Made in Holywood: Rory McIlroy a global phenomenon aware of his roots

In search of background on "this McIlroy kid" – as many still know him in America – media from across the globe have been besieging Holywood Golf Club near Belfast, where Paul Gray, the general manager, says from a seat in the bar: "He used to beat around here in the evenings if his mum and dad were up for a meal. He had a little plastic club when he was a toddler and he would knock balls off that wall over there."

The last landmark you pass on the road to Holywood is the George Best city airport, a Northern Irish monument to genius. Past the UVF flags of east Belfast and the cranes of the Harland and Wolff shipyard, the route leads through quiet rainy streets to a modest suburban club where boys are striking balls down a range with noticeably raised enthusiasm.

Holywood is the nurturing ground of the 22-year-old US Open champion. This week Rory McIlroy will endeavour to double his collection of golf's major titles in the Open Championship at Royal St George's in Kent. In a BBC Northern Ireland documentary this week his country saw him cross a threshold. The morning after his stunning win at Congressional he emerged into fame's white light: police escorts to the airport, hug-happy sponsors and a kind of besotted glee on the faces of all who saw him.

Captured, in all its splendid and terrifying detail, was the moment McIlroy's life became a movie. "You are so gracious," gushed a hotel employee as she waved him off to a sponsor's gig in Cape Cod. The McIlroy cavalcade shifted with presidential intent. State troopers cleared a path to a private jet. Two days later, when he finally reached his £2.2m home near Holywood, the new champion told his family: "There were paparazzi at the airport – like, proper."

Gray, 37, has watched the whole McIlroy romance bloom. The golf pro at Holywood for 11 years, he is now the manager, running the club shop and overseeing the junior programme. In his own career he says he "played around Ireland, in the final stages of Open qualifying, once, won a few pro-ams then focused more on teaching. I was never good enough to get to European Tour standard." He took on McIlroy at Holywood when the wunderkind was 15. Did he beat the upstart? "Of course I didn't," he says.

"Rory was seven when he started here. The age to join was always 12. Because he was so good Michael Bannon, who was the pro here at the time, spoke to the junior convenor and said: 'This kid's brilliant. Because he's so good we need to have him as a member of the club. He's going to be great.' His whole family were members. The club then changed their rules, basically. We have about 180 kids here now and had to close it at that point because it becomes unmanageable.

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Made in Holywood: Rory McIlroy a global phenomenon aware of his roots
Made in Holywood: Rory McIlroy a global phenomenon aware of his roots

Also close is the home where he revolutionised preparatory routines by building his own mini-course, much as the great Vincent O'Brien constructed a replica of Tattenham Corner for his Derby contenders further south in Co Kildare.



Mini car enthusiasts gather in Scenic City

Veteran funkhana-ist, Nick Lehner, put together this year's games, which were held in the back parking lot of the Chattanooga Choo-Choo Hotel in front of the new Track 29 music hall. "I've competed in over 20 funkhana's and I've taken more 1st places



Nightlife: Ernie Hendrickson at Two Way Street

Zanies Comedy Night Club: Showtimes are 8 pm Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 and 9:45 pm Fridays; and 7:30 and 9:45 pm Saturdays at Pheasant Run Resort and Spa, 4051 E. Main St. in St. Charles. Tickets are available at (630) 584-6342 or ticketmaster.com.



Prince William and Duchess Catherine take LA holiday after Canadian tour
Prince William and Duchess Catherine take LA holiday after Canadian tour

They then climbed into a right-hand drive British Range Rover and headed to the Beverly Hilton hotel for their first US engagement. Officially, the Californian mini-tour will aim to "contribute to deepening and strengthening the multi-layered links



I-Team: LVCVA Updates Travel Policy

LAS VEGAS -- First class flights, five-star hotel rooms, even access to the mini bar are paid with taxpayer money. The I-Team first exposed the millions spent by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors




Luxurious Hotels in Malaysia | whatisthenewblack.tv

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Hotel Mini Club - Bookshelf

Single Abroad: Tales of the Boyish Man

Single Abroad: Tales of the Boyish Man

They said that most of the people at the audition were looking for jobs in either the Mini Club, which is the club that takes care of the hotel guests' ...

Tunisia handbook

Tunisia handbook

AB Hotel Ithaque, T658 1 68, F6581 69. The luxuriously revamped Dar Midoun. ... Has a strong reputation for its organized activities (mini-club for kids, ...

Dubai, The Complete Residents' Guide

Dubai, The Complete Residents' Guide

Aviation Club, The - Mini Golf Nr Tennis Stadium Garhoud www.cftennis.com 282 4122 Map13-E1 Hatta Fort Hotel - Mini Golf Hatta www.jebelali- ...

New York Magazine

New York Magazine

This flamingo-pink fantasy is nothing short of a grand hotel, .... Over at the Mini Club, young children are divided into Petzis (ages three, four, ...

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Canary Islands

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Canary Islands

... This large hotel is right on the beachfront and offers views over Fuerteventura. ... playground and mini-club with entertainment for 4-1 2 year olds. ...

Daily Information Directory


Melia Hotel Mini Club for kids
Every resort and Family Hotel is also the perfect place for holidays with your kids and family. In a safe environment, attented by a qualified staff, ...

Hotel | The MINI Club of Ireland
The MINI Club of Ireland " Entries tagged with "Hotel" Finished Events : The 2010 January ... You can text the Mini Club of Ireland on Vodafone 087 664 MINI. ...

The Mini Club of Ireland
The best, and busiest Club & Forum in Ireland for Mini related news, classifieds, restoration help, monthly car outings and advice when buying any Mini Cooper.

Mini Club ~ Coin de Mire Hotel ~ Mauritius
This charming and comfortable hotel is perfect to enjoy simple tropical pleasures, the ... Mini Club. Kids having their share of fun. Coin de Mire Hotel provides amenities and ...

Blaumar Hotel Salou - in-hotel entertainment for all ages
The hotel's à la carte Arena Restaurant offers top quality Mediterranean cuisine ... Our Mini Club needs a name and all the children in the Mini Club can take part, untill ...