New Challenge For DunneIrish team captain for the past three years Eddie Dunne has taken on a new challenge with his appointment as general manager of the new Seve Ballesteros-designed Heritage Golf and Country Club in Killenard, Co Laois.
Due to open in June of 2003, Dunne brings a vast amount of experience, having being involved in the launch of Druids Glen in the early 1990s.
The Heritage Golf and Country Club measures 7,345 yards from the championship tees and is just 40 miles from Dublin on the N7. Also included on site are a golf academy, spa and leisure centre, driving range and practice area, staffed by two PGA professionals.
For those who would like to live in a beautiful tranquil setting, The Heritage centre offers a selection of three and four bedroom homes and a limited number of sites, ranging in price from €317,500 to €500,000. Membership is currently open and details can be obtained from 0502-61700.
Scottish venue for European event
Irish players in next year's European individual championship will be hoping to follow former winners Paddy Gribben and Stephen Browne with the announcement that the 2003 event will take place at the Nairn Golf Club, in Scotland, from August 20th to 23rd.
The event, considered to be a showcase for some of Europe's brightest young golfing talents, has been supported by £18,725 from the Sport Scotland Lottery Fund's Major Events Programme. With over 20 countries represented it is one of the biggest international amateur golfing events of the season.
The competition is an individual strokeplay event and, with up to six players representing their country, the field totals over 140 competitors.
Gribben won in 1998 and Browne, from the Hermitage Club, in 2001 while this year in Portugal Gareth Maybin was the best of the six-man Irish team, finishing ninth.
Hamish Grey, secretary of the Scottish Golf Union, said: "It is a great honour to be chosen to host a prestigious international event. It is testimony to Scotland's track record in hosting and administering large golfing events and, of course, to the world-renowned reputation of Nairn golf course."
Focus on the game
A special offer is available to Golf Union of Ireland members. Gordon Simmonds, a TV and video producer based in Singapore, has made a DVD version of his TV show All a-round golf. It contains over six hours of footage including sections on the history of the game, the rules of golf, swing fundamentals, golf's governing authorities, course management, people in golf and golf architecture, amongst many other areas.
As an introductory offer, available to GUI members, the six-hour DVD is available at €45 plus p&p (Normal RRP is €55).
E-mail gordong@magix.com.sg for more information or visitwww.thegolfdvd.com
Top award for US woman
Carol Semple Thompson, of Sewickley, Pa., who won seven USGA championships, participated in 114 national and international events, and served on the USGA Executive Committee, has been named as the recipient of the United States Golf Association's annual Bob Jones Award.
Presented annually since 1955, the USGA's top award is given in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf. The award seeks to recognise a person who emulates Jones's spirit, his personal qualities and his attitude towards the game and its players.
It will be presented to Semple Thompson on February 1st at the association's annual meeting in San Diego, California.
The 54-year-old Semple Thompson won the 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 USGA Senior Women's Amateur championship, the 1990 and 1997 US Women's Mid-Amateur championship and the 1973 US Women's Amateur championship. She has played on a record 12 USA Curtis Cup squads. She holed a dramatic 27-foot putt to clinch the USA victory in 2002.
In addition, she has played on five USA World Amateur teams and four times for Pennsylvania in the USGA State Team Championship, including its 1995 title team.
Perhaps the most successful amateur women's golfer of the last half century Semple Thompson was a member of the USGA Executive Committee from 1994-2000, only the second woman to serve in that capacity.
Links winter programme
The Links Golfing Society will continue their winter programme with the Waterford Crystal-sponsored outing to the Royal Dublin Golf Club on January 9th.
On February 4th or 6th (the date has yet to be confirmed) the Mitsubishi Electric outing will be played at The Island, while Seapoint is the venue, on February 27th, for the Esso outing. The final outing of the 2002/2003 season is the Vodafone outing to Royal Dublin on March 27th.
