September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 October 2006 September 2006

August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 July - December 2005 January - June 2005

September 2007 Dear Gar, There is a danger here. An overly enthusiastic or complimentary commentary can seem insincere or contrived. It is difficult not to fall into this trap, because of the outstanding golf tour that my friends and I took with your company. By far, the most important element in your successful compound is the man who acted as our tour guide, Dermot Buckley. By combining an unfailingly pleasant demeanor with conscientious professionalism Dermot achieves what must be the highest level of excellence in the service oriented travel industry. From driving our bus, to handling our reservations, to singing with the band in a pub, to sharing his knowledge of Irish history and culture Dermot was the man! He anticipated most of the little hiccups that travel invariably involves, and any that he did not anticipate he handled with alacrity. We’ll be requesting him by name in the future. Aside from Dermot, the bus is comfortable, the golf courses are amazing (Old Head is miraculous), and the cultural experience is delightful. When combined with the beautiful weather that we got, it added up to as near perfection as anyone could expect. Regards, Horace Carter Direcor Morgan Keeper Securities   I wanted to send a note to thank Links Golf Ireland for a great trip and easily the best golf vacation I have ever had. In particular our host driver, Dermot was outstanding. Dermot worked effortlessly to make sure we were always informed, organized and even played the wakeup call role for us late sleepers. Without Dermot I cannot imagine our trip be as fun, fulfilling, and educational as it was. He went out of his way to show us the historical sites of Ireland while taking us to some of the greatest pubs, restaurants, and golf courses I have ever been too. By far this trip was the most memorable trip I have been on and the memories of our rides through Ireland will be forever in my thoughts. Thanks Links Golf Ireland and thank you Dermot. Owen C Buckley Laguna Beach, CA Coto De Caza Country Club

August 2007 Hello Gar, It is very good to hear from you. We enjoyed meeting you, too. Treating us to a nice meal was very generous and unexpected. We enjoyed that evening very much, in spite of your puzzled look when we said we were going to bed shortly after dinner. We know that you and Fergus would have shown us a very good time after dinner. Throughout the trip we enjoyed Fergus and out time with him. He did a superlative job. Although no holes in one, we have many good memories of the golf. Another memory, which Fergus probably related to you, was the bar encounter with the two space cadets I will never forget the appearance of those two individuals. The one disappointment was the weather at Royal County Down. This one we most looked forward to. But we had a great caddie, Oliver, who made it more enjoyable than it would have been without him. We were very pleased with Links Golf Ireland in every respect. Feel free to use me as a reference. I am forwarding your note to the other players who may wish to give you their comments. Best regards, Bill Barnes Atlanta, GA Tour Location – Dublin and Northern Ireland  Return to Top July 2007 I have to tell you what a wonderful time we all had in Ireland. From the very minute we stepped off the plane in Shannon, Fergus couldn't have been more helpful and courteous. We all feel like we have a good friend in Ireland. He was accommodating and so very pleasant. Not only did we play the golf we wanted, but Fergus made sure we saw the sights of south west Ireland. It is a spectacular area. So much more picturesque than I ever could have imagined. The accommodations at the Killeen House and May House were top notch. I hope you continue to recommend those places to your clients. The Moy House was small and very sophisticated. The rooms were huge and appointed with incredible detail. We were very comfortable there. The Killeen House made us feel like family the minute we walked through the door. Gertrude and Michael were terrific hosts. It was difficult leaving them. Our ten days went so quickly, we enjoyed every minute...even Fergus's baaaaaaad jokes. Thank you so much for your attention to every detail and making our trip so enjoyable. We're thinking about maybe Dublin next time! Thanks again! Dr. Leslie Skurla, Henry, Paul & Regina Southwest of Ireland - Couples Trip July 2007 Gar, I had told Dermott that I would send a note to give you some feedback, but I had just not gotten around to it. Let me give some here. Having a driver is a MUST for these trips. In all cases, it took the hassle and stress out of the logistics of baggage handling, parking, directions, and all the anxiety generated by 4 guys with differing opinions about how to proceed and which turn to take. It allowed us to sit back and relax and take in the scenery. More importantly, we looked to Dermott as our concierge who managed our trip on a daily basis. Confirming (shifting) tee times, making dinner arrangements, setting timetables, taking us out at night and hooking us up with caddies at the courses was immeasurable. In addition, Dermott really went out of his way to give us a tour of the land and fill in with Ireland's history and current events. This made our rides seem to go fast and gave us a feel for the people. The accommodations were great and we successfully suffered through the weather - which we were mentally prepared for. I would schedule the next trip to be more concentrated - say in the southwest - where we did not have to pack up and move from one place to the next as much. But for our first trip, we wanted to see a lot - and we did. We will be back (Waterville, Old Head, Doonbeg, etc) and will no doubt look for your help again. Thanks for putting a great trip together for us. Say hello to Dermott for us.........! Terry Terence J Conklin Appledore Investment Advisors LLC Return to Top

