Jack Marr:
Truthfully, I don't know the precise difference between "city manager" and mayor. In fairness, Frank always used the term "city manager", not mayor.
I've always used the term mayor (perhaps incorrectly) based on the first exprience I had playing with Frank. After our round of golf, we were joined by my Mom in the old clubhouse bar. Frank and my Mom struck up quite a political conversation that when on for hours, indeed much longer than it took to play 18 holes in those days.
At one point Frank asked my Mom where she was from. When she told him New York City, Frank launched into a discussion about his friend Ed Koch.
When Frank said to my Mom that he understood her son lived in Los Angeles, he also told her how fond he was of former LA mayor Tom Bradley.
Finally, Frank also asked my Mom where she grew up. When she told him Cincinnati, by God, Frank knew that Mayor too!
So, when he got up to visit the men's room, my Mom asked "Who the hell is this guy?".
"Oh", I said, "he's the mayor of Dublin".......and my mom just about punched me for not letting her know.
Anyway, whether I've got the title right, Frank is quite Irish and knows Ballybunion quite well. He could certainly answer rottcott's question quite well.
As for Tom Watson's impact on Ballybunion, I've always had somewhat mixed feelings. The place was really special before it rose to prominence and the "hordes" made their way there in busloads. The old clubhouse had a much warmer feeling. There were visitors, of course, but they were more the hard core people not expecting any kind of luxury. Just great golf and great fun. It was the place I fell in love with and think about everyday.
But, the other side of things was the economic reality. It was bleak. Unemployment was very high. Even the relatively well off had very little. So, I know most people in Ballybunion really appreciate what prominence and development have brought.
As I've said many times at this site, most American visitors arrive by bus and quickly move on to play another course. They don't stop long enough to figure out that Irish golf - real Irish golf - is something different than the CCFAD mentality that pervades American golf. They don't know what they are missing. They might just as well go to Scottsdale.
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