ON COURSE ...by Michael Adams © www.irisheyes.fr

As I watch, a woodpecker taps his tree in search of hidden treasure. I hold my breath, so as not to draw his attention to my presence as the sound resonates through the woods around me. I squint to see the flag and notice a splendid, dusty-blue fir tree by the side of the green. I address my ball and a gust of wind shivers the leaves above, showering me with acorns. I swing. I sigh and walk forward two paces to begin the process anew. There should be a word in the English language for the sound of a golf ball hitting a tree. I propose “thock”. Needs an echo, though.
You see, I’m often in the woods when playing golf, so I need to commune with nature to avoid snapping expensive bits of equipment in half. And this is the really good part of a golf game: you’re out there and not at work. No need to worry that your drive didn’t land where Tiger’s might have. The worst day’s golf is better than the best day’s work. Zen, if you will.
I mention all this to explain to non-golfers why some people want to chase a little white ball around the countryside. A perfectly good walk spoiled? Nonsense.
In the following months I’ll try to explain the attractions of golf, to follow the progress of some Irish players on the tour and feature a different golf course around Paris and perhaps all of France.
Ireland’s leading golfers at the moment are Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley, ranked 13th and 29th in the world respectively. While Harrington is assured of his place in next year’s Ryder Cup, to be played at the K Club in Ireland, McGinley must continue his recent run of form and supplement his earnings by a total of around e500 000 to book a place. Both players performed admirably in the Seve Trophy, which pitches Great Britain and Ireland against Continental Europe. McGinley was also the runner up in September’s World Match Play. The two are to pair up yet again to contest the WGC World Cup in Portugal on the 17-20th of November. Our other great player, Darren Clarke, has played precious little golf since August, preferring to be with his wife who is battling cancer. Our thoughts are with them both.
 This month’s featured course is Club du Lys, Chantilly. It lies less than an hour’s drive to the north of Paris, and recently played host to the Auld Alliance pro-am tournament. The par 70 course is wooded and plays deceptively long. All holes have their quirks to keep you occupied; fairway bunkers, dog-legs and chip outs from the woods feature prominently. A bonus for all the hard work on the fairways is the size of the greens. Large and immaculately kept, they run true. Don’t over read the break, though!  They have a total of 36 holes here, and use them all imaginatively to create the effect of playing four different courses. This novel approach underlines the unstuffy attitude of the staff, who are refreshingly open and helpful. Combine this with the beauty of the course, the abundance of wildlife and the quality of the restaurant, and you have a winner. Prices vary depending when you want to play, but a weekday green fee for non-members is e50. There are many cheaper rates if you tee off after 2pm or buy multiple coupons. Best to visit their website at www.golf-lys-chantilly.com to see all the “tarifs”. Read it in French because the English version is still under construction. Lastly, I had a chat with the president and the pro, and their eyes lit up with delight at the prospect of attracting Irish golfers. So turn up with this copy of the Irish Eyes and you’ll get a warm welcome  
- maybe more.

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