The former Arsenal, Juventus and Republic of Ireland legend reveals his favourite places to play and stay.
When did you first pick up a golf club?
That would have been when I was at Arsenal as a 17 year old. The club had playing rights at South Herts Golf Club. it’s a very nice club and Dai Rees was the professional there.
He captained the Ryder Cup five times and played in the event nine times. Dai was a big Arsenal supporter, and we even had our pre-match meals there before we played at Highbury.
What’s your earliest holiday memory?
My brothers used to play football as well and played for Queens Park Rangers and Millwall.
Me and my mum and dad used to come over from Dublin and watch them play in London in August and early September – so that felt like a holiday.
What’s your favourite golf resort?
I’ve been lucky to have visited many resorts over the years, but Quinta Do Lago in the Algarve is a bit special, as is Casa De Campo in the Dominican Republic, where all courses on the resort are designed by Pete Dye.
The signature course is called ‘Teeth of the Dog’ and is voted the No.1 course in the Caribbean for a reason.
The views are stunning alongside the stretch of holes along the ocean. I’ve played their twice now and can’t wait to go back and play it again.
Who would be in your ideal holiday four-ball?
I was the youngest of the boys in our family, but If I could turn back the clock it would be with
my brothers Frank, Ray and Pat, who sadly aren’t around now.
My ideal two-ball would be with my wife Sarah – we play a lot of golf together.
What’s been your most recent golf holiday?
I just been to Quinta Do Lago with a few mates, we stayed in a villa and played the South and North courses, but we also teed it up at Pinheiros Altos nearby as a friend of mine is a member there.
The courses are always in great condition and the whole area has a great atmosphere.
What you most memorable round?
My best round of golf was when I shot a five-over- par 77 at the Green Monkey Course at Sandy Lane in Barbados, I was playing with a couple of Irish friends and my wife Sarah.
I’m currently playing off a 14 handicap, so I’m not sure I will be able to repeat that again anytime soon!
Favourite golf course in the UK?
I’ve a couple which I can’t separate, firstly Sunningdale Old Course in Berkshire and Turnberry Alisa Course in Scotland, I played Sunningdale in August and Turnberry in September, and both were great experiences. Both very different, but I can’t separate the two.
What’s your favourite holiday hotel?
It has to be Sandy Lane in Barbados, everything is just beautiful about it – the food, the service is on a different level, and the golf courses are all in tip top condition.
What’s your favourite city in the world?
I’m probably bias, Dublin is my home-town, but I lived in Italy for seven years whilst I played at Juventus, Inter Milan and Ascoli, so Rome takes some beating.
I haven’t been for a while but we’ve talking about it, we go to Italy quite often but haven’t visited Rome in a while.
What’s your favourite meal on holiday?
t has to be the Sunday brunch at Sandy Lane, it’s the most fantastic buffet you can ever imagine, with oysters and great seafood.
I’m also very attached to a seaside resort in Italy called Alassio, where the people of Milan and Turin go to holiday and it has so many great restaurants that you just can’t go wrong there.
What’s your top travel tip?
I always try and avoid eating while I’m flying. I try and have a nice meal before I fly or soon after I land.
I seem to have worked out jet-lag from across the pond by having a couple of hours’ sleep as soon as I get home – that seems to get me back onto a regular sleeping pattern.
