"Unlike many other books written by American writers for an Aemrican market, Golfing in Ireland is notable in that real understanding, humour and irreverence are key to the visitor being told exactly what they need to know."--The Kerryman
Ireland is Europe's hottest golfing destination and one of the most popular golf venues for Americans eager to sample the fabled links. Author Rob Armstrong predicted the Irish golf boom in the first edition of Golfing in Ireland; in the third, he revisits old courses that have undergone revision or expansion and uncovers the best of Ireland's new courses. In his crisp, irreverent style, he also points out those courses that have not stood up, those that have been poorly maintained or managed, and those that have simply proved disappointing.
Profiled in this edition are: the magnificent Old Head Golf Club in County Cork, one of the most exciting new golf courses in the world; the extraordinarily beautiful new Ring of Kerry Golf and Country Club in County Kerry that overlooks Kenmare Bay; and the expanded golf complex at Ballyliffin in County Donegal. He also reviews several new hotels and restaurants that cater to golfers and are near some of Ireland's best courses. Armstrong's travel tips include a discussion of the Euro, which will soon become the unit of currency in the Irish Republic, and a warning about the proliferation of Irish golf tours.
In 1998, after nearly a quarter of a century as an award-winning news correspondent for CBS News, Rob Armstrong retired so that he could teach, write, and golf. Armstrong spent the last decade of his career as the network's senior radio correspondent in Washington, where he covered Congress, the White House, and national politics. He reported on four presidential election campaigns and covered nine nominating conventions. His assignments also took him to forty-nine states, as well as to countless countries around the world. He covered the peace processes in Ireland and the Middle East, and reported on international summitry in Washington, London, Paris, Brussels, Rome, and Moscow. In addition to his reporting for CBS News, Armstrong has also contributed articles to the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and the American Review of Journalism. His golf and travel articles in particular have appeared in Washington Golf Monthly and on the CBS Web page. Armstrong's passion for golf is insatiable. In fact, his annual golfing trips to the Emerald Isle led him to write his first book, Golfing in Ireland: The Most Complete Guide for Adventurous Golfers, also published by Pelican. Living and working in the Washington, D.C., area for many years gave Armstrong the knowledge necessary to write his most recent book, Golfing the Virginias. When not hitting the links, Armstrong divides his time between writing about golf and travel and teaching broadcast journalism at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, where he makes his home.
