Joe O'Flaherty Taking care of the greens and fairways at the Irish Open
If you like what you see of the golf course at Adare Manor during the 2007 Irish Open, Joe O'Flaherty is the man deserving your plaudits. The resort's director of golf and development, who has 26 years agronomy experience under his belt, faces the biggest week of his professional life, but isn't letting things go to his head. "My friends still call me head grass-cutter," he laughs.
The excitement among staff was palpable when they got the news that they would be hosting the Irish Open for three years. "Ninety per cent of people in Dublin probably don't even know there's a course in Adare but people come here and just can't believe it when they see it. It's a real hidden gem." Golf Digest Ireland ranked Adare Manor the third best golf course in Ireland behind Royal County Down and Portmarnock.
O'Flaherty believes that the Irish Open has lost some of its prestige on the European Tour. "It's a big bone of contention for real golf fans that our national tournament has gone down the pecking order. The investment just hasn't been there. You have to offer big prize money otherwise the pros stay away - that's the harsh reality."
April's warm weather was welcome. "The weather has been very kind to us. We've had lots of sun and mild temperatures. Someone was asking me earlier how things are going and I told him that the sun was shining and my staff are smiling." Last year's event at Carton House was a near washout, however. "That would be your worst nightmare, but there's nothing you can do about it," he says philosophically.
The golfers will start to arrive at the venue tomorrow. "It will be all adrenalin and very little sleep this week. On Monday and Tuesday we will be working from 6am to 10pm. Once the tournament starts on Thursday we are on the course at 4am and are back out when play finishes at about 5pm and work until 11pm." The last Irishman to win the Irish Open was John O'Leary in 1982. How does he rate our chances of breaking that 25-year losing streak? "I think Harrington has the game and temperament to win here and he's in great form. He shot a 63 here in the JP McManus Invitational so I think he has a fantastic chance." Here's hoping.