Barry’s Breakthrough
IRELAND NATIVE BARRY MCMAHON IS TEACHING THE GAME THAT SAVED HIS LIFE
T
he first time Barry McMahon
ever played big-boy golf on a real
course, he made a hole-in-one at
a venue in Tipperary, Ireland. He
was 14 years old and, he said, “I was addict-
ed to the game from then on.”
These days, McMahon, a native of Coun-
ty Clare, Ireland, is a certified PGA of
America instructor who still loves to play,
and even better, to teach. Over the last four
years, he’s run the Irish Golf Academy in
downtown Warrenton, but recently moved
and expanded his operation to Chestnut
Forks Tennis Club just on the outskirts of
the Fauquier County town.
Golf was hardly his only addiction. And
the game, he will tell you quite frankly “basi-
cally saved my life,” as did the interventions
of his family and friends over the years.
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by LEONARD SHAPIRO
His struggle with alcohol began not
long after his father died of a heart attack
while playing golf when Barry was only
17. That led to a downward spiral that
lasted more than a dozen years. Now 40,
McMahon proudly says he’s been sober
for nine years, and still attends Alcoholics
Anonymous meetings on a regular basis.
Mostly though, he can be found either on
the golf course or working at the academy,
giving lessons to golfers of all ages and
experience levels.
After taking a shot, a wide
variety of data is available
on the small screen.
HIGH TECH TEACHING
At Chestnut Forks, McMahon has set
up three separate golf simulators and a
practice putting green, all designed to
allow him and fellow teaching pro Jimmy
Steigelman to give lessons. It’s $110 an
V I R G I N I A G O L F E R | N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 19
hour, $60 for a half hour, with lower
rates for a package of multiple lessons.
The Academy is open to the public, not
just Chestnut Forks members. Golfers of
vsga.org