Bathed in glorious sunshine for the majority of the day – besides a couple of untimely squalls as Rory McIlroy and Tom McKibbin embarked on their opening rounds – it was the exact kind of conditions that tournament organisers were crying out for.
The wind picked up to make what is already a stern test of golf even tougher but without the grey skies and teeming rain to accompany it, giving way to sensational views of Slieve Donard throughout the day.
If only for temperatures 10 degrees warmer, it could have been perfect.
Those are the money shots for Newcastle this week. RCD, as it is colloquially referred to, is widely known as one of the best golf courses in the world in large part for its stunning scenery, and in round one it was in full view.
The imposing backdrop of the Mournes was almost metaphorical for how tough the golf was. That nobody managed to score better than two-under-par in the morning wave of the tournament is a testament to the mountain the players will have to climb this week if they are to be crowned champion.
Speaking of which, it was abundantly clear who the fans’ champion is as the crowds flocked to McIlroy and McKibbin, mostly for the former but the growing appeal of the latter is certainly helping his profile, too.
McIlroy hasn’t played a competitive round of golf in Northern Ireland since his heart-wrenching second round exit at The Open Championship at Royal Portrush five years ago, so a chance to see their hero in action so close to home was not passed up by the local populace.
They came out in their droves and even early in the morning, despite the four-time Major champion’s 1pm tee-time in his opening round, he was still the hot topic of conversation, as he tends to be.
“Will we head back to see Rory?”
“We should go to this green and wait for Rory to come through.”
“What time is Rory off?”
They thronged around the driving range which, helpfully, is situated right beside the tented village, adorned with food trucks from local vendors as well as stalls belonging to the likes of Golf Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland.
Indeed, it is worth remembering the impact that having an event like this can have on the community in and around Royal County Down, with just under 16,000 people converging on Newcastle every day for the tournament.
By way of immediate example, local bar Quinn’s has erected two signs outside the entrance advertising their live entertainment for the week in an attempt to attract any thirsty patrons leaving the course to come in and have a pint.
All along the road from Dundrum to Newcastle, opportunistic businessmen have opened up their driveways as makeshift car parks, trying to catch those looking for a place to leave their car but aren’t willing to use the park and ride.
Even in the most unlikely and remarkable ways the Irish Open has benefitted the local community. For instance, local artist Thomas Bannon brought a set of prints of Royal County Down to the pro shop on Monday and so popular were they that most of them were gone by the end of Tuesday, requiring him to re-stock for the rest of the week.
And there is always that intangible benefit that can never be measured in pounds – the feel-good factor.
There were cheers when birdie putts dropped. There were groans when a par one didn’t. But, most importantly, there were smiles up and down the fairways, both on them and around them.
At the end of the day, you just can’t beat a big sporting event on our shores, especially when the backdrop is that good.