Patrick O鈥橲hea was late for his tee time with his buddies on Wednesday.

But, he had a good excuse. It was St. Patrick鈥檚 Day and he was getting dressed up like a leprechaun.

鈥淓verybody expects it every year,鈥� he said.

The Progress caught up with O鈥橲hea as he was playing a round of golf with three friends at Meadowlands Golf and Country Club on March 17. He could been seen from across the green sporting plaid knickerbocker pants, knee-high white socks, fluorescent green suspenders and a Kelly green hat.

As the golf cart pulls up, O鈥橲hea puts his hand inside his leprechaun golf head cover, like a puppet, and greets his visitors with a smile.

O鈥橲hea came to Canada from Dublin, Ireland in 1957 when he was 19 years old and has called Chilliwack home for the past 40 years.

He鈥檚 been showing off his Irish duds every St. Patrick鈥檚 Day on the golf course ever since he moved to Chilliwack.

鈥淢ost of the guys I play golf with have expected it鈥� we have a few laughs,鈥� he said.

O鈥橲hea has had a membership at Meadowlands for about 10 years, said employee Jo-Ann Thompson.

鈥淗e鈥檚 so cute,鈥� she said of 84-year-old O鈥橲hea. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a very kind, wonderful man. A gentle soul.鈥�

Thompson also has Irish roots. That day, she snapped a selfie with O鈥橲hea to send a photo back to her family.

Moments earlier, the thwack of a driver hitting the ball was heard as O鈥橲hea teed off from the 14th hole. He shielded the sun from his eyes as he tried to see where the ball landed.

鈥淣o treasures today, but the game isn鈥檛 over yet,鈥� O鈥橲hea said with a smile.

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