14 May 2025
AMERICAN football star Tom Brady and American country pop singer Morgan Wallen were surprise visitors at Royal County Golf Club last week.
The former New England Patriots quarterback and the Tennessee musician were spotted chatting with members and staff when they arrived to play a round on Thursday evening. Wallen even skipped the Academy of Country Music Awards in Prisco, Texas, to get a chance to play on the world famous Newcastle links.
The club’s general manager, Bill Donald, said having such “high end” guests showed the quality of golf courses on the island of Ireland.
He also described how friendly the US celebrities were to staff and guests.
“l can honestly say they were real people people. It was very low-key – that’s what we like,” he said.
“They came to enjoy the club, the course and facilities. They extended the hand of friendship to a lot of the staff, to the members or guests that they were around. They were very sociable.”
Mr Donald continued: ”I can see why they are such good personalities and talked about in such high regard. Because they were such good people. [Their] management skills were absolutely fantastic.
“They wanted to talk about the course and how they played. Tom birdied the 18th and he was delighted about that. Then off they went.
“They’d spent some time chatting to staff in the shop and some of the guests as well as members who happened to be around.”
Mr Donald said golf courses across the island attract many famous faces.
“I think it shows that golf in Ireland is thriving. And you feel very grateful for that,” he continued.
“I think them playing golf here is symptomatic of where we are, where we are seen in world golf. We are very appreciative of all the people who come to Royal County Down to play golf. It’s nice that our reach extends as far as it does.
“It’s great for tourism. Most visitors to our course, such as Tom, for example, they post references to their Instagram.
“That has a very deep effect and long reach within the walks of life that they are engaged with. That all helps for Northern Ireland and the island of Ireland.
Mr Donald added: “We’re very proud of the club and the course for where it is positioned in world golf, that we are able to attract such personalities.
“We treat everybody the same. That is the way we like to be viewed as well.”
NFL star Brady (47) retired for the second time in 2023, having won seven Super Bowls.
He is also a minority owner of Birmingham City, who have won promotion to the English Championship.