By SHAY KEENAN
Open spots for US and Europe top 30
NEW entry criteria will be introduced for next year's British Open at Turnberry to guarantee places in the championship for the top-30 players from both the European and US PGA Tours.
Previously, the exemptions were limited to the top-20 from the European Tour Order of Merit and the PGA Tour's money list from the previous season.
Under the new rules, however, all 30 players who qualify for the Tour Championship in the US will earn places, as will the top 30 from the European Tour's Order of Merit following the season-ending Volvo Masters in November.
A number of other changes have been made to the exemption categories: International Final Qualifying - Europe will have a smaller field, with 96 players playing for 10 places in the championship
The field for IFQ - America will be 78 with eight places available; IFQ - Australasia and the IFQ - Africa will each have three places available.
Pitch and putters claim World Cup
IRELAND won their first World Cup of Pitch and Putt at Papenda, near Arnhem, the Netherlands, on Saturday when they beat the host country 4-1 in the final.
Leading by 1½-½ after the opening round of one foursome and one singles, Ireland garnered 2½ points out of the three in the afternoon singles to claim a comfortable victory.
Star of the tournament Paul O'Brien from Lakeside beat Jan Tijhuis 4 and 3. Derek Courtney, from Glenville, birdied two of the last three holes to edge out Dutch star Patrick Luning, while Ray Murphy gave a generous half to Ralf Kwant with the overall result decided. Catalonia finished third with Britain fourth.
In the semi-finals, Ireland beat Britain 3½-1½, with O'Brien securing the first point by defeating Steve Deeble on the 15th.
The other two matches were not as clear cut, both going down to the final hole. Courtney lost out on the last hole to Anthony O'Brien. This cut the margin to just one point between the teams as Murphy and John Deeble played the final holes. But Murphy held on for a one-hole win and a place in the final.
In the play-off for third and fourth places, Catalonia won all three singles to beat Britain 4-1.
ILGU to hold training days for starters
FOLLOWING their successful "Introduction to Golf" training days over the past three years, the ILGU will hold Scrambles and Training Days for beginners who are not yet members of a club in various locations around the country in 2008-2009.
These events, part of the Irish Sports Council's Women in Sport initiative, will be held to promote, encourage and support women's participation in the game.
Attendees can participate in several coaching sessions covering the long game, pitching, putting and rules etiquette, and then get out and play.
Each session will be conducted by qualified PGA professionals and assisted by volunteer ILGU personnel.
To register, simply contact the relevant co-ordinator in your area. National co-ordinator Theresa Morgan may be contacted at womeningolf@eircom.net , 041-6855821 and 087-2254386.
Lucky 13 join Clarke for a Champions weekend
THE Darren Clarke Foundation will hold the Champions weekend at Portmarnock Golf Club this Saturday and Sunday.
Now in its seventh year, the Champions weekend is an invitational event which consists of two days of personal coaching and tuition with Clarke.
Invitations are extended to the winners of the National Boys and Girls Championships.
This year there will be 13 participants, five girls and eight boys, who come from all over the country.
The girls are: Sarah Louise Winter (Carnalea), Caoimhe Quinn, (Dungannon), Patrice Delaney (Birr), and Lisa and Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell).
The boys are: Michael Durcan (Co Sligo), Enda Maguire (Seapoint), Graham Donohoe (Enniscorthy), Chris Keightley (East Clare), Colm O'Sullivan (Fota Island), Paul Dunne (Greystones), Ian O'Rourke (Cork) and Keith Egan (Curragh).
The format for the weekend will be largely the same as in previous years.
All participants will arrive at Portmarnock Golf Club on Saturday morning and play 18 holes. This will be followed by a short-game clinic with Clarke.
On Sunday morning Clarke will start with a long-game clinic and some personal tuition, and then all participants will play 18 holes, Clarke will join each group for three or four holes.
Cleary wins season's Alliance opener
THE Leinster Ladies Alliance kicked off their 57th season last week with the PGA Tankard at Woodbrook Golf Club.
The winner was Sarah Cleary with a net score of 33 points, winning on the back nine from Denise O'Sullivan from Hermitage, with Alliance captain Vonny Kelly from Powerscourt third. The gross was won by Terry Sexton.
New members with a handicap of nine or under are welcome and membership forms are available from the honorary secretary, Aisling Parker, 086-8224410 or by email to leinsterladysalliance@gmail.com.
Fourball matches are played against clubs throughout Leinster on alternate weekends over the season. The first match will take place on Sunday against Glasson.
Phil Wickham, captain of the Irish Ladies Team, is this year's president, and her President's Day will be at Laytown and Bettystown on November 10th - timesheet with Aisling Parker.
THE men's Munster Senior Alliance season starts on Saturday with a visit to Fota Island. The maximum handicap is five and over the next few months the Alliance will visit Lee Valley (TBC), Cork (January 24th), Adare (March 21st) and Killarney (April 11th).
The cost for the season is € 275. Details from David O'Donovan on 086-0459341 or Kieran Canty on 086-8252860.
Flanagan joins GolfVision
MEL FLANAGAN, renowned teacher and award-winning course designer, has joined GolfVision, the first indoor golf centre to open in Dublin.
Located in Airside Motor Park, Swords (via Airside Motor Mall), GolfVision will allow golfers to play the world's greatest courses or have their swing analysed on the latest in simulation set-ups, offering exceptionally high graphics.
This is the same technology being used by Pádraig Harrington, Michelle Wie, Fred Couples and the Greg Norman Academy. Open from 10am to 10pm, contact Flanagan at 086-8282879 or www.info@golfvision.ie
