Pat Markham

Until 72 hours ago, I had never in my life stepped foot on Irish soil. Little did I know what I would witness and what emotions I would feel in such a short time. I witnessed the greatest Walker Cup comeback in history. Although the team I was pulling for didn’t come out on top, it felt like the greatest outcome for The Walker Cup to heighten its intensity for years to come. I felt an unmatched sense of community amongst the Irish town of Lahinch. I met people I instantly felt a kinship with, even though they saw how my cherry red American pullover adorned with a Team USA logo stuck out like a pink straw in a pint of Guinness. I celebrated with a @GatorsGolf star who just last year felt the agony of a loss at Cypress Point, only heightening the euphoria of this victory. Truly happy for him and all of team GB & I and their amazing perseverance to pull a historic victory from the jaws of a certain defeat. I walked the grounds with a good friend who always helped us be in the right place at the right time, both on and off the course. I took a picture with a real goat. 😂 I felt the chilling wetness of an Irish rainstorm whipping through the opening ceremony just as Captain Nathan Smith was introducing his team. Maybe most importantly, I witnessed an American squad come out to the town at night and show grace through a gutting defeat and share a moment with the locals and Team GB& I. The greatness and true meaning of The Walker Cup was on full display. The game of golf won, no doubt. This moment, this feeling of connection to a town and community may be unmatched in my lifetime and I was so blessed I got to experience this unreal moment in time for the game of golf. This was an all-timer; one that generations of people will talk about forever and will inspire the next crop of young ones to chase that little white ball in search of Walker Cup glory like local Irish star Stuart Grehan or 18th hole hero Josh Hill. I will be coming back, and very soon, to play all the great courses here and become enthralled with these wonderful people and this heaving linksland once again. Can’t wait.