife woke up asking “who was texting you all night long?” “ It’s Rupert demanding we come to England for golf and Vikings”. “ You are coming right???”

 

I told him I would probably ship our clubs home from Dublin and just hang in London for a day and go to the game and he told me “my dad and his friends have been waiting for you to come to London and play golf w them at their clubs” so I I have to right?  My wife rolls her eyes as I tell all my local buddies the story over and over. 
 

I always said if I ever go back to Ireland I am either going to Rosapenna or Carne but after thinking about doing a 4 hr drive on small Irish roads we have decided to keep it simple and keep the driving to a minimum.

 

 

Fly in from LAX on Sep26 and arrive eve of 27th

 

Vikings vs Steelers Dublin Stadium. SKOL!!

 

Day 1: The Island. Kid at my club played there last summer and loved it

Day 2: Baltray. It was on my itinerary 4 years ago on my way to Portrush but flight got delayed in Philly and we lost a day

Day 3: Seapointe. Close to where we are staying  so it worked out

Day 4: Laytown & Bettystown. Again close by and close to airport so after golf,  fly over to London 

Day 5: Royal Wimbledon. Playing w members. My first English Heathland course, can’t wait
Day 6: Woking. Again, playing w members. Have read all about it and couldn’t be more excited

Day 7: Vikings vs Browns at Tottenham Stadium. My son worked for Browns owner for 5 years before he sold the company so I am trying to get him to reach out to Jimmy Haslam for me but he says “dad, you’re pushing it” tried to remind of about paying for his college but…😎

Day 8. New Zealand. Reaching out to club secretary per their website. I am really big into the hidden gems and this looks like a really cool little golf course plus the shorter length appeals to my wife. We have noticed that the ladies don’t get much relief on length in Scotland and Ireland on the old courses. My English friend says there is one more surprise for me so I will dream of Walton Heath & Sunningdale in the meantime

Day 9: fly home tired, hopefully my team will have been victorious but regardless, I will be smiling all the way back to California. Scotland, Ireland & England in same year. Throw in a couple of Viking games and its stuff I never even dreamed of
 

 

[hammergolf]

1 hour ago, Serenity Now said:

I’m 2 weeks away from my trip to St Andrew’s & East Lothian and got some fantastic news this week:
 

Wow, The NFL announced that the Vikings will be playing in Dublin then a week later, they play in London. As a life long fan, I have no choice but to go!  The only caveat is that the games fall right in the middle of our Club Championship of which I am the defending champion. After debating for about 3 minutes, I looked at my wife and said “this is a once in a lifetime deal as no way to the Vikes ever play back to back in these 2 cities in my lifetime.”  Besides, today my partner and I won the Fourball Club Championships so at least I will have my name on something in 2025🤡
 

Been fortunate to have been to Ireland twice before but didn’t get to play golf in England in my previous trip there. Have read a bunch of stuff about the Heathlands south of London and am lucky to have a family friend w noble blood who happens to be a Viking fan. When the announcement happened, my WhatsApp was blowing up all throughthe middle of the night and my wife woke up asking “who was texting you all night long?” “ It’s Rupert demanding we come to England for golf and Vikings”. “ You are coming right???”

 

I told him I would probably ship our clubs home from Dublin and just hang in London for a day and go to the game and he told me “my dad and his friends have been waiting for you to come to London and play golf w them at their clubs” so I I have to right?  My wife rolls her eyes as I tell all my local buddies the story over and over. 
 

I always said if I ever go back to Ireland I am either going to Rosapenna or Carne but after thinking about doing a 4 hr drive on small Irish roads we have decided to keep it simple and keep the driving to a minimum.

 

 

Fly in from LAX on Sep26 and arrive eve of 27th

 

Vikings vs Steelers Dublin Stadium. SKOL!!

 

Day 1: The Island. Kid at my club played there last summer and loved it

Day 2: Baltray. It was on my itinerary 4 years ago on my way to Portrush but flight got delayed in Philly and we lost a day

Day 3: Seapointe. Close to where we are staying  so it worked out

Day 4: Laytown & Bettystown. Again close by and close to airport so after golf,  fly over to London 

Day 5: Royal Wimbledon. Playing w members. My first English Heathland course, can’t wait
Day 6: Woking. Again, playing w members. Have read all about it and couldn’t be more excited

Day 7: Vikings vs Browns at Tottenham Stadium. My son worked for Browns owner for 5 years before he sold the company so I am trying to get him to reach out to Jimmy Haslam for me but he says “dad, you’re pushing it” tried to remind of about paying for his college but…😎

Day 8. New Zealand. Reaching out to club secretary per their website. I am really big into the hidden gems and this looks like a really cool little golf course plus the shorter length appeals to my wife. We have noticed that the ladies don’t get much relief on length in Scotland and Ireland on the old courses. My English friend says there is one more surprise for me so I will dream of Walton Heath & Sunningdale in the meantime

Day 9: fly home tired, hopefully my team will have been victorious but regardless, I will be smiling all the way back to California. Scotland, Ireland & England in same year. Throw in a couple of Viking games and its stuff I never even dreamed of
 

 

Great trip. Sad you’re missing out on Carne and Enniscrone though. The 3hr drive from Dublin airport to Ballina is mostly on highways and well worth it. It’s 15 minutes from Enniscrone and 45 mins from Carne. 

[El Gringo]

Royal Wimbledon, Woking and New Zealand is quite an eclectic line up of courses. All certainly have their appeal. I haven’t seen New Zealand since the work was finished, but the pix look very fine.

 

Is there a reason you are skipping Portmarnock in favour of L&B or Seapointe? 

[Serenity Now]

Having been twice to Ireland and having played Portrush & Lahinch among others, I am more than aware of the great links golf there. Had 2 trips canceled during Covid, one to Rosapenna area and one to Carne. With this being an add on trip with us in Scotland for 2 weeks next month, one of the ways I soft sold it to my bride was that we would play less expensive links courses so that is why we are playing where we are.