Ireland Golf Tours | Seven Random Golf Facts
Irish golf has grown and grown through the years with visitor’s arriving everyday to our lush green courses from all over the world. The upcoming JP McManus Pro Am, The Masters and Ryder Cup later in year had us thinking of all the golf facts and records that are out there. We’ve put together some golf facts you may not know, if you think we missed some then feel free to contact us!
Golf balls are made up of mostly rubber and plastic but did you know they used to be made of feathers? It was basically a leather sack filled with boiled goose feathers then stitched up and painted. Up to the 17th century wooden golf balls were used. Could you imagine losing these golf balls after all the efforts to make them?!
The term ‘birdie’ is a word long associated with golf but where did it come from? It comes from an American golfer named Ab Smith. While playing a round in 1899, he played what he described as a “bird of a shot”, which became “birdie” over time. The popular word somehow found it’s way to golf in Ireland.
Tiger Woods has been breaking records for years but at the tender age of eight years old he got his first ‘hole in one’. It’s no surprise then that he went on to win 18 World Golf Championships and 79 PGA Tours. We are proud to say that Tiger has spent years enjoying golf tours in Ireland and is taking part in this year’s JP McManus Pro-Am, July in Adare, Co. Limerick.
There is a long-standing myth doing the ’rounds’ that the word golf means “Gentleman Only, Ladies Forbidden”. This is completely false and this untruth is believed to have been started on the internet. In fact over 22.8% of golfers are women. We love welcoming families of golfers to our Emerald Isle and our Irish chauffeurs escort them proudly to each golf tour in Ireland.
Another unknown fact; golf is one of only two sports to have been played on the Moon. Although many may argue that golf wasn’t exactly ‘played’ on the moon the commander of Apollo 14 swung his driver and sent two golf balls into space. Not exactly the luxury golf trip in Ireland we’d expect but not bad for 1971!
The highest golf course in the world is the Tactu Golf Club in Morococha, Peru, which sits 14,335 feet above sea level at its lowest point. Not for the faint-hearted or those who have a fear of heights! To put this golf course height into prospective it is over 37 times the height of our very own Cliffs of Moher found in Co. Clare!
Here’s a bonus fact; the chances of making two holes-in-one in a round of golf are one in 67 million. If you do happen to achieve this then we would advise you to buy a lottery ticket immediately. If you do this on one of our Irish golf tours, Mike Ryan will treat you to a few rounds of the ‘black stuff’ – Guinness!
We can help you plan any part of your luxury vacation in Ireland and if you have any questions please do contact us and we’d be happy to help. If you are interested in an Irish Vacation Package and would like more information, please click on the Enquire button below.
All the best,
Mike Ryan
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