Northern lights

Officials of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board will be thrilled by the inaugural list of "50 Greatest Golf Destinations", published in the current issue of the prestigious American magazine, Golf Digest. They have been voted fourth highest, behind the Monterey Peninsula, St Andrews and Pinehurst.

"Forget `The Troubles'," urges the magazine. "Royal Portrush and Royal Co Down are the two best courses in Ireland. Others worth a visit: Castlerock, Portstewart and Royal Belfast."

Indeed our island as a whole has done admirably, with the Southwest/Co Kerry in sixth place and Dublin rated 15th. And from a European perspective, the significance of those placings can be gleaned from the fact that Portugal's Algarve is in 20th place and Spain's Costa del Sol is 25th.

The citation for the Kerry area reads: "Ballybunion, Dooks, Killarney, Tralee, Waterville - these are the experiences of a lifetime. Be sure to hop across the Shannon to Co Clare and play Lahinch."

Its assessment of the other Irish destination is: "Dublin's a great city, with 36 great links holes at Portmarnock, the Arnold Palmer-designed K Club, site of the 2005 Ryder Cup, Druids Glen and the European Club, among others. Plus Guinness."

To mark its 50th anniversary, Golf Digest decided to rank the best destinations in the world for the first time, from an American perspective. So they compiled a list of 95 golf-travel destinations and sent a copy to more than 700 low-handicap "avid course-ranking panellists".

While nominating their top-50 in order of preference, they were to consider: a good variety of terrific courses; a strong "golf ambience"; a great setting; other area attractions/amenities; a variety of good quality accommodation; good value; good service and easy travel, both to and from the destination and within it.

In summary, the magazine included Northern Ireland among "some surprises". But the overall reaction from an Irish perspective must be one of immense satisfaction that the crucial, tourism message is getting through.

Quote: "I needed to go to the bathroom at the 13th hole and I did the potty mambo for an hour." - US Mediacom executive, Jon Mandel, on the riveting telecast of the USPGA Championship from Valhalla on Sunday.