July 2007 Gar Just wanted to drop you a note and tell you that we had a great golf trip to Ireland. The planning and preparation were perfect and the process was seamless. I am planning a trip with about 8 golfers for this fall or next spring using a coach and driver and will certainly ask again for your assistance. Please don’t hesitate to use my name as a recommendation. Keith Adams Wilmington, DE Tour Location – Self Driven South West of Ireland Tour, Fathers & Sons.

July 2007 We have just returned from one week with Eamon as our driver and I wanted to let you know how much we thoroughly enjoyed his company. He was professional in every sense of the word but made us feel so welcome in your fine Country. We cannot honestly say enough good about him and wanted to let you know what a great ambassador he is for your both Ireland and Links Golf Ireland. I would highly recommend his services to anyone visiting Ireland as his knowledge of the history and antidotal facts was both extensive and through. His disposition was easy going and he was delightful to be around. We were satisfied beyond words and wanted to let you know. The McMurrays Canada Tour Location - Self Driven South West of Ireland Tour, Couples Trip. Return to Top

June 2007 Hi Gar, I just wanted to pass along how fantastic Fergus was! He went out of his way to make us feel at home and we all enjoyed his company...... When I am back in Ireland, we will look you up for sure and request Fergus. Best, Mike Michael G. Priest New York, NY Tour Location – Family Tour of Dublin and Midland Ireland

June 2007 Hi Gar, Everything was perfect! Fergus was the perfect host and companion and we couldn't imagine the trip without him. I've been trying to compose a "thank you" note for months now, but real life keeps getting in the way. There is not one thing I would change. I greatly appreciated Fergus's flexibility and his desire to make sure we had the best experience possible. No one can control the weather, and I have to say that having a picture of us at the Cliffs of Mohr that is completely fogged in is one of our favorites. The fact that Fergus then went out of his way to take us to New Grange (which was the coolest thing ever and not something I had not been too concerned with seeing beforehand) was fabulous. Thanks to you and Fergus, we had the trip of a lifetime and my Dad said it was "the best week" of his life. It doesn't get much better than that! :) Best regards, Michelle Guertin Boston, MA

June 2007

Gar, All of the thanks goes to you for making us feel so at home and for really going above and beyond the call to make this trip as memorable as it was for all of us. The history lessons you gave us and your local knowledge you shared during our journey was great. Everything was spot on from the transportation, accommodations, to where we ate, drank and of course the golf was Legend !!!!!!

Everyone that asks me how the trip went..... I can only say "it was the greatest golf experience in my life". It truly was and I know I speak for everyone. You went out of your way to make this a memorable trip. Even with all the crazy guys onboard, (Except Myself) you kept things moving & organized. You are part of a great organization. Hoffman Group - 8 Golfers, South West Ireland. Return to Top May 2007 Hi Jeff, We had a great time! Everything cooperated for us. Thank you for changing the accommodations, they were very nice. Joe enjoyed all the courses. As your season (the golf season) had been slow to start, I was able to walk the courses with him everywhere except Ballybunnion. They were aboslutely gorgeous!. All the folks we met were very nice. We did quite a bit of sightseeing as well, going across the Ferry, going through the Gap of Dunloe, up to the Burren and into Galway county just a bit. Joe's Mom is ok, she had slipped and fallen. We just found out last week after many tests that she actually broke her hip so it was good that she didn;t try to go. It turned into a very nice little vacation for us - something we hadn't done in much too long a while. Thanks for all you did, it was very enjoyable and I would be happy to pass the word along. Yours, Martha Keenan Boston, MA Tour Location - Self Driven South West of Ireland Tour, Couples Trip. Return to Top

October 2006

Dear Garreth,

Just wanted to take a moment and personally thank and congratulate you on behalf of the Batza Clan for orchestrating an outstanding golf trip/Ryder Cup in Ireland.

