Co Sligo Hole 17
9 May, 21:03

This is one of my favourite shots of all time, partly because of the moment and partly because of how it came about. I was meeting up with friends after a frantic few days breaking my dad out of hospital – literally – and I almost cancelled the trip.

I didn’t, and as we sat in the clubhouse after the round I could see the colours being created by the setting sun. I knew exactly where I wanted to be and headed back up the 18th fairway (see below).

The view down the 17th, across the bay, is always spectacular but a setting sun, people strolling on the beach and the strength of the colours elevated this shot to a different level.

Co Sligo Hole 18
9 May, 21:00

This shot was a fluke. I was heading to the 17th green (see above) for a specific shot, when I saw a father and son playing the 18th, the sun dropping behind them.

The son’s swing was lazy and elegant and I raised the camera and fired off a few frames. I never expected it to look as good as this.

The Irish Examiner liked it, too, and put it on the front cover of the newspaper a few days later. Interestingly, I showed the son what the shot looked like, on the back of the camera, and asked him if he’d like me to send it to him. “Nah, you’re good,” he said. I later sent a print to his father.

Strandhill Hole 7
10 May, 20:41

On the same trip as the Co Sligo images above, I visited Strandhill one evening and climbed the mammoth dune flanking the west side of the links, above the 6th hole.

A father and son – not the same pair as on Co. Sligo – were playing the sixth and I hoped they would create a strong focal point when they reached the seventh fairway, with the village and sea beyond.

The low sun helped to emphasise the shapes of the fairway, which resemble a rolling sea moving towards the green. 

St Anne’s Hole 1
22 May, 05:37

Many golfers would consider St Anne’s Links, on Bull Island, to be ‘flat’. When I was commissioned to photograph the course, I wanted to highlight that it is far from the truth.

The first fairway, in particular, is blessed with tremendous ripple, something embellished by the early morning sunrise and a pair of ducks who had been following me around as I set up my gear.

Bull Island is home to two links golf courses and a bird sanctuary: it is no wonder that the two collide from time to time.

Portstewart Hole 1
19 June, 05:30

Portstewart’s par-four first is widely regarded as the best opening hole on our island. It is certainly the most beautiful.

Typically, it is photographed from the tee, as all that beauty of beach, ocean and dunes is on show, but I had a specific purpose, which was to highlight the design changes that took place around the green this year – namely to show the new swales on the left and right of the putting surface.

Early morning light helped to achieve that. There’s also a new bunker, directly behind the flag, i.e. on the front right of the green.

Killarney (Mahony’s Point) Hole 4
2 July, 06:22

When you are given the gift of unflappable deer wandering the golf course, you take advantage.

I was photographing both of Killarney’s courses in July, so I was out early, even before the green keepers.

Deer were everywhere, but of all the shots I took, this is the one I liked most. A bright sun fights its way around the trees, lighting up the green and throwing stark shadows everywhere else.

The shadows of mother and fawn are in the bottom right corner.

Dingle Hole 1
2 July, 20:55

I have photographed Dingle before, but I hadn’t noticed the stunning shapes and scenery framing the first green, from the ninth tee box.

In places, the green mirrors the views beyond, and this wide panorama embraces it all.

Centre of the frame is the first flag and – not surprisingly – Tearaght Island, with its sharp tip piercing the sky, is right behind it to add some drama.

Old Head, Hole 4
12 July, 19:28

I wouldn’t normally take a photograph with the tee box quite so dominant, but then few courses shock and awe quite like Old Head.

The purpose was to give the viewer an exact feel of what it is like to play this famous par-4, with the cliffs falling away to ocean on the left, and the lighthouse leading the eye – and your aim – into the distance.

Taken in July, during a hot spell, many of the grasses had turned golden and it felt like I was in a painting.

Laytown & Bettystown Hole 5
24 September, 08:03

Laytown and Bettystown is one of Ireland’s lesser-known links and yet there is a lot of shape and beauty to the dunes here.

The day started off with a pink sky and it held a mood that promised some interesting light.

When the sun arrived, there was a richness to it that reflected off the clouds and settled on the links. As a photographer you get to see the different shades of colour that varying light creates, but this was a special one.

Portmarnock Hole 1
26 September, 09:40am

Not a typical photograph for me, but then it wasn’t your typical golfer either.

This is Ben Roethlisberger, of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. The Steelers’ senior team spent a day at Portmarnock, arranged through Fairways and Fundays (tour operator), and I was asked to take photographs of the visitors.

This was one, and I include it here because I have never seen a clubhead do this: it’s in front of the shaft, not behind. If anyone can explain how that’s possible, please get in touch!