It was midnight Sunday and as I was waited for the ‘Red Eye’ ferry from Fishguard in Wales to Rosslare in Southern Ireland the only other sign of life was a small group of titleist cb 710 irons golfing press. We were off to sample the bargain three-day golf pass, featuring Waterford Castle, Faithlegg and the prestigious Mount Juliet golf courses – a whistle-stop tour of three of Ireland’s finest tests.

At 1:30 am on May Bank Holiday Monday, the incoming ferry jettisoned its flotsam, including a group of lads from the Welsh Valleys who had challenged the Irish to a k15 hybrid Pool and Guinness drinking competition and had obviously lost both… badly!

Our pre-booked cabins callaway x-24 hot irons offered a few hours refuge and sleep before we docked and headed by coach for our first tee off at 9am at Waterford Castle a course set on an island estate in the middle of the River Suir, reached by a chain ferry.

The clubhouse was most welcoming, with great coffee and a full Irish breakfast, and tiredness evaporated into anticipation of playing the first course discount golf designed by former Irish Ryder Cup hero Des Smyth.