COURSE problems at Rosses Point make it impossible for the West of Ireland Championship to be played there at Easter: So, the organising committee are faced with the choice of a change of date at the Co Sligo club or a break with tradition by switching to an alternative venue.
It is the second time in recent years that the condition of the Rosses Point greens has caused this sort of problem. In 1992, the West of Ireland had to be postponed from Easter until late August when, ironically, foul weather caused the strokeplay qualifying to be, reduced to 18 holes.
The organising committee of the "West" comprises four members of the Connacht Branch and three from the host club. I understand that the branch are giving serious thought to the idea of switching to the Enniscrone links, thereby retaining the Easter slot in the calendar.
"We will strongly resist any attempts to play the championship elsewhere," said Co Sligo honorary secretary, Ronnie Dunne, yesterday. "Our belief is that the affected greens will have recovered in adequate time for a change to a June date."
With the Irish Amateur, Open Strokeplay Championship scheduled for June 12th and 13th at Fota Island, the idea is to use the weekend starting June 20th. This would mean finishing on Tuesday, June 24th, the eve of the European Amateur Team Championship at Portmarnock.
As to the well being of their course at that time, the club hope to have this confirmed next week when they bring over a specialist from England, Ian McClements, to assess the situation. The problem stems from a decision to strip four greens - the third, fourth, seventh and 14th - and the fact that the initial resodding of the third and fourth was unsuccessful.
"Since our appointment of a Scottish greenkeeper, George Paterson, in August 1995, we have embarked on a five year plan to upgrade the course and build a new nine at Bomore," added Dunne.
"As it happens, four holes at Bomore (to the right of the existing sixth fairway,) are almost ready for play. Matters were brought to a head in recent weeks when the Connacht Branch commissioned leading golf course architect, Paddy Merrigan, to inspect the Rosses Point links. He left them in no doubt that the course wouldn't be playable at Easter and possibly not for a few months after that. Arising from that report, the branch are treating arrangements for the West as a matter of urgency.
"I suppose we have to accept that Easter is out of the question," said Dunne. "But we are naturally anxious to protect our association with an event that was launched by the Co Sligo club in 1923. And I would expect a similar reaction from Lahinch, Baltray or Portrush, if the South, East or North were affected."
Launched in August 1923, when it was won by a local player, Larry Vernon, the West was also held in July in certain years until it adopted an Easter slot in 1931. Its popularity was encapsulated by 12 times winner Joe Carr, who talked of "weekends of joviality and mayhem" and, of course, serious competition.
Meanwhile, in 1980 at Portmarnock, three gifted teenagers from the Hugh Christie School in Kent, combined to capture the Aer Lingus Schools Championship in splendid style. One of them was Paul Way whose senior career had taken off only 12 months later, when he became a member of the British and Irish Walker Cup team at Cypress Point.
Last weekend, at 33, Way said disconsolately: "There doesn't seem to be much future for me in the game." From Ryder Cup hero in 1985 and winner of the European Open two years later, Way is currently without tournament status, having failed to regain his European Tour card at the Qualifying School in November.
"I'm taking the year off, starting with a holiday to try and relieve the pressure," he said. "Don't listen to people who say that professional golf is glamorous. It's nothing like it's made out to be."
David Feherty would probably empathise with those views as he contemplates a career as a television golf pundit with the CBS network in the US. The 38 year old Ulsterman is set to sign a three year contract which will tie him up for 20 tournaments per year, including the US Masters in April.
Winner of five European Tour events and three on the South African circuit, Feherty's career was thrown into turmoil by the break up of his marriage in 1995. "I have developed a passionate interest in television and the written media," said the player, who writes a column for the British magazine, Golf Monthly.
"The CBS move should be good, for me in that it will enable me to have contact for extended periods with my sons Shey and Rory, on a regular basis." He concluded: "Though I haven't finalised my, playing arrangements at this stage, I hope to play a few tournaments in Europe next season including the Volvo PGA Championship and the British Open."
