Ryder Cups and Yacht Salesmen Don't Mix

Filed in archive Destination: UK + Ireland on June 16, 2006

Not so long ago, I was enquiring about buying a yacht. (This is a long story and far less grand than it sounds.) When we got to the bit when I asked how much this graceful bucket would cost, the smug bastard selling it said, "If you have to ask, you can't afford it."

"Am I supposed to just keep giving you cash until you tell me to stop?" I enquired. Needless to say, that was the end of our transaction. He still owns a yacht and I still do not.

The Ryder Cup is, interestingly enough, shaping up to be rather like buying a yacht. For only the 2nd time in nearly 80 years, the big daddy of golf tournaments is being held outside of the UK or the US: at the glamourous K Club in County Kildare, Ireland. This five star luxury hotel and golf course isn't kidding around; set in 550 exclusive acres on the Liffey, the club boasts not one but two Arnold Palmer designed golf courses and was named the Top Resort in Europe by Conde Nast Traveler in 2005.

Needless to say, its an excellent place to stay, but for the Cup dates, the hotel is fully booked. All of the official PGA Europe packages are also sold out. And this is where the yacht salesmen come in.

There are a few ticket and hotel packages put together by tour operators, but nobody is publishing their prices. Want a guest package? We have one but we're not telling you how much. Want a corporate hospitality package? We have one but we're not telling you how much.

You can count on these packages being spendy though; individual tickets are obtainable. A single day grounds ticket is a comfortable $165 but the full week Grounds Pass is going for a cool $2,200.