As I write this letter, I am halfway across the Atlantic Ocean on my return from an epic golf trip in Ireland. The weather was magnificent: sunshine and no rain … quite unusual by Irish standards. We were happy to leave our rain gear and extra warm clothing in the hotel rooms as we headed out every day.

The eight of us, two foursomes, landed in Dublin, where we met Gene, who drove us to Belfast for the first night. We booked our package with Real Irish Golf, headed by Conn Connolly, founder and CEO. Our first stop was Europa Hotel, which bears the unfortunate status of being the most bombed hotel in the world during The Troubles in Northern Ireland.

The property endured 36 bomb attacks before this period ended with the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. The Europa proved ideal for playing both Royal County Down, considered one of the greatest golf courses in the world, and Royal Portrush, to host the 153rd British Open July 13–20. The course shifted into high gear to construct grandstands and facilities for the adoring fans.

After attacking Portrush, we trekked with Gene at the wheel four hours to Dublin, where we stayed at Iveagh Garden Hotel, centrally located near Trinity College and Grafton Street. We could not have been treated better by the team at the property, headed up by day manager Kevin Dennis, who escorted us to a restaurant that was still open when we arrived close to 10 p.m. The hotel’s location was key, as we left every morning to play the three remaining courses: The Royal Dublin Golf Club, County Louth in Baltray and The Island Golf Club. We walked about 6 miles a day, covering five courses with the aid of superb caddies. I will review each course in upcoming issues of GT.

The Leisure Lifestyle Awards at the InterContinental Miami was a smashing success — what a pleasure to award the best in leisure travel as voted by you, the readers. Everyone at the InterContinental did their best to make our 13th Leisure Lifestyle Awards (and the first in Miami) an enjoyable event. Look for the recap article in the August issue.

Lastly, as we fly back, an hour from Philadelphia, the belly of the plane contains my golf clubs and a submission from a European airline for our Wines on the Wing competition. The judging takes place at the end of May, and the logistics to secure the world’s airline wines is not for the faint-hearted. Every employee in the company worked to make it a success, from Carrie Cox and Yasser Ogando securing the venue (The Ned) to Mary Melnick, Hannah Gruen and Aoife O’Riordan securing the proper forms and delivery. A special thank you to Tom Gannon, our Wines on the Wing wine director, and Brian DiMarco, owner, Harlem Standard, for super logistical help.

Until July, cheers to your summer travels!

Francis X. Gallagher, CEO and Publisher