After a swift journey from the YGT office to London City Airport, we were jetting our way towards the Isle of Man for a weekend of golf, great food and local ales; a slice of the quiet life! The flight to Douglas – the major “city” on the island – takes just an hour and a half and if that wasn’t easy enough, we were greeted by our friends from Isle of Man Golf Tours, golf clubs in hand and ready to whisk us off for a carefree golf weekend.
We landed in the Isle of Man early on the Friday evening and hopped straight into the Isle of Man Golf Tours branded VW van. After a friendly, welcoming handshake from our travel partners at Isle of Man Golf Tours – Ged Power and Martin Young – we were whisked off into the centre of Douglas where we stowed our bags at the Best Western Palace Hotel, Casino and Leisure Resort; our base for the weekend.
The first thing we noticed, aside from all the welcoming faces, was the standard of the Hotel. From the receptionist to the Black Jack dealer, nothing was too much hassle for any of the staff members, which really adds to the comfort level when you are away. The rooms were also excellent and as you walk in you are welcomed by the view down the promenade which, being located on the main strip of Douglas, gives a real Seaside feel without the tackiness sometimes found on the “English Rivieras”. Traditional and charming, this was exactly what we were looking for from a weekend away from the hustle and bustle of London.
After a quick change we were off with Ged and Martin into the centre of Douglas. Although it does not have the reputation of a party area, there is plenty to keep every member of a golfing party happy. From the real ale drinker to the bona fide party animal, there really is fun for everyone. After a day in the office and the trip to the Isle of Man, we were quite content with a few local ales and an early (ish) night!
A wholesome breakfast the next morning signalled the start of our golfing odyssey and with our golf clubs already loaded into the van by Isle of Man Golf Tours; we were off towards Rowany Golf Club. Along the way we passed through Castletown and enjoyed some of the fantastic beach views along with charming cobbled streets and the medieval castle. Having soaked up some of the town’s history we made a beeline for the golf course at Port Erin.
Rowany Golf Club
With Martin by our side offering the inside information only a member can, we breezed through the 1st six holes without incident. We were joined by Ged on the 7th and the golf suddenly got serious, with a Team YGT vs. Team IOM match in the offing! The stakes were set. Beers and lunch after the round; a hefty rewards for the winning team! We are happy to announce YGT snuck the win but the result was overshadowed by what was a truly memorable golf course.
Highlights included the 7th which finished with a blind shot to a plateau green protected by a part-wall, part-grass dune that meant you were flying blind with gorse just behind the green; no time to be a hero! A lay-up second shot made it a manageable yet unique par 5. The par 3 8th is also a thing of beauty. A very challenging downhill par 3 demanding pin point accuracy to score well, this little gem was as treacherous as it was beautiful. The finishing hole provided a view across the bay and in the distance across the water you could even see the Emerald Isle.
A light beer and a beef burger and we were on our way. Literally 10 minutes later we are teeing off at Mount Murray Hotel and Golf Resort. This course is set at the highest altitude of any on the Isle of Man and the views are just breath-taking. Again, after a generous couple of starting holes which help ease in the visiting golfer, things heat up with a tough par 3 up the hill to a 3 tiered green which, when lightning fast, puts even the most accomplished wielder of the flat stick firmly in three putt territory. Holes 14 through 18 take you on a journey around the highest point of the course and to be honest, the views make it tricky to focus on the task in hand! On clear day you can even see the mountains in Cumbria. The 18th descends back towards sea level and the elevated tee allows you to boom a Driver and with the promise of the ball shooting down the hill, you may just hit the longest drive of your life! A great fun way to end the round.
Mount Murray offers some spectacular views from various vantage points around the course.
After resting our weary yet satisfied golfing muscles in the bar we went to dinner in the Mallards Restaurant. Here we enjoyed a fantastic meal of fresh mussels followed by pork belly and a chocolate brownie to cap it all off; dinner fit for a King and just what the doctor ordered! To our surprise, the wine list was also most inviting. After gargling a little grape, we were shuttled back to the hotel for an evening of entertainment in the Casino and the surrounding nightlife.
Sunday morning started with a fantastic surprise as we were picked up on a trike and driven over the mountain leg of the Isle of Man TT Mountain circuit. If you are a fan of the greatest road race in the world then this is a lovely little addition to your trip and a great treat. You get talked through the race, its history and the speeds the bikes reach during certain points of the race via a microphone in your helmet. The views are second to none and some of the race stats are truly terrifying!