By all consensus, "Links Golf Ireland" is right up there with Perry Golf. Your attention to detail, selection of golf courses and dining venues, transportation and, most importantly, the personal service and attention to each guest, made our trip more than enjoyable.

As far as the Ryder Cup is concerned, the Europeans, and in particular, the Irish contingent made things miserable for the Americans. Congratulations on a great win!

Please give our very best to your wife Valerie and staff members Dermo and Jeff. They, along with your personal attention, made the trip for us.

We look forward to golfing in Ireland again with "Links Golf Ireland."

Sincerely,

Michael J. Batza Jr.
Maryland, USA

October 2006

Gar,

My apologies for the delay in sending this note of appreciation.

Thank you very much for your time and effort in coordinating our trip to Ireland. It was truly nothing short of spectacular! You did a great job on all aspects of planning the trip for us. The golf courses, lodging accommodations, tour bus - and even the weather were fantastic. Ireland is a terrific travel and vacation destination and we had the most wonderful experience. The Irish people were so warm, welcoming and patient with tourists.

I have to say, the one thing we especially appreciate from Links Golf Ireland was the assignment of Donald Massey to our group! Donald is a gentleman, scholar, historian, saint (for putting up with all of us) and simply a joy to be around. He made our trip very enjoyable and entertaining and we just cannot say enough about him.

If you ever need a reference, please feel to pass out my contact information. I'd be happy to share our wonderful experience with Links Golf in coordinating our tour of Ireland. If you or Donald are ever in northeast Florida please feel free to stop by for a visit!

On behalf of our entire group - thank you very much! We loved it!

Dan Chavez
St. Augustine, FL
4 Couples, Golf & Sightseeing

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September 2006

Hi Valerie, Garreth, Dermot and Eugene,

Regarding our recent Ryder Cup trip to Ireland - I just wanted to say a BIG thanks to you all for your help over the past week. You were all so well organised and everything ran like clockwork. I really couldn’t have done it without you guys and I am so appreciative to you for that. Everyone had nothing but praise for you guys and the feedback was awesome!! I really couldn’t have asked for it to go any better. Dermot, Eugene - The week was perf! Thanks again guys and I look forward to working with you again in the future when I'm sure we will be back to Ireland!

Claire Dean
CIGNA International Expatriate Benefits
(Group of 40 golfing and attending Ryder Cup 2006)

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September 2006

Dear Gareth,
We would like to take this opportunity thanking you so much for having organised this unforgetable trip through Ireland so perfectly for us. We were very lucky even with the weather, as only Waterville was a "watered ville". Old Head of Kinsale was "blowing us off the tees" ( and we were even looking forward to that ), but believing in the caddie's hints, we managed to hit almost all fairways - it was just unforgetable and spectacular. All the other courses ( Adare Manor, Killeen, Ballybunion and Mount Juliet ) we played, and the hotels we stayed in, were just perfectly organised by Links Golf Ireland. We certainly will come back and are kindly asking you already now to organise a tee time for us at the K-Club. Why? Because we had also the honour watching the European Team during their memorable victory at the Ryder Cup. Above all that, our tears of joy were with Darren...

Thank you, thank you for everything and ENJOY !
Edith, Guenter and Walter - Linz / Austria.

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September 2006

Hi Gar,

I can't tell you how high my expectations were before this trip with Links Golf Ireland. I was sure you would have trouble meeting them, but you exceeded them. Your driver Fergus was just the right guy for us, he was so knowlegeable on things everywhere in Ireland and was always there when we needed him. The Golf courses you choose were fantastic. We ran into other groups and when we told them the courses we were playing they said that we had the cream of the courses. The extra little things you had for us such as water and snacks everytime we returned to the van after golf was a nice touch that makes you stand out. I have been telling all my friends about the trip and you will hopefully see us again also.

