Five years after its centenary, Ballybunion is set to stage its first international professional tournament. Details are being finalised for a £150,000 European Seniors Tour event at the celebrated Kerry links from August 13th to 16th.

"A tournament like this is long overdue at Ballybunion and I'm confident it will happen," said Arthur Spring, who joined senior professional ranks last year and is the prime mover behind the project. "The response from prospective sponsors is most encouraging."

Spring was drawn to the August date by the fact that it is the week following the British Senior Open which Gary Player will be defending at Royal Portrush.

"Apart from attracting some of the leading competitors from the British Seniors, we are also lining up a top American," he added.

The Tralee doctor went on: "It has always struck me as a great pity that an area which attracts so many golfing tourists should be so badly served by professional events.

"Apart from the Irish Open at Killarney, in 1991 and 1992, the south-west has been starved of tournament golf."

Assuming that the tournament goes ahead as planned, it will be a highly attractive addition to the Irish Senior Open which was launched at St Margaret's last year. I understand that this event is now going to Woodbrook in May.

The Curtis Cup match against the United States in the year 2000 has been switched from royal Porthcawl to Ganton in Yorkshire.