After our trike tour we arrived at Ramsey Golf Club for our 09:30 tee time and were again met by Martin who had our clubs ready and waiting on the first tee…millionaire’s golf indeed! Ramsey is a truly special course with the BEST opening hole in golf we had ever played, regardless of what was writen down on the scorecard! You walk up the driveway between the Clubhouse and Pro Shop where you are greeted with a mind blowing panoramic view of the Mountain and hills surrounding the golf course, it truly is a sight to behold that any golfer, regardless of standard, are bound to enjoy. The course continued in that mould and the quirky par 3 18th helped to finish a truly enjoyable round. With the match halved, Team YGT still held a slender 2 – 1 lead.
Ramsey Golf Club is tucked a little further inland than some others on the Isle of Man, offering great variety to a golf tour.
We reluctantly left the very cosy clubhouse at Ramsey and headed over to Peel Golf Club for round four of our Isle of Man Golf Tour. We stopped off in the town which was a fantastic little place. The impressive castle overlooks the harbour and marina, where you can pick up some Manx made ice cream; simply irresistible on a lovely sunny day!
Feeling slightly weary we headed up to the golf course. With all that had come before we felt Peel was under a little bit of pressure to deliver. It didn’t disappoint. As you head to the turn you meet a magical stretch of holes from 9 to 12 but don’t plan too far ahead. Firstly you have to deal with the difficult par 4 4th which features a stream in front of the green and a severe sloop running from back to front. There is plenty of danger here and walking off the green with a par comes with a big sigh of relief! Within Peel’s own Amen Corner, the 11th takes the honour of being the signature hole. Be wary of the steep drop off into gorse on the right hand side. Play safe or bomb one down there to avoid the trouble. One of the most difficult greens on the course still awaits and anything long is in trouble.
Peel Golf Club
Upon finishing the round, we headed off into the sunset to a little pub called The White House. This little charmer serves some fantastic ales and is only a short walk from Peel Golf Club. Dinner followed in The Creek, yet another great pub which is just opposite the harbour and Isle of Man Museum. Seafood and a Green Ale are a must for any discerning golfer. The scallops and black pudding starter was to die for! Suffice to say that after a long day’s golf, a good feed and a few well deserved beers it was time for some sleep in preparation for our final day on the island.
After 2 days of sunshine and flat calms we woke up on Monday morning looking forward to what we hoped would be the same, however one look outside the window at 08:00 suggested we were in for a rougher ride! We arrived at Castletown Golf Club, billed by many as the Manx Turnberry, and we were met by 30MPH winds…OH DEAR!!!
Wrapped up and ready to take everything the good Lord threw at us – we weren’t even tempted to pass up a round at Castletown, such was the reputation of the course – we headed out onto the links. Everything about this golf course is just phenomenal and we actually had to admit we were glad to have played it in traditional links weather. The match play competition was continuing and coming to the final stretch of holes our gracious hosts from Isle of Man Golf Tours were struggling with the windy conditions and were left trailing again. Against two Scotsmen, what chance did they ever have in these conditions?! Much of the course rambles along a dramatic coastline – the course sits on a dramatic peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water – which is made even more dramatic with the wind blowing, sending waves crashing into the rocks below. With handshakes and another victory for YGT, we sat back and agreed that Castletown had made it into our top 5 courses ever played…high praise indeed considering our respective golfing portfolios!
Castletown is without doubt the pick of the bunch on the island. That is no slight on the other courses here though, as this links gem would sit at the top of end of many a golfer’s list of best courses ever played.
It was with sad faces and the knowledge of heading back to the office that we headed to the airport for the short flight home. We have both agreed that the Isle of Man on the whole is truly a hidden golfing gem and that Castletown in particular is an absolute must for any golfing aficionado.
With Ged and Martin acting as ground handlers, guiding you around the island from start to finish, there is little to worry about apart from your scores; an aspect of an Isle of Man Golf Tour which makes it all the more appealing….your job is done is soon as the booking process is complete! The après golf with both Ged and Martin was a blast and their local knowledge and suggestions of pubs, restaurant and various other sites to visit was invaluable. Some of the best golfing anecdotes we had heard in years were simply a bonus.
It sounds like you had an absolutely perfect time and I am so happy the IOM showed itself in perfect weather. Golf on the IOM is great. I can really recommend a trip and the chance to have locals to show you around should not be missed.