The Short Game

Today's other stories in brief

Curtis 2012 for Nairn

The Nairn Golf Club, one of the jewels of Scotland's links golf, will host the Curtis Cup in 2012, the 125th anniversary of the club that lies on the southern shore of the Moray Firth.

This will mark the 38th playing of the biennial contest between Britain and Ireland and the USA for the simple silver trophy presented in 1932 by sisters Margaret and Harriot Curtis "to stimulate friendly rivalry among the women golfers of many lands". The 2008 Curtis Cup will be played on the Old Course, St Andrews, May 30th-June 1st, while the 2010 event will be at The Essex County Club, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts.

Doran to be busy

Pat Doran (Donabate) and Sinéad Keane (The Curragh) will captain the Leinster ladies' and girls' teams at the Interprovincials in 2007. Doran, a past Leinster interprovincial, will lead her charges' attempt at a fourth successive title at Portarlington in August. Doran is also lady captain at Donabate this year.

Keane, an established international, will look to pass some of her vast experience to aspiring young internationals when she leads the girls' team at Laytown and Bettystown on April 11th-13th.

Leinster, who have not won the under-18 title since 2003, will look to reap the rewards from an extensive winter training programme on the Meath seaside links.

Daly numbers fixed

Teams competing in this year's Fred Daly Trophy will have the same number of players after a motion passed at the GUI's agm at Carton House last week means each team will have seven players throughout the competition.

Last year there was confusion when some played their qualified rounds with five players while others played with seven.

A motion from the Leinster Branch "that the GUI will not give its approval to any competition in which prizes are, or appear to be, in breach of amateur status", was also given the green light.

However, the hardy annual of three-quarter handicaps against full handicaps in fourball competitions was once again defeated. All fourball competitions will again be three-quarter handicaps for the coming year.

PowerPlay is here

A new version of golf has been launched with hopes of making the same impact as Twenty20 cricket and rugby sevens. In PowerPlay Golf, each green has two holes instead of one, with a black flag denoting a more difficult pin placing and a white flag the easier one.

Over nine holes, players have to make three power plays where they have to go for the harder option. A pilot event, involving clubs in Middlesex, will be staged at Northwick Park later this year. Other innovations being considered include placing a 30-foot diameter circle around the last black flag hole. Players can win bonus points for landing shots within the circle but will lose points for misses.

Former Walker Cup captain Peter McEvoy said: "Twenty20 created a huge buzz in cricket and we hope PowerPlay makes the same impact for golf."

Sponsored walk

This year's Lady Golfers' Walk will take place around Howth Head on Saturday, May 19th. For the past 18 years, lady golfers representing clubs throughout Dublin have organised a sponsored walk around Howth Head to raise funds for the Children's Oncology Nursing Liaison Service which operates from Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin. Since it began in 1989, the Howth Walk has raised over €500,000.

To register your support, contact the Irish Hospice Foundation on 01- 6793188. Sponsorship cards and additional information will be distributed to the lady captains of clubs over the coming weeks.

Death of Liam Reidy

The death occurred last week of Liam Reidy, 83, the former Kilkenny All-Ireland hurler and the 1992 GUI president. He played in the 1947 All-Ireland final in which Kilkenny beat Cork by 0-14 to 2-7, and in two other finals. Following his hurling career he became an accomplished golfer, winning the Waterford Crystal Scratch Trophy in its inaugural year in 1957. Reidy served as chairman of the Leinster Branch from 1987 to 1991. Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Portumna's Buntús

Portumna GC will be the first Galway club to introduce Buntús golf as part of a new sports programme. While Galway is not yet part of the LSP (Local Sports Partnerships) offered by the Irish Sports Council, Portumna has joined with Portumna and Gortanumera National Schools to give local children the opportunity to play golf.

McElhinney pipped

Former British Amateur champion Brian McElhinney had to settle for second place in the North Western Alliance outing last Saturday at Portsalon. The 2005 champion from North West fired a 76 to lose out by a shot to Ballyliffin two-handicapper Seán Óg Doherty, while in third spot was John G McBride of Rosapenna on 76.

In the nett section Strabane 16-handicapper Sean Friel edged out Declan McGilloway (5) of North West after both shot 72s. Third was Odran McGettigan, playing off 22 from Strabane, on 73. The next outing is at Rosapenna on Saturday, March 3rd.

First for Meaney

David Meaney of Greystones was a first-time winner at the latest Emerald Pro Tour outing on Friday in Knightsbrook GC in Trim, Co Meath. He fired an impressive round of 70 to win by one from St Margaret's John Kelly, with another Greystones professional, Alan Murray, and Patrick Devine of The Island tied for third on 72.

The top amateur prize went to Jason Ward with 44 points. The tour moves to Dunmurry Springs in Kildare this Friday.

Portuguese Classic The sixth Vila Gale Ampalius Golf Classic, in association with Tony Heverin Travel, will take place in April. Involving seven nights, the Classic includes four days golf in Portugal with departure dates on April 21st or 22nd. Golf will be played on Vila Sol Golf course, Quinta da Ria/Cema, Quinta do Lago South and Vilamoura Old Course.

Prices are available for both those interested in playing golf and those not. A deposit of €250 is required, details from Tony Heverin Travel on 01 - 8746443 or www.golfholidays.ie

skeenan@irish-times.ie