There’s nowhere better than The Killeen down in Killarney on a fine day, sure haven’t they everything in Kerry!
A two-time All Ireland winner, former Cork full back Colman Corrigan has vivid memories of clashes with Meath and some of the greats of last 50 years such as Jack O’Shea and Eoin “Bomber” Liston. Kerry were always the great rivals and he admits now that e
1. How’s your golf?
Well, I’m playing off five but not very well. When I was playing football, you just didn’t have the time. When I was younger, I played an awful lot of golf and that’s really when I got my handicap down.
2. Do you play often?
You have to play often to keep the standard up but I just enjoy my game on a Friday for the odd fiver. I’m not big into competitions any more.
3. Where do you play?
My home club is Macroom but I joined Killarney about 10 years ago because I had a bad knee from my sporting endeavours. My father said, ‘Killarney is the spot for you because it’s dead flat. You will be able to walk around there no bother.”
4. It’s a beautiful spot.
Well, I never looked back. It got me back playing. And it’s only 30 minutes from Macroom, which began as a nine-hole course. The back nine down by the river is just so beautiful, but with my knee, the front nine can be a little hilly.
5. Who introduced you to the game?
My father, Michael who was a great sportsman. He played football with Cork, and he loved his golf. He was a member of Killarney, he was a former President and an Honorary Life member of Macroom. There are three boys and a girl in the family and the boys all play. He was the one who introduced us all to the game.
6. How old were you?
I was 10 or 11. And I was in the very fortunate position of playing Ballybunion and Portmarnock at the age of 12 or 13. Ted Downey was a member of Portmarnock, and when we went up to visit our grandmother, which was quite often, Ted would be over the following day to bring us for a game in Portmarnock. What a privilege we had.
I remember seeing Harry Bradshaw and meeting Christy O’Connor who happened to be up in the bar, holding court. I remember I would have a tie pressed into my back pocket for my visits there.
7. Driver or putter?
Driver. I am not a bad putter, but if you can’t hit the ball properly off the tee, you can be in all sorts of trouble. You could be the best wedge player in the world but what’s the point if you have already taken four shots? So it’s the driver for me.
8. Links or parkland?
I adore links. Even though I was brought up on parkland, I have a place down in Derrynane, which is very close to Waterville. And I played Ballybunion with my brother Gerard just last Friday and it’s absolutely magnificent. The grass paths are just phenomenal and it’s fantastic underfoot. Waterville and Ballybunion are two of my favourites.
9. Who were your heroes?
In golf, it was Seve Ballesteros, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson. In football, it would have to be Billy Morgan, Dinny Allen, Jimmy Kerrigan and Jimmy Barry-Murphy. Luckily enough, we still get together and play golf together.
I’m also a huge Manchester City supporter. I’ve supported them since Francis Lee was around and Joe Corrigan was in goal, long before the Sheikh was around. I’ve played with Niall Quinn, who is just a fantastic golfer. He could have been a pro.
10. Who was your toughest opponent?
There were two in particular and they would have to be Kerrymen of course. One was Jack O’Shea and the other was the Bomber Liston. Both are avid golfers. I was lucky enough to be part of a Cork team that was pretty successful and they were two great players. Jack O’Shea in my opinion was the greatest. And while I didn’t see Mick O’Connell play live, I had to mark Jacko.
11. If I gave you a mulligan in your footballing career, what would it be?
I think every Cork footballer would say the same – that 1988 All Ireland Final against Meath. We were well on top in a great game, and I take my hat off to Meath. They were much-maligned but they were a brilliant football team and on that particular day, we didn’t get the rub of the green and we certainly didn’t get the rub off the ref.
12. If you could play just one more game of golf, where would you play?
The Killeen in Killarney on a fine day. The par-three 10th with Lough Leane as a backdrop on a beautiful, fine day, there’s nowhere better. Haven’t they everything in Kerry! And they have the Cork crowd down spending money too. (Laughs)
13. Name your favourite par three.
The 17th at Waterville, Mulcahy’s Peak, from the back sticks. I’ve stood up there and hit a three wood into the wind. The next day it could be an eight or nineiron. Fantastic.
14 If you could change one thing about your golf what would it be?
My chipping, without a shadow of a doubt. I got into a rut about chipping and I think it came from my left knee, which I have had replaced. As Padraig Harrington would say, you have to have your weight on your left side. That was the start of it. I still have that in my head. I have even thought about going left-handed or one-handed.
15. What’s your most treasured possession?
I have a fantastic picture that was taken in New York in 1989 when we were up on the Empire State Building. Each of us in the photograph have that photo up at home. Go into Dinny Allen’s place and you will see it; it’s here in my place, and Jimmy Kerrigan’s. There’s myself, there’s John Kerins, who was my best friend and sadly died very young, Eoin O’Mahony from Clonakilty, Jimmy Kerrigan, Dinny Allen and Stephen O’Brien.
16. Name your dream fourball?
Seve Ballesteros, Jack Nicklaus and Denis Allen.
17. That’s quite a trio.
Seve changed the face of golf, which was seen as the sport for the rich and privileged. You were supposed to hit the ball this way and putt that way. But he changed all that and just did it his way and he had such charisma. I saw him play an exhibition at Little Island in Cork once and he could literally do anything with a golf ball.
And Nicklaus – okay, Tiger Woods came along later – but he’s probably the greatest who ever played with his concentration and his commitment to the game. Dinny Allen is a great friend and a great golfer off about 10 or 11.
18. What’s your idea of perfect happiness?
Good health, a happy family, a good fourball and a few pints afterwards.