A round-up of today's other golf stories in brief

Brothers in arms for St Andrews

CARR Golf have added a Brothers Golf Tournament to its 2012 events calendar. The Inaugural Brothers Tournament at St Andrews will be played over four courses, including Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, when held from May 24th to 27th.

The event is being hosted by the Carr and Bunch families. Ian Bunch recently retired as secretary of Prestwick Golf Club, the oldest British Open venue in Scotland.

In July, the World Invitational Father Daughter will be played, once again at Doonbeg and Lahinch Links from July 9th to 12th.

In August, the main event on Carr Golf’s Calendar is the World Invitational Father and Son Tournament which will be held, once again, at Waterville Golf Links, Co Kerry from August 8th to 12th. This four day celebrity event has attracted personalities, politicians and business people from all over the world for the past 23 years. 2012 saw 80 teams from seven countries participate.

Father Son teams in 2011 included ice hockey legend Wayne Gretsky, American footballer Dan Marino, golf course designer Tom Fazio and Snooker world champion Denis Taylor.

Finally in September the Celtic Couples Challenge will take place in Killarney from the 24th to 28th over Ballybunion, Tralee, Waterville and Dooks courses. Details are available on www.carrgolf.com

Fitzpatrick played huge role in Sutton's history

THE Fitzpatrick family have had a huge role to play in the history of Sutton Golf Club. And none more so than Michael who passed away recently.

Although Michael was never to win international honours – he was capped for Leinster in 1956/1957 and was a scratch golfer for an unbroken period of 17 years.

He had the distinction in playing in all of Sutton’s six victories in the Irish Senior Cup between 1948-1963 and was also on the Barton Shield winning sides in 1946, 1948 and 1949. He won a 10th All-Ireland medal in 1984 as part of Sutton’s victorious Jimmy Bruen Shield Team.

Sutton was undoubtedly the club team of the late 1940s and 1950s. In the 18 years from 1946 Sutton won the Leinster section of the Senior Cup 13 times. During those 18 seasons Michael and his brother Tom missed only one season.

In 1979 he was elected chairman of the Leinster branch and in February 1983 he took over the presidency of the GUI.

Apart from his long and distinguished service both to Sutton and to the GUI he was along with Dr Gerry Owens and Joe Carr responsible for the creation of the Hilary Society in the early 1950s.

Michael was captain of Sutton in 1959 and in 1960, an honour that he shared with his late father, Tom, who was captain in 1940. His sisters, Eileen and Kathleen, and his wife, Nancy, were also all lady captains of the Club. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Sorenstam Invitational for Sweden

THE Annika Invitational Europe, an elite junior golf championship founded by Hall of Fame golfer Annika Sorenstam for the 78 best female under-18 amateurs residing in Europe, will be played for the first time in Sweden late next summer.

The tournament will be held from August 31st to September 2nd at Linkopings Golf Club in Annika’s native country.

The 54-hole stroke play competition, modelled after the award-winning ANNIKA Invitational in the United States, will feature 78 participants from European countries. Sorenstam will also host a number of skills clinics and educational sessions for the participants.

- IT was a great year for Joan Wickham of Sutton Golf Club. At 82 she won the over 60s in the Lady Captains this year and then four weeks later she won the monthly medal with a net score of 68, losing three shots bringing her handicap down to 25.

Alliss and Lyle to be honoured

PETER Alliss and Sandy Lyle, will be honoured for their contribution to the game next year when they are inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Alliss – selected via the Lifetime Achievement Category – and Lyle – elected through the International Ballot – will be honoured along with fellow 2012 inductees Phil Mickelson, Hollis Stacy and Dan Jenkins at the Hall of Fame’s Induction Ceremony on May 7th, 2012, at the World Golf Village in St Augustine, Florida.

Both men were on hand when the official announcement was made by European Tour Chief Executive and World Golf Foundation Chairman George O’Grady and World Golf Hall of Fame Chief Operating Officer Jack Peter during The European Tour’s Race to Dubai Golfer of the Year Luncheon in London.

“This is a special day for The European Tour,” said O’Grady.

“Peter Alliss and Sandy Lyle are both very worthy candidates for the World Golf Hall of Fame.”

Lyle’s career is highlighted by his victories in The Open Championship at Royal St George in 1985 and in the 1988 Masters Tournament, where he made a birdie on the 18th hole to become the first British winner at Augusta National Golf Course in Georgia.

Bannon winner of John Jacobs award

MICHAEL Bannon, coach to World number three golfer, Rory McIlroy, is the inaugural winner of the PGAs of Europe’s John Jacobs Coach of the Year Award.

The head professional at Bangor Golf Club, who has coached the Northern Irish ace since he was eight years old, received the honour at the PGAs of Europe’s annual awards in Portugal.

The accolade follows McIlroy’s stunning rise to the top of world golf which was cemented earlier this year with his maiden major victory in the US Open at Congressional.

“It is very humbling to be honoured in this manner and I’m especially thrilled at receiving a trophy named after John Jacobs who was a coaching role model and partly responsible for me specialising in that side of the sport,” said Bannon.

The 53-year-old was a fine player in his own right having once finished runner-up to Pádraig Harrington in the Irish PGA Championship at Powerscourt in 1998.

Japan to host World Amateur

JAPAN’S city of Karuizawa, in Nagano Prefecture, has been selected as the site of the 2014 World Amateur Team Championships. The Prince Hotel Resort’s Iriyama and Oshitate courses will be used for the championships.

These championships will be hosted by the Japan Golf Association (JGA). The 26th women’s championship for the Espirito Santo Trophy and the 29th men’s championship for the Eisenhower Trophy will be played in September 2014.

Japan previously served as the host of the 1962 World Amateur Team Championship at Fuji Golf Course at the Kawana Hotel.