AIN’T TO PROUD TO BEG

Following a good nights sleep here at Vaughn Lodge, we are up and at em’ early so we can make our tee time at Doonbeg…..8:48……with a 40 minute drive to get there we have to boogie. This is another menu driven breakfast spot, but all the usual suspects are there to put together a FULL IRISH BREAKFAST……..once again I opt for the modified feeding, but here at the lodge you can also add fried potatoes……done……..I think when I return home you might be changing my nickname from HUGE to GARGANTUAN.

The drive down begins with a run through town……….the starter today “Tony” who bears an uncanny resemblance to Tony Rubes, without all the talking, tells me that Ken Venturi once called Lahinch “The best one street town in the World”…….and the main street does look like fun, full of shops and pubs……will visit later. We are quickly in the country, passing through small towns and villages, and in no time at the driveway, signed, Trump International Golf Links & Hotel……..this is Doonbeg. 2.5km down the driveway and the cottages, hotel, and clubhouse come into view……there are also a couple of large white event tents which, word has it, the Trumps would like to convert to a permanent structure.

Trump purchased the property in 2014 for about $14 million…….400+ acres and 2.5 miles of shoreline………in need of immediate course repairs from storm damage, and in receivership due to the many unsold properties (cottages/town homes) at the resort, Trump said “Doonbeg is already a terrific property that we will make even better”………according to our caddy, approximately $10 million has been spent at the resort, on both the course and facilities. Writing this, we have already played the course, and I can tell you it is really terrific. His Highness, Mr President, is said to be arriving today for a visit with his son Eric, who apparently heads up golf operations for the company. I used to have this T-shirt that said “Jesus is Coming” “Everyone look busy”……..and that is what it looks like around here today. Busy as bees they are, but still plenty of time to get us set up and out on course.

I won’t go through a hole by hole, blow by blow, of our round, but suffice to say each hole is challenging in its own way, and with the wind blowing at close to gale force (the Irish might call it a slight breeze), many holes became very difficult. Usually the hole you are playing is the only one you can see……….new natural looking dunes were built to accomplish this……..and all green to tee paths, formerly gravel, were changed to natural grass…….nice touch. Other course improvements are many since the purchase, and it is expected during this trip that another to do list will be created, with changes made post haste. I am playing off Gold Tees at 6,436 yds, slope 126 which I think is low, Black Tees are 7,057 yds. and 131 slope????…….Jutta and Sibylle are playing the Green Deck at 5,086 yds……….both are playing a lot longer because of the wind…….somehow it never seems to level out, the upwind/downwind thing. Memorable holes…….for sure #14, an oceanside short par 3, that reminds me so much of #7 at Pebble Beach…….wind ripping across off the sea I play a knockdown 7 iron to 10 feet…….no, I missed the f*(%@ing putt………. #6 is also a beauty along the sea, a short par 4 where par is actually a good score……..it was on this hole that we first saw the effects of the big storm which, along most of the oceanfront, swallowed up 25-30 meters of golf course dunes and washed them back into the sea……..an oceanfront green was totally lost to the sea during the storm also………a new hole was built to replace it. The oceanfront dunes used to flow down onto the beach, but are now sheer drop offs. Trump is apparently trying to get approval for a protective seawall before any more of the course washes away, and as to be expected he is getting resistance from the leave it natural crew. I get the natural thing, but at some point the shore and the course will have to be protected. Truly an all round great golf course. BTW no rain today again.

We checked out the pro shop, but it was pretty clear we were not buying anything. I do have a supply of free golf tees and ball markers that I will use when playing against Knocher……just to piss him off. Upstairs is the bar/restaurant, named…..…..you guessed it “trumps”…….how original, but the food was great, and yep, the Guinness went down as smooth as ever. We noticed a very interesting woman…….scary looking actually…….and possibly her daughter or friend……a pretty young thing wearing a skimpy thigh high leg slit halter style spaghetti strapped polka dot sun dress (how was that for a description ladies?) who were just hanging around the club………obviously not golfers, or related to anyone who might have been on course, we were sure they were groupies hanging around to see the man himself. Amazing, with his security that they could even hope to get a glimpse. We decided that it was time to leave, even though Jutta expressed an interest in seeing the hair up close for real.

Our caddy Lawrence is usually on duty for Eric Trump and told us that when you are part of “The Group” going out on course with the man, you get damn near strip searched before they will give you a pass…….background check, everything. Donald has his own white six seater to take on course……..Eric has a normal cart but I noticed the tires had a fresh coat of Armour All, then there is the entourage……..no fewer than 20 more carts for police, secret service, private security, etc., etc., etc……….likely helicopters in the air……clearly police checkpoints all along the driveway, and when we finished our round, the bomb squad was just finishing up checking all the carts that would be used…….lifting seats, looking underneath…….what a production.

Back at the hotel the mountain goats are primed for some additional mileage and decide to walk down to town. We meet again in the comfy lounge for pre dinner drinks, and again are summoned to the dining room at 7pm sharp. Not as impressed with the meal tonight, but it was still very good……..we plan to go out on the town tomorrow. J&S hang around the lounge following dinner chatting up the whole room and having fun……..Mr.Tired Pants went upstairs to relax and do a little blogging. Lahinch is tomorrow……..just a good drive and a 7 iron from the hotel so we get to sleep in a little……..looking forward to that.