A Ryder Cup miscellany

Lift off: Malahide man keeps helicopters on course despite atrocious conditions

ROTATION GAME:TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS and wet underfoot conditions may have dampened the spirit in the Usk Valley but there were no such problems for the Irish aviation team who co-ordinated ALL helicopter flights in and out of Celtic Manor.

Sé Pardy's Dublin-based company, Simtech, was responsible for all helicopter flights in an out of the K-Club in 2006 before they won the contract again for the 2010 matches. "We've been planning this for 14 months and people were always ribbing us over the K-Club but this week has been worse, no question," said Pardy in reference to the appalling weather conditions but he was still able to run a full flight service without any cancellations. "At the K-Club we had significantly more helicopters in operation whereas the volume at Celtic Manor is around 30 per cent of 2006. The Irish economy in 2006 was built on the construction industry and practically every builder in the country had a helicopter then."

Pardy brought over a 22-man team, ranging from professional air traffic controllers to IT personnel and set up the operation on the first and ninth fairways on the Montgomerie Course. "We have an air traffic control unit, fire service, weather office and full passenger handling area complete with security. Passengers are then transferred down to the Twenty Ten course by the BMW courtesy cars," added Purdy, who had 50 helicopters registered to take off and land at Celtic Manor. They also worked the air at this year's JP McManus Invitational in Adare.

"We set up a small runway (helipad) on the fairways for the helicopters to take off and land, just like a small airport with security. London would be the farthest destination and takes around one hour travel time, while corporate usage tends to be within 30 miles of the resort," said the Malahide native, noting typical landing costs range from £70-£300 (€ 80-€ 345)

G-Mac, Big Mac, Wee Mac Good Shot, Better Shot

Reporter: How do you feel about having one of the best songs of the week: "We've got G-Mac, you've got Big Mac"?

Graeme McDowell:"I'd certainly rather be G-Mac than Big Mac. I know I could with losing a bit of weight, but . . ."

Rory McIlroy:"Does that make me Wee Mac?"

Good shot, better shot

A Rickie Fowler's eagle at 458-yard par-five 11th:The American found a difficult, feet above ball, lie in a bunker but with little green to work with he splashed out to within inches before the ball dropped in.

B Jeff Overton's eagle at the 439-yard par-four eighth:The American launched an approach which landed three feet beyond the cup and spun back into the hole.

Restricted entry: Only Sunday tickets valid for singles

ONLY SPECTATORSwith tickets valid from Sunday will be admitted to the Twenty Ten course for today's action featuring the final series of singles matches that will conclude this year's long drawn-out Ryder Cup.

Ryder Cup Europe also confirmed the general public will not be able to purchase tickets into the 12 singles matches, which get under way from 9.05am. A restricted park-and-ride service to the venue is in operation and those planning to travel should check the European Tour website (www.europeantour.com) for further information.

This hardly helps Friday's ticket holders, who were undoubtedly short-changed after torrential downpours forced the suspension of play for over seven hours. Friday's ticket holders were advised to retain their tickets as organisers consider offering free entry to one of the day's at next year's Wales Open held at the same venue.

Best foot forward

ULSTER AND Ireland rugby internationals Darren Cave and Rory Best dropped into Celtic Manor on Saturday to watch fellow northerners Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell. Best, coming from a farming background, had appropriate footwear to deal with the muck and gutters whereas Cave had to rely on excellent footwork on the treacherous public walkways as he was in a pair of runners.

"We've been sharing everything else this week, may as well share a microphone too. - McIlroy borrows McDowell's mic