Thank you for a golf trip of a life time that came true.
Ken Larbes
Denny Kendall
Dennis Sweeney
Steve Botuchis

Royal Oak CC, Cincinnati, Ohio

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August 2006

Dear Garreth,

Well, we have been back 'in country' for a couple of weeks now and the memories of our golf trip to Ireland and the good times we had keep flowing out in ever better stories. Every day I remember some new little occurance or anecdote and just smile or laugh out loud.

I cannot thank you and your staff enough for the professional and friendly manner in which you took care of all our needs both while we we planning this adventure and while we were guests in Ireland. Not one of the seven of my guys or myself had even one complaint about any aspect of our trip. Well, the weather could have been better for a few of the days, but even that makes for a good story. Our driver, Donald Massey was simply perfect. We could not have asked for a better guide, travel companion, and host, what a perfect gentleman and Irishman. Thank you so much for assigning him to our trip.

The fact that you were able to satisfy every requirement of our trip even though we made heavy course and travel demands was outstanding. I must admit I was pleasantly surprised how smoothly and troublefree such an undertaking turned out. I am certain it was only through the diligence and attention of you and your staff that made all that possible. Ten courses in eight days, spread all over Ireland, was a massive trip. The extra effort that Donald put forth when one set of clubs was lost by Aer Lingus showed the dedication you have toward keeping your guests happy.

If ever I can find the time to get back to Ireland, I will surely let you handle the details. Please feel free to use my name and this letter for any type of reference. If you ever find yourself in Cincinnati, or close, golf, dinner and drinks are on me. Again, thank you so much.

Bob Bruckert - "Boys golf camp in Ireland"
Atlanta Athletic Club, GA

Bill Bruckert, George Judd, Jim Herbig, Steve Coyte, Bob McKagen, Wayne Amy, Rod Terrette


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July 2006

Garreth,

We just returned from our trip last night and wanted to offer a big thank you for arranging such a fantastic trip. We had a tremendous time golfing and enjoying all that southwest Ireland had to offer. The golf was spectacular and made even more enjoyable by the very nice weather. Our highlights included:
Old Head is breathtaking! The course and the views are hard to beat anywhere. All the other courses were a great challenge and loads of fun.

The Killarney Plaza is an excellent property and its location in downtown Killarney made seeing the town very convenient. The other hotels were very nice as well.

The Town Hall restaurant in Ennis gave us a great meal. Most other meals we enjoyed the "bar food"--very good. The Irish breakfasts were very good too.

We enjoyed every Irish beer and other drink we could try....that I can recall included Guinness, Murphy's, Kilkenny, Harp, Beamer's and Jameson.

As always, the people are the best part of the trip. We found the Irish very friendly and welcoming, from the pro shops and bars to the hotel staff.

Fergus is an excellent Irish host and a great representative for your company! He was always one step ahead of us and exceeded our expectations. He was obviously looking to make the trip one in a lifetime for us. He was always hard working, courteous, with a great attitude and able to make the visual beauty of Ireland mean so much more with his local knowledge. He was absolutely fantastic! (to borrow one of his favorite words: absolutely).

I would highly recommend anyone considering this type of trip to utilize the services of a driver/host. The van you provided was very comfortable as well for the 4 of us.

I will pass on the good word of mouth regarding your services. Thanks for the memories.

John Elder
FL, USA

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July 2006

Good Morning Garreth,

Yes, I am recovered from our trip and trying to get settled into the work routine again. The Trip was FANTASTIC... The talk from the nine of us all week was how good it was and it kept getting better. From the time we got off the plane everything was like clockwork. The weather was great and the golf was outstanding. Donald's personality fit right in with our group and everything that we asked for he delivered. We make this trip every other year and I can assure you this trip was by far the best. The other vendors I have used were not nearly as customer service oriented. The little details like snacks on the bus, beer (which we drank a lot of), caddies, dinner suggestions, etc. were attended to.

I recommended you to a friend of mine that is taking a Ryder Cup trip in September. One of the first things I did when I got back was to let him know what a great experience he had to look forward to.

Thanks for putting together such an outstanding trip. I will be in touch to set up the next one.

