Toad-lovers and rip-off merchants risk putting Irish golf in the rough

BALLYBUNION Golf Club has prospered in recent years largely because of the influence of Tom Watson who put it on the international map.

Although touring professionals are usually too busy to play a course just for the sake of it, many top golfers have made private visits to play Ballybunion.

Watson first asked for permission to play the course in the 1970s. It happened that he asked to play on one of the days of the open week, so the committee cancelled the day’s competitions.