Tiger in ominous form.....

Decided to have small punt on the WGC CA Chmpionship (the second World Golf Championship event of the year).

Played on the Blue Monster at Doral, the 72 hole strokeplay event consisted of all the top players in the world.

I have an affinity for Padraig Harrington of Ireland, he is a very steady performer who can shoot very low on his day and is a good scrambler. He was 40-1 and I took him each way.

My second horse was Nick O'Hern again each way but at 100-1 he was good odds......

Cant believe he came in 6th - just missed out by one shot...........

Bloody typical!!!!!!!

I've kept money on Harrington for the Masters, not sure who else to go for..... Tiger is way too short to be worth betting on - but I will be interestes in the odds for Zach Johnson, the improving young american and also may be Paul Casey (Who has gone well there before).

Any advice or tips gladly received.........

Five Lakes, Near Maldon in Essex

Five Lakes is a 4 star hotel in Essex, which has two golf courses (the Lakes and the Links).


I've been there 3 times now and have to say its one of my favourite UK golf destinations. Ok, so the second course isn't up to much and the courses are prone to waterlogging, but the Hotel is excellent, a very good 4 star, with good level of service and also good food.





The Lakes course is a great little course, not the longest, it has some memorable holes and like most resort courses the 9th and 18th are the signature holes.





Despite it being a bit of a drive, I would recommend Five Lakes it to all South East England Golf Trippers!!

Lisbon golf holidays

I have returned last month from a familirisation visit for Lisbon Golf Holidays

I was really impressed with all the courses. Firstly though, I had the pleasure in staying at the fabulous Sesimbra Hotel and Spa. A great 4 star hotel, situated on the beach with stunning views of the Atlantic and beach front at Sesimbra. Its about 45-55 minutes from Lisbon Airport. The drive isn't the best and the hotel is a bit tricky to find in the one way system, but its worth. Good food in the restaurant as well.... highly recommended.....

I played golf at Aroeira I and Aroeira II. Aroeira Golf Breaks are available and are a really good choice. The accommodation is self catering style apartments (although you can include a decent enough breakfast at the clubhouse each day for a small fee). The apartments are basic, but perfectly good enough for small families and groups of golfers.

The only issue is the lack of nightlife and you definitely need a car for the trip. Nearby is Caprica de Charneca - a traditional portugese village/town with a couple of very good and well priced restaurants.

Lisbon is about €40 by cab (so between 4 its pretty accessible). Good nightlife in Lisbon..... Say no more.

The courses at Aroeira are excellent. My preference is Aroeira II with great use of the trees and water.

The 18th is a great finishing hole:

Par 5 with Water running down the right and then around the green on the left - too much greed off the tee can put you in the drink, but its a really good risk reward hole.

Aroeira I is a lovely track as well, but perhaps slightly less featured than II, having said that, stroke index 2 11th is superb

Long Par 4 with a green protected by bunkers and a lake alongside it. Dont be long (as I found out to my cost - impossible up and down).

Further inland from Aroeira is the delightful Quinta Do Peru a cracking little track with a good club house. The 15th and 16th are great signature holes.

About an hours drive from Aroeira is Troia, what a course. A links style track with tiny greens and big bunkers, brilliant golf course - very tough. Its pretty unique as you have to take a ferry from Setubal to the peninsula. I was lucky enough to be making the journey when the local family of dolphins were pklaying in the water alongside the boats - to be honest I should have stoppped there and had a swim because my golf was unbelieveably bad!!

Troia golf course - watch out for the dolphins!!

I was really impressed with Southern Lisbon for your golf holiday, great venues and superb golf courses. The important thing for me though, was that it is still Portugal - traditional bars and good seafood. With Flights becoming more accessible to Lisbon I highly receommend your next golfing trip there!

As its St Patrick's Day (And I'm Irish) I though I'd post some of my favourite golf courses in Ireland.

Carton House

2 Great golf courses (The O'Meara and the Montgomerie). Host of the Nissan Irish Open for 2 years and has a superb hotel. Golf breaks to carton house are far more affordable than the K Club

The Montgomerie course has the famous boat house

Lahinch

What a track!!! - you have to play the old Tom Morris Course, also the castle course is a pretty good track as well.

Below Cork you'll find one of the most stunning courses ever......

Old Head of kinsale

Doesn't look real does it!!!!!!! - not sure that a ball retriever would work there....

Also if you get a chance to play Hermitage in Dublin - do it - brilliant course and My Uncle's the Captain there!!!