Acting Up: The blog...as it was meant to be

published 25 June 2007

They laughed at Christopher Columbus when he said the world was round, they giggled at the Wright Brothers when they mooted the idea that Man could fly, and they smirked at the actor when he asked random people to e-mail him for a game of golf to be reported in a blog. ?Let?s face it George? they said ?no one in their right mind would do that.?

Well ladies and gentlemen, the earth is round, today flying is an everyday affair, and thanks to G.M. reader Hugh Logan (Not entirely sure he?s totally in his right mind) this blog can finally be used for its original purpose.

Hugh invited me to make a four with him, his son, and long time friend Sam at his home course Belvoir (pronounced Beaver for some bizarre reason) Park a couple of miles outside Belfast. My digs (No Sky, No Golf Channel, No good) are in the city centre but a 25 minute taxi ride was all it took to get there. The entrance to the car park is simply a narrow gap in a wall, so from the road you have no idea that a golf course exists.

Their golf, unfortunately, was not of a similar standard, a par being as rare as a Mike Harris blog entry. With the actor playing rather well, and despite a spirited fight back from Phil on the last, the front, back and match were all wrapped up in favour of the actor and his partner Sam. Certainly no one could accuse these boys of banditry, indeed their generosity in life was shown through their golf, treating their handicaps as a form of philanthropy.

As for the course I have one question. How come I haven?t heard about it before? It?s an astonishing example of parkland golf, with narrow fairways and greens to rival any I have played. The gentle opening hole lulls you in to a false sense of security, the second slightly harder. But when you reach the third, a 435 yard par 4 dog leg, up-hill, you know you?re in for a tough challenge. There?s not a bad hole on the course, from the short par-3 8th (137 yards but to a heavily bunkered green) to my favourite the 463 yard 12th, a par-4 of such class it ranks amongst the best holes I?ve played.

This is a Championship course without a championship event, however this is about to change. With a new clubhouse under construction, and subtle changes being made to the course, Belvoir Park is set to become one of the premier golfing destinations in the country. But for now it remains one of Irelands best kept secrets, if I were you I?d get here quick while there?s still an available tee time. I for one can?t wait for the return match next week.

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