Two years ago, the little nine-hole Spanish Point links in West Clare didn’t have a pennant of any kind.

A record-equalling seven under par 66 moved West Waterford’s Gary Hurley into joint fifth in the English Open stroke-play championship for the Brabazon Trophy at Seaton Carew, Hartlepool on Saturday.

Sq m: 167 (1,800 sq ft)

WATERFORD

The K Club’s Ryder Cup course has been voted the country’s top parkland course for 2014 by readers of Golfing Weekly. Its sister course at the Straffan estate, the Smurfit Course, came in at No 15.

Paul McGinley didn’t allow the business of being Ryder Cup captain spoil his golf with a best finish in 15 months and a second straight top-10 result in the ISPS Handa Wales Open at Celtic Manor.

Ireland produced a dramatic comeback to keep alive their hopes of claiming the Home International title at Ganton, Yorkshire after fighting back to secure a scintillating 8½-6½ win over defending champions Scotland.

A small coastal community in Co Waterford is shrouded in tragedy this morning following the deaths of three brothers who drowned when their fishing boat capsized.

He might have been watched by 60 years-old Des Smyth, but Niall Gorey is determined to become the oldest swinger in town by breaking his championship duck in the West of Ireland Amateur Open at Rosses Point today.

THE LOUGH, CORK €295,000

THERE are white weddings and there are will-they-won’t-they weddings — yesterday’s marriage of Maria Tierney and Ollie Finnegan had a bit of both.

IT’S all about the location, in a Waterford county hot-spot – that, and five lovely acres with views.

DÁIL guerrilla warfare was declared when Fine Gael decided to rip-up the gentleman’s club rule book and go for Brian Cowen’s political jugular – his dwindling Dáil majority.

GOLF courses and houses built in the ground of period mansions became something of a formulaic cliche in the Celtic Tiger era, but many proved viable working models and saved old houses for future generations as well.

PRESIDENT Mary McAleese did what she does so masterfully again yesterday on a visit to the all-boy Benedictine boarding school, Glenstal Abbey in Co Limerick.

IF THE three key ingredients of a successful Irish golf resort — the course, the lodgings and the cuisine — were thoroughly critiqued, few would tick all the boxes as emphatically as Faithlegg Golf Club in Waterford.

Neil Walker clinched a dramatic one-shot victory on the final day of the latest PGA EuroPro Tour tournament.

Tommy Barker is captivated by the magical spell of Druid Rock.

IT is said that three or four residences are required before you settle on the house of your dreams. The owners of this Waterford house clearly have not found that 'perfect' home as they are moving to their fourteenth.

THEY wanted a baby girl — God gave them two.

The news that Jack Nicklaus is set to design his second course in Ireland — on the grounds of the Killeen Castle in Co Meath — has renewed the debate on just how many more new multi-million euro complexes this country can take.

THE news that Jack Nicklaus is set to design his second course in Ireland — on the grounds of Killeen Castle in County Meath — has renewed the debate on just how many more new multi-million euro complexes this country can take.

THE man behind Ballynore House in Thomastown, Kilkenny didn't cut corners - in fact he doubled up on them.