News from beautiful Northern Ireland

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Refer a Friend to SGA!   SGA 2024 Rory McIlroy Tribute Holywood • Castlerock • Galgorm • The Galgorm Hotel & Spa Ballymena, Northern Ireland • June 2024  Greetings from Galgorm Resort in picturesque Northern Ireland Karen, Tom & Catherine experience Irish weather at Castlerock Tom, Sue, Karen & Jay show off their prizes Karen, Nonie & Sarah overlook the Bay of Belfast Lough on Rory's Holywood Rory -- You're late to work! The quaint Bushmills Inn Ken and Sarah get their Ireland on at Giant's Causeway Catherine, Susan, Jay, Gene, Jeff & Peggy Just another day at the office... Jay, Bill & Gene pose on the challenging Castlerock SGA Slainte from Northern Ireland The Senior Golfers embarked on the SGA Golf Pilgrimage to Northern Ireland and paid tribute to everyone's favorite, Mr. Rory McIlroy, by embracing the very beautiful and very difficult course that Rory grew up on, pausing to change in and out of rain gear throughout the round, and rewarding themselves with a few glasses of Guiness overlooking Holywood Course, just as he has done many times.   The five-day SGA event began with drinks and dinner at the Galgorm Resort Course's Castle Kitchen, looking out over this charming bit of the Northern Irish countryside, which is off the path of most American tourists. Many old friends were delighted to commence or continue their European adventure, and newcomers Mary Huff  and Caroline Sherman were welcomed warmly.  A full and entertaining schedule was undertaken by all participants, including three days of delightful and sometimes challenging  Northern Irish golf,  sightseeing around Northern Ireland including Dunluce Castle and the Giant's Causeway, sampling the Galgorm afternoon tea, as well as their Gin Library, exploring the Thermal Village with its saunas, spas, pools, and wine bar, and enjoying the company of their fellow participants. In the total golf scores, SGA Tom Morris Tribute event winners Jay Breaux and Karen Lindsay again took first place in the gross division. They were joined by low net scorers Sue Arnold and Tom Coleman. The trip concluded with drinks and dinner in McKenney's Lounge and Gillies Grill, and then a scenic return trip to Dublin for the journey back to the United States. SGA Slainte from Northern Ireland! The Giant's Causeway Catherine makes it to the top of the Giant's Wishing Chair The Red Columns of the Giant's Causeway are the destination of around 500,000 visitors each year. Around 50 to 60 million years ago, during the Paleocene Epoch, Northern Ireland underwent intense volcanic activity, when highly fluid molten basalt intruded through chalk beds to form an extensive volcanic plateau. As the lava cooled, horizontal contraction fractured in a similar way to drying mud, with the cracks propagating down as the mass cooled, leaving pillarlike structures, which also fractured horizontally into "biscuits."  The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. Most of the columns are hexagonal, although some have four, five, seven, or eight sides. The tallest are about 40 feet high, and the solidified lava in the cliffs is 92 feet thick in places. However, according to Irish legend, the columns are the remains of a causeway built by a giant. The story goes that the Irish giant Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn McCool) was challenged to a fight by the Scottish giant Benandonner. Fionn accepted the challenge and built the causeway across the North Channel so that the two could meet. There are different versions of how the story turned out but of course the Irishman always triumphs in the end. The Senior Golfers took a day off from golf to visit the UNESCO site, as well as the ruins of Dunluce Castle and the quaint town of Bushmills, with their pleasant and accommodating Irish driver Brendan O'Brien.  Sarah, Ken, Gene & Peggy cozy up to the fireplace while temps at home rise into the 100's Susan, Peggy, Mary, Cynthia, Nonie, Millie, & Caroline sample the Irish afternoon tea Ready for a sauna?? Coming Up... Plan to join SGA at a future event. Give Catherine a call at 310-600-9278 with any questions, or go to our website sgagolfers.com to register.  If you want to have fun, come along with us! Lobster Festival • Samoset-on-the-Ocean, Rockport, Maine                  July 22-25, 2024 SGA Lake Time • Arnold Palmer Signature Course • Stonewall Resort  Roanoke, West Virginia • August 19-22, 2024 Autumn in the Mountains • Jefferson Landing Club • West Jefferson, North Carolina • September 22-25, 2024 SGA Pebble Beach • The Lodge • Pebble Beach • Spanish Bay • California • October 27-30, 2024 Christmas at the Cloister • Retreat • Plantation • Seaside • The Cloister Sea Island, Georgia • December 9-12, 2024 Back to the Islands • Carambola Golf Club • Carambola Beach Resort  St. Croix, USVI • January 21-25, 2025 Senior Golfers of America ~Lovingly run by our family since 1976~ Join us!! Don't forget to call Catherine to book your next SGA trip! How to become an SGA member Senior Golfers of America 3013 Church Street Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29577 843-626-8100 www.seniorgolfersamerica.com

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