Dale Armour,
Brandon, Mississippi, USA


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June 2006

Garreth,

Alan and I want to thank you for organizing such a great trip. We enjoyed everything - the sights, golf, food, hotels, and even the weather. I wish we could exchange our 95 degree humid weather with yours!
We all loved Des Hickey. I realize that it was a last minute happening that placed him with us. We can’t imagine that trip without him. He was so good natured, always greeted us with a smile, to the end showed us things in addition to our itinerary, and never denied a request. He was a good driver too. By the end of the first day with him, we felt like he was one of the family, so to speak. He managed to remain professional though we felt like good friends.

Thank you.
Laura and Alan Dahlberg

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June 2006

Thanks for setting us up with a great trip. Everything was as advertised and we had a great time. We are already talking about coming back in two years. Gerry was a great guide/driver. He fit in perfectly with our group and we would definetely request him again. It was nice to meet you. Thanks again!

Tom Korner
Salem Golf Club, Salem
Ohio, USA

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June 2006

Tks for a terrific trip.

Everything was perfect, imagine a week with Scott in such a beautiful place with such nice people, a week I will never forget, a special hello to Fergus, what a fun, positive and energic man.

Tom Carlock
Atlanta, GA

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June 2006

Trip went very well, John was excellent, always on time and very helpful. Thanks for the service, and the tee time at Ballybunion (unfortunately the wind kicked our butts).

Chris Lama
New York

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June 2006

Garreth,

I wanted to thank you for a great, great trip. The guys are ready to come back and try the courses again. We had a wonderful time and we really appreciate everything that you did for us! Best of luck with your business and we will be in touch for future trips.

Thanks again!

Jeff Harrison
Denver, CO

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June 2006

Garreth 

Hey - just a quick note to say thanks again for such a spectacular week in Ireland. Jeff, Matt, Mike and myself had the time of our lives and a lot of it was directly attributed to how great of a trip you put together for us and how top notch you and the rest of your folks (Donald and Fergus) were in taking care of everything while we were there. It’ll be something we’ve already all agreed will be repeated!

Since it sounds like you do get Stateside every so often, here’s my contact info in DC. If you are over here and nearby (DC, NY, etc.) let me know. We’ll make sure you have a good time, eat well and maybe even get to take some $$ off of us in a skins match....

Take care, best of luck this season with the business and thanks again!

Phil Petrilli
Bethseda, MD


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May 2006

Dear Garreth,

Apologies for not getting back to you sooner - if I get much busier I’m going to have to clone myself!

I have heard nothing but praise for your team, and by all accounts they thoroughly enjoyed their time in Ireland and were able to relax and have a good time, knowing that you had taken care of everything. They were particularly grateful for the dinner reservations in Kinsale - apparently they had an evening to remember at Jim Edwards!

I have another one coming up which I have put on the back burner for the moment as I’m off on holiday, but I’ll give you a call when I get back to discuss. This is a smaller party - probably only four of them and they are talking about going to Killarney, and I still need them to agree on the dates.

Once again, thanks very much for your help.

Kind regards
Ann
Aon - Reinsurance International Mgnt

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May 2006

Hi Gar,

Thanks again for the wonderful hospitality! Outstanding golf, great accommodations, and excellent service. Thanks also for securing the tee time at Lahinch. You definitely went above and beyond. It was a real pleasure to play and capped-off a perfect week! I would recommend you without hesitation. See you next year!

Mark Kilgore
General Manager - Fila

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May 2006

Hello Garreth,

Weather is not predictable, but Your person made up for it. We all agreed that the performance that You and your group did was perfect. We will came back to You again and recomend You to our friends. Looking forward to hear from You when You are in the nordic aria.

Best Personal regards

Sven B
Sweeden


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November 2005

Hi Garreth,

I want to drop a note to thank you for the great golf trip I took to Ireland. The courses were fantastic and the accommodations outstanding. I would recommend Links Golf Ireland to any of my friends planning a golf trip to Ireland. The people of Ireland are very friendly and made the trip even more enjoyable.

Thanks again for making the trip to Ireland a wonderful experience, one I will not forget anytime soon. Would you and Johnny like a rematch?

