One of the sweetest backyard courses you’ll find belongs to Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy. The 22-year-old U.S. Open winner has a state-of-the-art mini-course at his Country Down home in Northern Ireland that features four full-sized holes. McIlroy spent hundreds of thousands of pounds constructing the course, but he says it’s already paid dividends.
“To have a practice facility at the back of my own house is incredible, it was done as an investment in my future,” McIlroy told BBC Northern Ireland.
“Since I got it built I have won my first major, so it has paid for itself already. It is a long-term commitment to Northern Ireland, I see myself always living here.”
Ready for a few details on the mini-course? It has U.S. Open as well as links-style rough, and a replica of the infamous Road Hole Bunker at St. Andrews golf course, but with Portrush sand. McIlroy has a team of greenkeepers who maintain the course, and he has it fine-tuned each week depending on how the course at the tournament is supposed to play.
Here are a few more shots of his backyard practice course:
That bunker’s pretty awesome huh? It’s so deep he almost needs a step ladder to climb out.
Having the practice course in his backyard is a pretty smart idea, especially if he wants to continue making Northern Ireland his home. How else is he supposed to make good on his father’s bet? Plus, you know Rory McIlroy’s girlfriend, Holly Sweeney, probably appreciates the backyard course — it allows him to remain in the area and be close to home. I’d ask why more golfers don’t do the same thing, but most of them probably live pretty close to courses where they can practice. Still, what beats having holes in your yard?
