When the current handicapping system was launched in 1983, its main objective was to improve the quality of category one competitors. The extent to which it has succeeded, is reflected in the line-up for the South of Ireland Championship, starting at Lahinch this morning.
Quite simply, the standard has never been higher. And unlike the bad old days when category-one handicaps were somewhat suspect, their merit is reflected in performances internationally.
This year's championship is also notable for the fact that the "South" will decide the winner of the Willie Gill Award, for the first time since its institution 22 years ago. Effectively, Lahinch have benefitted from the switch of the Irish Close from August to June, so that it doesn't clash with the Walker Cup every other year.
Main challengers for the Gill Award, which goes to the most consistent player of the season, are: 105pts - Eddie Power, Michael Hoey, Garth McGimp sey; 100 - Bryan Omelia, Gary Cullen; 70 - Paddy Gribben, Enda McMenamin; 65 - Noel Fox, Pat Lyons, Adrian Morrow.
With 50 points going to the champion next Wednesday, it is theoretically possible for Fox, Lyons and Morrow to win it. The more likely outcome, however, is that it will go to one of the leading six. In that context, it is remarkable that Power has never won this award, despite his three Irish Close triumphs, including last month at The Island. McGimpsey, on the other hand, has won it in 1984, 1988 and 1993.
All of the championship winners so far this season will be in action - Fox (West of Ireland), Hoey (Irish Strokeplay), McGimpsey (East), Power (Close) and Gribben (North). And the defending champion, Patrick Collier of the host club, is seeded through to the second round where he will meet the winner of today's tie between Mark Feane (Lahinch) and David Connolly (UCC).
When an original entry of 246 was being whittled down to 192, the organisers were surprised to discover that of 10 aspirants with exact handicaps of 2.7, only three got in. "It is unquestionably the highest standard in the history of the championship," said Alan Reardon of Lahinch.
The quality is further emphasised by the presence of Stuart Paul, who plays off plus one out of Tandragee. Only last week, he was third alternate for a place in the British Open at Royal Birkdale, having come through regional (at Co Louth) and final qualifying competitions to earn a competitor's medal.
He is in the same section as Adrian Morrow, winner of the championship in 1983 and 1996, and the Tipperary international, Pat Murray. Indeed the line-up includes 18 of the 20 current Irish international panellists, the absentees being John Morris, who is resident in England, and Kenneth Kearney, who is abroad.
There is always a rather special, holiday atmosphere at Lahinch, which no doubt accounts for the return of former winners such as Michael Burns (1980), Mick Morris (1982), Barry Reddan (1987) and three-time winner of the title, Paraic O'Rourke (1979, 1981, 1985). Interestingly, O'Rourke is the only one of them whose handicap remains low enough (0.6 or better) to earn him a bye into the second round.
As it happens, the South has had quite a distinguished roll of honour in recent years, including current professionals John McHenry, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and David Higgins. And the quality is likely to be maintained, given the outstanding condition of this classic links.
John Hutchinson of Royal Dublin meets David Dooley of Roscrea in the first match off the tee at 7.0 this morning. Light will be fading fast this evening when the last of the 128 competitors have completed the opening round, from which 64 go through to meet the 64 seeded players in the second round tomorrow.
