40 Year Tradition
The Stackloaf Golf Tournament started in 1983 and has been held in South Carolina every year since. My good friend Stack, despite illness that now keeps him wheelchair bound, has faithfully organized it without fail. I have played in all but a few and it is always a highlight. When we were newly out of school, chasing careers and raising families it was a great escape to blow off some steam. It has kept college friends closely connected all this time and I’ve been told this is relatively unique and very valuable. I agree!
So in 2023, in a radical departure, the Stackloaf Tournament changed venue to Roganstown, Ireland for a special 40th addition. To round out the trip, I planned trip extensions. Surprise surprise, fishing before the tourney and golfing afterward.
Chet, Pete and I rented a car at the Dublin airport and drove south to Clonmel and fished for a couple of days on the River Nire and the River Suir. We were guided by Clonanav Fly Fishing, highly recommended. At one point, we were allowed to fish without guides on a lovely evening on the river Nire next to a 17th century bridge and a pub out in the Irish countryside. The pub although not open served us a few Guiness and we had the river and the pub ourselves. We commented this might be heaven.
Chet, Pete and I drove north to the Roganstown Hotel and Golf Club to start the 40th Stackloaf and join the others making us a crew of 16. One crew member, Kyle, worked for the CEO of Guiness for 10 years. He got us a special tour of the Jame’s Gate Brewery. We did a taste test of Guiness Zero versus regular Guiness Draught and found the difference indistinguishable. While ending my dry period in Ireland, Guiness Zero mitigated my alcohol intake significantly.
We played Roganstown, Royal Dublin, County Louth and the European Club. We had a dinner at Royal Dublin that required sport coat and tie. Predictably, we pushed that rule a little. We had the Stackloaf Tournament on the spectacular and difficult European Club golf course and I took second. Another Jim won. Of note, Jim plays the bag pipes on hole 18 every Stackloaf tournament to close out the round. It is always inspiring.
Steve, Jim, Jim, County Louth Golf Course, Ireland 
Dan, Jim not wearing the conservative sport coat and tie expected, Royal Dublin Club House, Ireland 
Stack, our tournament leader, organizer, commissioner, the best, European Club, Ireland 
The other Jim, Stackloaf Champion 2023 donning the red Jacket, Roganstown Hotel Bar, Ireland
After the Stackloaf ended, Glen and I did a golf extension to Portrush, Northern Ireland . Royal Portrush is a famous course that regularly hosts The Open, (British Open). Glen had a connection that got us on. It was a long 3 hour drive. Glen beat me on 18. I think it helped in him thinking it was the best course we played in Ireland. Out to dinner, we ran into a wild man who owned the best pub in the world. He showed us around and telling us jokes and taking us behind the bar for free drinks. It was a wonderful end to two weeks and my first trip to Ireland.
Glen, our connection, Jim, Royal Portrush Golf Course, Northern Ireland 
Links golf next to the ocean, Glen, Jim selfie, Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland 
Glen, wild man, Jim behind the bar, Harbor Bar, Portrush, Northern Ireland 
Wild man showing proof that this is in fact the best, Portrush, Ireland 
Built over the dunes, Royal Portrush Golf Course, Portrush
It’s sad we won’t all get another 40 years together. However, time makes the relationships stronger with more memories and I’m glad to be at the 40 year point.
R1T Tour 