Thanks again

Walt
Walt Petry Cincinnati Ohio

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October 2005

Dear Garreth & Valerie,

I hope all is well with you and the boys. It is hard to believe that several months have passed since the New York seven left Ireland. My sincere apologies for not writing to you sooner but time just seems to fly by. I am writing you thanks from the whole group for one of the most memorable trips we’ve ever had and as you could probably tell from the group we have had quite a few memorable ones in our lifetime.

From the moment we began to work with your business to the time you dropped us at Shannon airport to go home it was nothing but a pleasurable and extremely stress free experience. As you know several of our group had never been to Ireland before and I feel sorry for them if they ever go back and do not hire your services for their trip. The personal touch by you, Val and Dermot truly made us feel like we were family. Everything we asked for you provided with no questions asked. I was really kidding when I asked for sun and good weather while we there but you said no problem and delivered. I’m not sure what deal you made with the devil but it worked out for us. The views that Dermot and yourself showed us while we there were like no other ones especially the newcomers have ever seen and plenty that I had never seen and I had been there more than a half a dozen times in my life.

To this day whenever we get together the first thing out of our mouths is what a great time Ireland was except for our golf but that was our fault and even that couldn’t dampen the fun and stories that we still tell to this day and will tell for the rest of our lives. I mean who would of thought we would see not one but two Gators in the Emerald Isle (I didn’t think that the Irish weather was conducive to Gators but who knew). We are all from New York and have seen and drank almost every cocktail in the book but I am happy to say that the Dirty Dermot is making its way around the Big Apple like no other after dinner drink I have ever seen.

There is one story that will never get to old to tell and I am sure will go down in Irish Folklore as one of the most unbelievable ever told being handed down from father to son. I think you know what I am talking about and that is the mythical "Battle at Lahinch" I will not go any further with that story as it needs to be told in person.

Please give our best to Uncle Slim, Auntie Anne and especially Dermot for all the late night traditional irish music sessions which I have on video and will one day send to on to you. Maybe you can put on your website.

If you ever find yourself in NY make sure you look us up. We owe you a few pints for such an unbelievable experience.

Sincerely Yours,

Brian Fitz

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September 2005

Dear Garreth,

We would not hesitate to recommend Links Golf Ireland for a hassle-free, fantastic golf holiday. Great courses, great accommodation with a personal but professional touch.

Andy Hudson
Coventry, England

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July 2005

Dear Garreth,

We would like to thank you for a very pleasant week. My mother and I had very good time playing the different courses. You had everything perfectly organized. One thing is for sure that we are coming back next year and will book a tour with you. It is really hard to explain in words what we felt. It was great!!!

Say hi to wife from us.

Hope to hear from you

Henrik and Berit
Gran Canaria, Spain


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June 2005

Dear Garreth and Valerie,
Outstanding golf experience! Your selection of world class courses and hotels was superb. You even managed to order up great weather! This motley foursome of American golfers was a true challenge yet you managed to pull off every phase and detail of the trip without a hitch. Your personal attention starting with the many airport pickups to setting up the fourball matches at your club was wonderful. As seems to be the case recently the young guys (David and Matt) lost once again the Ryder Cup to your side, but at least Bert and I managed to bring home the old man’s Warberg Cup. We were especially pleased to have you along as our chauffeur and late night bar buddy. You will need at least a week of rest to recover from this wild bunch. I am sure that the Irish gentleman at the old clubs appreciated Matt’s formal knickers attire.

Thanks again to to you and Valerie for your hospitality and we especially enjoyed our fine dinner together at the King Sitric in Howth. Best seafood I have had in a long time.

I will be in touch soon about our next trip and another links challenge.

Dave and David Powers
Matt Huntley
Carmel, Indiana

Bert Hodges
Richmond, Virginia

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May 2005

Dear Garreth,

Links Golf Ireland worked perfectly for us. When I couldn’t get a tee time at Old Head, you not only stepped in and secured us a spot but also lined up other tee times, great accomodations and the rental car. Links Golf Ireland helped to make a good trip great!"

Thanks again for all your help - Suzanne

Suzanne Wilford
Sonoma, CA

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May 2005

Dear Garreth,

Great trip. Well organized and Patrick (driver) was great. Did he tell you about my hole-in-one at Tralee number 13?
Thank you and I will highly recommend you in the future.

Regards, Ken
Ken Wagner
New York City


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