Tom Coyne traveled to Ireland many years ago to work on a project that turned into a book called "A Course Called Ireland", one of six on his resume and the first of five about traveling in a country in search of all that is golf.
Now, 17 years later, he's doing Ireland again, this time with cameras and microphones and famous friend in tow.
Coyne and actor/comedian Bill Murray have teamed up on "A Course Called Ireland", which premiered Oct. 25 on Paramount+. Jason Kelce is also on the show, adding some additional star power. But the real star of the show is the nation itself.
And for Coyne, this time around, the venture was quite different.
"I enjoyed this version quite a bit because we stayed in really nice places. My luggage would magically show
up in my room. You know, there were people looking after us, which is new to me," Coyne said in an interview with Golfweek. "Being part of a production, the folks that are in it get looked after. I didn't expect to be in that category ever in my life. So to have folks making sure, you know, 'Hey, here's your per diem. What do you need for dinner? Do you need your clothes washed?' Those were luxuries.
"When I walked around Ireland, I had none of those luxuries. I was lucky to get laundry done once a month."
Having Murray, a veteran of movies and golf pro-ams for four decades, along for the ride this time made it a new experience.
"It was also completely different in that I was with someone who is one of the most recognizable faces in the world. Which was actually really useful. I mean, it slowed us down, but that was okay. Everyone wanted to talk and meet and get their picture, but it also meant we got to meet so many people."
"Golf's a crazy game, the people that come into your life. I don't hang out with famous people and celebrities, but because of golf, a few have wandered into my life," said Coyne, who found plenty new and different on this trip, nearly 20 years later.
"Bill's family, they traced his roots to Cork. So we went down and played Cork Golf Club. That's a parkland golf course, but it's an Alister MacKenzie. And so going into it, I thought, 'Why are we going here?' I'd only played links courses in the book. And I was blown away by Cork Golf Club. Absolutely loved it. So did Bill.
"You know, we go to Ireland and we only play links, and for good reason, because we have such great parkland golf courses in America. But there are some really good spots to check out."
Coyne also noticed a steep increase in the number of people wanting to play golf in Ireland.
"I've also seen how much golf in Ireland has changed. It has become so popular. The demand for these tee times and some of these courses is off the charts. And there are so many more Americans, Canadians, North Americans, people from all over the world traveling to Ireland to play golf."
As anyone who's taken a golf trip, with either family or friends, they'll tell you the golf is merely the backdrop.
"What's cool is that the episodes are all narrated by people we met on the trip, by Irish people, which is really, really cool.
"I do narrate the final episode, and that's not why it might be my favorite, but in that episode, I think it was really about friendship.
"So I really enjoy the way that the show concludes because the show's mostly about Ireland, but then in the end I think it becomes about two guys figuring out who they are together in this place. And I think that has a depth that even surprised me when I watched it."
For more on golf travel, be sure to check out Golfweek's Golf Life.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: 'A Course Called Ireland' has many famous faces but Ireland is the real star
