Lets salute Darren .

Great stuff indeed

made my weekend and no bet on him,many congrats to mr clarke,hope he reads this forum from time to time

Superb stuff

Hearty congratulations didn't think he could do it being honest.

Got the breaks with draw and weather but he sure capitalised fully on them.

form is tempory class is permanent .....Well done big D ...... Hats off also to the GUI ( golfing union of ireland ) and the work done over the years ....They have contributed in no small way to the success of Clarke . McIlroy , Harrington and McDowell . Ireland s four big amateur championships are played on the same four links every year which all of the above have won one at some stage ... West of Ireland --Rosses Point ---- North of Ireland ----Portrush---- East of Ireland --- Baltray ---South of Ireland ---Lahinch ...... easy to see now how clarke handled conditions so well this week .....

When pod leaves the american tour you will see him return to his best form.
It's great to see the dazzler win a major.

Pod should have been in the mix at Sandwich , vinnie roe .  Course and conditions as they happened were made for him.

Pod needs to throw away all the carp he has indulged in for the last couple of years and return to the basics which made him top 10 or better , and a threat in most of the big tournaments .

Heard a story recently ( unquestionably authenticated ) about a long driving competition ( bit of fun ) after a sponsors day out . A certain 2 time major winner sent someone to his car to get a specific driver out of it .  There were 13 other drivers in the car ( golf clubs ) . Make your mind up time . Golf is 90% between the ears , technology cant help that much , otherwise our club would be full of scratch golfers ( which it isn't) . Seve could play around 18 with a fork and knife , as could Jack , and Himself .

Dazzler and co live in Portrush now , Vinnie Roe  , and it has stood to him over last year in particular .

Would have relocated myself to Newcastle if my wife had agreed , just to be a member of Mourne ( 4 mile rule I think still applies ). Not getting as much publicity as Portrush at present , but the most magnificent golf course anywhere given weather like 1947 summer which was my first contact with Royal Co Down .

Portrush already has more or less credentials sorted out , after all they cope with phenomenally big crowds every May at the North West motor cycle .  Anyway a couple of big cruise ships in nearby bays would boost accomodation also .  Road access OK . Valley course gives potential for tented village etc .

Newcastle a bit different , road access is main problem .  Belfast and district is only 30 minutes away , but could see bottleneck as most of traffic would be coming from that direction , and southern traffic would possibly have to negotiate through Newcastle town ( pretty tricky , reminiscent of Killarney on Munster final day or race day in the past , enough said ) . Accomodation not a big problem , and plenty of space for tented villages , an extra golf course available ( no 2 course ). 

Anyway , neither course has entry problems like Portmarnock or Royal Dublin where I watched many a hugely attended Irish Open in the eighties . People can cope if they have the will , but at the end of the day it will be like the Olympics 2012 , all about money and profit , only language they understand that side of the pond . Worship the mighty buck . Hope I am wrong .

If all the potential top Irish and European players weigh in at Killarney it will be some tournament .  Irish Open used to be second only to Open in importance in Europe .  In fact back in 1953 the Open was worth £350 approx to the winner , the winner of the Irish Open that year got £750 ( Eric Brown ).

I think it could be a good tactical move to run the Irish Open at say Newcastle as close to the Open as possible with joint sponsorship between north and south interests , for a couple of years  , upping the ante to the R & A to bring the Open back to the  to the North .  Afterwards they should repatriate the Irish Open permanently to Portmarnock where it belongs ( and I know thats not all that popular with all the members of that club , but sometimes you have to bow to the greater good ) . When it was there and with  Joe Flanagan doing a great job for Carrolls it was a magnificent tournament on a magnificent golf course . No reason to ignore the possibility it could do a similar job provided there is the will .  Killarney is a good venue , but its not anyway central  , you have to be near a capital .

he was on the p.k. show at 11..he never made it to bed....