
Every so often, when Shane Lowry returns to his home club, Esker Hills in Tullamore, he’ll hold a lucky dip. Members might end up with one of his polo shirts. Nice. Or they could pick out a pair of his socks – not so nice. It’s all good fun, however, which pretty much sums up life at Esker Hills – most enjoyable on and off the golf course.
I’ve come to Ireland to play three rounds of golf – not one of them a famous links. I arrive in a drizzly Dublin (obviously), but instead of heading towards the coast, I’m going to be travelling directly west for about an hour-and-a-half into the heart of the country – and my first stop is the delightful Glasson Lakehouse.