Two words: “world class”. Paul McGinley’s first visit to the Golfing Union of Ireland’s National Academy at Carton House in Maynooth had him drooling; not with envy, but with pride.

Pride that the GUI had the foresight to consider building such a facility in the first place and that the union had actually seen it through, delivering what the Ryder Cup star called a “world class facility, better than I have seen anywhere.”

With three large grass teeing areas, three putting greens to USGA specification, a 400m range, bunker complex and chipping area, the GUI National Golf Academy is also home to the national coach and an array of experienced PGA teaching professionals.