Guinness and Golf—the perfect pair of comrades
Truly, Guinness tastes better in Ireland—especially following a round of links golf. Why? Well, the refreshing water from the Wicklow Mountains certainly make it taste better. “The black stuff” is a cherished reward when you finish a hard fought, four-ball match with your mates. The beer may not look tempting at first sight, especially if you have a negative view of dark stout, however when you first sip and savour the distinctive taste your mind is quickly changed. I am one of the converted.
In my two trips to Ireland and Northern Ireland, I became fond of drinking Guinness. Sure, I have the occasional Guinness in Canada. It isn’t the same. Maybe the reason for this lack of interest in consuming the beverage is caused by the different water, or the lousy aluminum can but I believe it is the missing comradeship of playing with my good friends which makes the experience unequalled.
In North America, many of the golf courses offer electric or gas carts or actually, force you to take carts. I am a traditionalist and like walking but I know the benefits of riding a cart, especially for medical reasons. Along with carts you ride to play your own round there is Cart Girl. The girls come along during your rounds of golf and provide food and drink and this of course, encourages people to purchase beer. Beer in North America is cold and this continent tends to like it this way. Guinness in Ireland is not cold but cool and its perfect temperature makes it easy to sip or drain. The drink is a piece of Picasso art.
In touring the seven floor Guinness Storehouse in Dublin at the end of our Verma Cup golf tournament http://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en/Index.aspx you marvel at the marketing machinery of this great worldwide brand. Canadians have their ubiquitous Tim Hortons coffee locations and the Americans have their McDonald’s, but the harp logo on a Guinness glass really brings a smile to your face. As you tour the different floors of the factory they feed you the history, show you how the beer is made, get you to buy souvenirs and then on the Gravity Bar floor you hit their heaven. Welcome to the perfect pint pour of fine Irish dry stout.
As you step onto this top floor the striking 360 degree panorama view of Dublin seen through the glass windows grabs your undivided attention. St. Patrick’s Cathedral is visible and its name is actually etched there. Interesting… Then the Wicklow Mountains are seen in the background. Ahhh…yes, the famous water. And then your head swings to the sizeable bar run by many professionals pouring the Guinness perfectly to the anxiously awaiting patrons. When you enter the building you pay a fee. You wonder what the fee is for. Well my friends, that perfect pint of Guinness is your reward.
North Americans don’t necessarily appreciate beer as an art like the Belgians or the Irish. Don’t even think about touching the Guinness until it settles. The delay, in this world of attention deficit disorder, is a test of your will and patience. You see, uneducated hands trying to reach this delicious substance prematurely will experience their big mitt swatted away by all-watching servers until it’s time. The proper time. Tick tock. And as you watch people enviously eye the Guinness while it settles perfectly to the top of the glass you admire the machinery of this Irish institution. The anticipation of this black stuff is incredible. They know how to play with your mind.
Murphy’s beer is another offering in certain parts of Ireland. In Cork you can indulge in this sweeter beer and I was surprised to find it in the beautiful Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle, Northern Ireland following our round at Royal County Down. It is a very good alternative. The Verma Cuppers certainly hoisted a few in celebration.
So in the end, Guinness, or Murphy’s represent fine camaraderie, lively conversation and sustained laughter. The drink becomes a fantastic bond that ties people together. Links golf is tremendously demanding, can differentiate greatly based on course architecture and weather conditions and your game may not suit the nuances of the gnarly gorse or slower greens. But one constant coming in from your rain drenched adventure or windy affair is the Guinness. And what a wonderful thing to experience, especially in the home of the leprechaun.