THE sponsors and tournament officials will decide in the coming weeks whether the Guardian Irish Women's Open goes back to Citywest GC next year. Strong attendance figures last weekend could be a significant factor in prompting a policy of continuity.

Cumulative figures of 22,000 for the four days were almost double those for St Margaret's last year. "We are extremely pleased with the way the championship is developing," said Ian Maguire, marketing manager of Guardian yesterday. "It would seem that the public are beginning to appreciate the strength of the women's professional game."

The organisers have been extremely fortunate in having the invaluable support of Laura Davies who, through two victories at St Margaret's, was a dominant figure in establishing the event. And although she finished a disappointing third to Alison Nicholas last Sunday, Davies promised to be back next year "if I'm invited".

Meanwhile, in view of his victory in the Irish Masters at Citywest two years ago, Des Smyth read reports of the event with interest. He was especially taken with the performance of Paul McGinley's fiancee, Allison Shapcott, who earned £2,838 for a share of seventh place.

did remarkably well, given that she hardly plays at all these days," said Smyth.

But Smyth wasn't surprised that a number of players came to grief at the treacherous 18th. "That's got to be one of the most dangerous finishing holes in Irish golf," he said.

He and seven compatriots Ronan Rafferty, Philip Walton, Padraig Harrington, David Feherty, Raymond Burns, David Higgins and Francis Howley are heading for Forsgardens, Gothenburg, to compete in the Scandinavian Masters, which starts on Thursday.

Despite drifting out of contention, after rounds of 64 and 67 had given him a one-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the Dutch Open last weekend, Smyth took some positive things out of the Hilversum exercise. "I didn't handle the leadership very well, but it was encouraging to know that I could shoot those sort of scores," he said.

Smyth went on: "I would certainly prefer to shoot 64, 75 than steady 71s. The fact is that I wasn't capable of doing low numbers earlier in the year and my Dutch Open experience has given me the feeling that I might be building up to something.

"Either way, it was an education to play the third round with Mark McNulty, even at this stage of my career. The way he can manage his game, particularly around the greens, makes him a latter-day Bobby Locke."

The same could have been said of John Cook in the CVS Charity Classic at Pleasant Valley, where a winning aggregate of 268 - 16 under par - left him three strokes clear of second-placed Russ Cochran last Sunday. It was his eighth victory on the US Tour and his second of the season, coming five weeks after his runaway win in the St Jude Classic.

It is interesting to note that Cook was an absentee from the British Open at Royal Lytham, as was Scott Hoch, runner-up to McNulty in the Dutch Open. When questioned at Hilversum about criticism from US colleagues about his decision, Hoch described their remarks as "asinine".

Public relations would never have been considered one of his stronger suits. And he is clearly unaware that remarks made in the US can find their way to this side of the Atlantic. For instance, after his victory in the Michelob Championship earlier this month, Hoch exclaimed in a reference to the British Open: "I don't like it, I don't like it, I don't like it. And if I don't enjoy a place, it doesn't make any difference how big the tournament is."

He then went on to describe St Andrews, where compatriot John Daly captured the title last year, as: "The worst piece of mess I've ever seen. I think they had some sheep and goats that died there and they just covered them over." Could it be possible that Hoch would have found Royal Lytham more inviting, had the Royal and Ancient offered the sort of appearance money he received at Hilversum last weekend?

The first international golf conference of its kind is taking place at the University of Ulster in Coleraine. Its theme is "Golf - Theory in Practice", and it has attracted players and administrators from the US, Canada and Europe.

The objective is to discuss the latest developments in science and research and their effect on the golfer, the management of the game and even the development of courses. It started yesterday and will continue today and tomorrow.