Ireland's top international amateur golfers have finally been brought in from the cold. For many years, the Golfing Union of Ireland was forced to look on their top players as solely their responsibility with no hope of outside financial assistance due to the lack of an official world amateur ranking system.

Now, however, the government has recognised that the country's top amateur players are deserving of the kind of support given to other sports involved in international competition and Jim McDaid, the Minister for Sport, has formally approved the establishment of a new carding system (similar to the one used for Olympic athletes) which will be run under the auspices of the GUI.

In order to overcome the absence of a worldwide ranking system for amateur golfers, it has been agreed that members of the Irish boys', youths' and senior national panels will be issued with a specially designed card (Player/ Athlete Card for Excellence - PACE) which can then be used to access services in sports science and sports medicine.

Apart from access to the extensive medical network (with over 300 service providers from the fields of sports biomechanics, medicine, nutrition, physiology, physiotherapy and psychology), grants will also be awarded to players on the national panels depending on their performances in domestic events based on the existing GUI Order of Merit tables for all categories.

It means that top players could, in exceptional circumstances, receive up to £7,500 in aid. The three categories involved are: Category 1 (Senior - awards up to £5,000 and up to £7,500 in exceptional cases) based on the GUI Order of Merit, internationals, designated events and overseas events; Category 2 (Youths: 18 to 20 - awards up to £3,000); and Category 3 (Under-18).

The scheme provides financial assistance, sports science and medical support, career counselling and access to training facilities for the country's top amateurs. The overall responsibility is being carried by the Irish Sports Council which is responsible for co-ordination of the carding scheme and for administering funds to the GUI.

"This is a major step forward for Irish amateur golf," said John Treacy, executive chairman of the Irish Sports Council. "It focuses on providing high quality support for golfers based on their needs."

Meanwhile, 11 of the country's top women amateurs will contest the British Women's Championship starting today at Royal Birkdale. Lillian Behan, the 1985 champion, has been forced to withdraw due to work commitments. The Irish raiding party consists of recently crowned Irish champion Claire Coughlan, Susie O'Brien, Eileen Rose Power, Alison Coffey, Pat Doran, Jenny Gannon, Sinead Keane, Maura Morrin, Irene Murphy, Oonagh Purfield and Deirdre Smith and, given their second place finish in last year's Home Internationals, it is possible that a number of them could make a strong charge for the title.

Already this season, Coffey has finished runner-up in the Scottish Strokeplay and O'Brien was a topfour finisher in the recent St Rule Trophy. The team for the Vagliano Trophy match between Ireland and Britain against the continent of Europe is due to be selected after the championship.