Royal Dublin is to play host to this year's Irish Amateur Open Strokeplay Championship on May 9th and 10th. With the regular venue, Fota Island, unavailable because of renovations, the Dollymount club responded to an approach from the GUI.

The three stagings at Fota Island were won by Padraig Harrington (1995) and Keith Nolan (1996 and 1997). Royal Dublin played host to its last national championship in 1986 when John McHenry captured the Irish Close title there.

Meanwhile, heavy rain caused yesterday's Links Society Outing to be postponed until next Thursday. On inspection early in the day, all 18 Dollymount greens had surface water and, when the links opened for play at 11.30 am, it was too late to complete the event.