My 60th Birthday Irish Golf Tour: Four Days to Remember

Four days of golf, seven great friends and a 60th birthday to celebrate. My Irish golf tour took us from the towering dunes of Carne Golf Links and Enniscrone Golf Club to Lough Erne Resort and Castle Hume in Northern Ireland.

There were brilliant shots, lost balls, plenty of Guinness and more than a few laughs. I had also made golf competition signs for each day of the trip, so seeing them out on the courses made the occasion even more special.

But what really stayed with me was the welcome we received at every stop. Here is how our four days unfolded.

Day 1: Carne Golf Links, Belmullet

Our tour began at Carne Golf Links in Belmullet, where Gerry McGuire, Sarah and Angela gave us a warm welcome and made sure we had everything we needed before we headed out in our buggies.

Even before the first tee, I was impressed. The putting green was the best I have ever putted on. Then we headed into those incredible high sand dunes to begin the round.

I was first to tee off, hit a great drive and managed to par the tough opening hole. A very promising start to the birthday trip!

On the second, Peter sent his ball wildly up the towering dunes. It was one of those moments we will be talking about for a long time. The par 3s were brilliant but challenging, and there were some fantastic shots along the way.

Jamie won the day with 32 points, while I was delighted to claim two nearest-the-pin wins. Having made the signs for the trip, it was particularly satisfying to put my name against a couple of them.

Carne was spectacular from start to finish, with stunning views along the Wild Atlantic Way. We were lucky enough to play in shorts and T-shirts, and all the lads were blown away by both the course and the hospitality.

Afterwards, we enjoyed a Guinness and I had the pleasure of meeting Fiona. It was lovely to share a few gifts with the team as a thank you.

We finished the day at the Lobster Pot in Belmullet, where owner Padraig Conroy sang us a song. A few tasty pints of Guinness rounded off a memorable first day.

Day 2: Enniscrone Golf Club in the Wind and Rain

The weather changed for our visit to Enniscrone Golf Club, but the welcome was just as warm.

Keith O’Neil greeted us, and over coffee in the clubhouse we discovered a gift bag for everyone. Golf balls, ball markers, tees, pencils and a course map were all waiting for us. It was such a thoughtful touch.

Then it was out into the wind and rain. The front nine through the dunes was amazing, with tough conditions and scenery that was simply off the scale. This was Irish links golf giving us the full experience.

The back nine was just as impressive, although by the end we were wet through and ready for a change of clothes. We returned to the hotel before heading back to the club for delicious local fish chowder.

Andy won the day with 31 points. We thanked Keith for his kindness and generosity before settling in for a well-earned Guinness.

Day 3: The Faldo Course at Lough Erne Resort

Our third day took us into Northern Ireland and on to Lough Erne Resort.

Barry McCauley looked after us brilliantly from the moment we arrived at the pro shop. A complimentary buggy for the birthday boy was one of several lovely touches that made the visit feel special.

We played the Faldo Course from the white tees. It was in superb condition, with outstanding views across the lough and sunshine to enjoy along the way. It was also a real test of golf.

Jamie won again with 32 points. I finished last with 16. Fortunately, the views were considerably better than my scorecard!

After the round, we checked into our two-bedroom lodges to find a birthday plate, chocolates, a card from the team and a crate of beers on ice. What a welcome.

That evening, we all met for dinner at the Loughside Grill. The food was beautiful and the staff could not have been more accommodating. My perfectly cooked bass was followed by a birthday plate and a glass of champagne, while a group of ladies came over to sing “Happy Birthday”.

A few Irish whiskeys later, it was time for bed. It had been a very special day.

Day 4: Castle Hume and Our Irish Tour Champion

Our final round was at Castle Hume, Lough Erne’s sister course.

This lovely parkland course gave us another enjoyable challenge, with long par 3s and demanding par 4s and par 5s. There were plenty of lost balls, but just as many laughs.

Jamie finished strongly with 36 points to win the final day and take the overall title with 130 points across the four days. He was a worthy winner of our Irish tour plaque.

I finished second to last overall, but the result really did not matter. Spending four days playing these courses with great friends was a birthday celebration I will never forget.

Golf Competition Signs with a Personal Connection

One of the pleasures of this trip was seeing the golf competition signs I had made being used each day.

Through Signs4Golf, I get to make signs for other people’s golf days and competitions. This time, they were part of my own celebration, alongside friends who had travelled with me to mark a milestone birthday.

From the nearest-the-pin challenges to Jamie collecting the tour plaque, those little details helped make the trip feel like our own occasion.

Thank You for an Unforgettable 60th Birthday Golf Trip

A huge thank you to everyone at Carne Golf Links, Enniscrone Golf Club and Lough Erne Resort for making us feel so welcome.

Special thanks go to Gerry, Fiona, Sarah and Angela at Carne; Keith O’Neil at Enniscrone; and Barry McCauley and chef Adam Milliken at Lough Erne. Your generosity and hospitality made a fantastic trip even better.

And to Pete Sadler, Jamie Hedgecock, Guy Lawson, John Sweeney, Andy Gulvin, Rob Shorey and David Wisemen: thank you for coming along to celebrate with me.

I hope your trip was as good as mine. I could not have wished for a better way to celebrate turning 60.