Tournaments

There’s nothing like holing out at the last for a career-round and posting a score on the board to get those competitive juices going.

During the season there is a selection of amateur tournaments available, which makes it possible to combine your tour of Scotland or Ireland with entry to a prestigious championship.

Causeway Coast Amateur Golf Tournament

June 2nd - 6th, 2008

The premier amateur golf event in Ireland. 1040 amateur golfers from all across the globe pit their golfing skills against four of the best links courses in Northern Ireland- Portstewart, Royal Portrush (Valley), Ballycastle and Castlerock.

A stableford scoring system is adopted, with a maximum handicap of 18, meaning that golfers of all abilities are able to compete against one another. The tournament has a truly international flavour with over 20 nationalities being represented on last year’s leaderboard.

Although tour party members are not allowed to play together, Connoisseur Golf liaises with the tournament organisers to ensure our clients tee-off in sequential order.

And as you might expect from a tournament associated with Bushmills, the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world, the main event only kicks into gear when the sun goes down.

“I could spend a great deal of time discussing and describing the golf courses, but to do so would be unfair. You must experience true links golf to appreciate its beauty. The “Blackbush,” while it is officially recognized as a golf tournament, is a weeklong journey where you meet characters who are as colorful and varied as the courses you play. You’re paired with three different players each day, and by the time your round is complete, you have been invited to Scotland for a member-guest or accepted an invitation to meet at “The Anchor” later that evening for a post-round celebratory pint.

Gone is the cutthroat win-at-all-costs mentality that is so pervasive in America, whether it is cheating on birth certificates in Little League or playing with inflated handicaps at your local member-guest. At the Blackbush, you play a Stableford system and rely on your home course handicap. You play quickly, fairly and with great appreciation for the game of golf. After the round, the scores are turned in and the revelry commences. It was a grand six days in Northern Ireland for this lad and, as June commences once again, I begin to long for a return trip.”

Graeme McDowell

Tim Bibaud
Worcester, MA