From Rory’s first swings to tourist favorite: Holywood Golf Club shines
By Jason Scott Deegan
HOLYWOOD, County Down, Northern Ireland – The Holywood Golf Club has gone, well, full Hollywood after Rory McIlroy’s memorable Grand Slam win at The Masters.
McIlroy’s home club is blossoming into a popular tourist trap outside Belfast, attracting visitors from around the world. Following McIlroy’s historic green jacket in April, the demand for photos in the “Rory room” and memorabilia from the pro shop skyrocketed.
The club launched the “Rory Experience”, which offers the chance to enjoy snacks and drinks with a member host who shares stories about McIlroy’s days growing up at the club, followed by the chance to take photos with replica major championship trophies from the U.S. Open, PGA Championship and The Open. It’s best to call the club for availability (phone number: +44 (0) 28 9042 3135).
I saw the McIlroy mania first-hand during a visit in May. While I was wandering through the pro shop before a round, a woman came in and asked, “Where’s the Rory room?” She and her husband had taken a taxi from a cruise ship in Belfast to take photos around the clubhouse. After golf, I met an Aussie who was loading up on logo polos for his buddies. None of them had time to play. They all just wanted to see where it all started for one of golf’s most popular heroes.
“It’s crazy at the minute,” Head Golf Professional Ciaran Lavery said. “It’s almost like we have two time sheets. We have a (tee) time sheet for members and guests that are playing, and then we have the cruise ships coming in with the cabs picking them up, so it’s chaotic at times. But it’s a really good busy.”
If you see a car parked in a certain spot in the lot during your visit, get excited.