Ireland: The land of photogenic links golf

There are so many great links on the Emerald Isle.

As many as 10 different golf courses -- ranging from Ballybunion and Lahinch in the southwest to Royal County Down and Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland -- have made some sort of world top 100 list.

I've had some great memories playing golf in Ireland -- watching the 2011 Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle, winning an America-vs.-Europe tournament for golf writers at the K Club prior to the 2006 Ryder Cup, sinking a mulligan ace at Ballyliffin and surviving four-club winds at Doonbeg and Rosapenna. I've made the trip seven times and can't wait to go back.

Links golf is so conducive to good photography when the sun shines to illuminate the ocean, the hairy dunes along the beach, the sodwall bunkers, the bumpy fairways, the castle clubhouses. The challenge is trying to keep the camera dry when the inevitable bad weather comes calling. I will always remember one round at Portsalon Golf Club where three different major showers whipped up a frenzy that left my threesome running for cover in the dunes and trees. Thank goodness for my umbrella. Each time, the winds and rain were gone within five minutes.

Maybe these photos -- my favorites over the years -- will convince you to jump on the next overnight flight to Dublin or Shannon. The Irish people are so friendly; the Guinness so fresh; the rolling countryside so green. A golf trip overseas almost never disappoints.

-- Jason Scott Deegan