Good column (“Divot: Magnificent monikers,” June 30, GGP), but not totally correct.
Five Royal clubs on the island of Ireland – Royal County Down, Royal Belfast and Royal Portrush in the North; and Royal Dublin and Royal Curragh in the Republic – all so named before Irish Independence.
However, Royal Tara in the Republic of Ireland is so called after the Hill of Tara which was the ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland.
As regards fancy names versus place names for courses, how about The European Club in County Wicklow? I don’t know another club named after a whole continent!
Keep up the good work and regards
Gerry McCormack
Limerick, Ireland
Great column on course names (“Divot: Magnificent monikers,” June 30, GGP).
I belong to Desert Forest, which is a private club in Carefree, Arizona. A lot of people think the combination of desert and forest is hard to comprehend. Our club is definitely full of desert landscape – prickly pear, Saguaros, mesquite and all varieties of cacti.
We have no out of bounds so the desert is the penalty. If you are not straight, it’s a provisional reload.
Jim Nalepa
Scottsdale, Arizona
The Pittsburgh area has a golf course named after a Native American. He was a Chief of the Lenape Tribe, which had to move to the hills west of the confluence of the Twin Rivers as our country expanded to the West. The club has his name, Shannopin, whose tribe wandered the hills now occupied by the course in the 1700s. The club was built in 1920 and is still considered a worthy challenge. I was a member there from 1971 to 1974. A great group of members who were a joy to play with.
Thanks for your article (“Divot: Magnificent monikers,” June 30, GGP). It triggered some fine memories.
Bob Zamboni
West Palm Beach, Florida
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