Avoiding the water can be challenging

AN old friend used to claim that if we bought him as a fool we"d have trouble selling him, but at Killeen Castle on Wednesday of last week a couple of purchases were made from that department as the chance to play the prestigious golf course set on the lands of the 12th century castle could not be passed up. The rain that lashed the country over the last few weeks couldn"t see fit to take a break as the media gathered at Killeen Castle for the official launch of 'The Road to the 2011 Solheim Cup." However, on offer was a chance to be one of the first to play the superbly constructed Jack Nicklaus designed course. In some quarters Killeen Castle is viewed as a future Ryder Cup venue. When informing friends and colleagues about the Meath Chronicle"s invitation to attend the press day and play the course, the general response was 'and they are letting you play?" Arriving at Killeen Castle, the guests are immediately treated as VIPs. That doesn"t happen too often at other venues where an announcment - 'Meath Chronicle here to cover an event' - is often greeted with a begruding grunt. None of that at Killeen although security was tight, but once verified you are courteously directed to the clubhouse. A tour of the magnificent clubhouse instantly demonstrates that no expense has been spared. The luxury of the locker rooms which include sauna, steam room and full body showers. The changing areas take no break from golf with flatscreen TVs showing the latest tournaments on Sky Sports and the walls are adorned with signed souveniers from Tiger Woods, Mark O"Meara and Tom Lehman. The bar-restaurant area is breathtaking with views of the course spilling into the room through massive windows. It was here where the assembled press conducted their interviews with luminaries including Ping Golf CEO John Solheim, leading lady golfers Suzann Pettersen from Norway and Morgan Pressel from America and former golf professional and current marketing guru Roddy Carr, before indulging in dinner. Then came the seconary reason why we were there, the joy of golf. For some the golf was the only reason. The weather wasn"t appealing, but like eager beavers myself and my plus one hopped on our specially provided buggys and took to the course, fearing the 121 bunkers that are scattered liberally around every green. Several suggestions were made that we might abandon the course half way round, but when the monsoon weakened to a steady shower by the 10th hole we ploughed on. Despite visiting about 115 of those bunkers the whole experience was magnificent. The weather made gripping the driver difficult (just ask my playing partner who spent as much time looking for his club as he did searching for his ball), but the enjoyment was never diminished. There are not enough superlatives to decribe the enjoyment and overall excellence of this course. There is no doubt that Killeen Castle will join the list of the greatest golf courses in the world, but with the venue not opening until next year it will be a while before you might enjoy it. It"s a hard life!