Michael Hoey and Graeme McDowell were among the last players to leave the Ljunghusens course here yesterday, having finalised preparations for the European Men's Amateur Team Championship, starting with strokeplay qualifying today. Their presence alone, has boosted hopes of an Irish success for the first time since 1987.
It had been a long day in the sun. And the drive past a charming marina and then along a tree-lined avenue to the southern edge of the Falsterbo Peninsula, prompted comparisons with a much-praised Cork venue of quite recent memory.
Ljunghusens is described by locals as a links, which is hardly accurate, given the absence of classic dunes as we know them in Ireland. But it is on the Baltic, with a heathland texture which, according to the players, has a links feel to it. And being remarkably flat, the wind is most definitely a factor.
"I would describe it as a short Portrush," said Irish skipper, Eddie Dunne, of the 6,765-yard par-71 layout which has only three par fives, two of them on the homeward journey. "I think it's a fine course and the players seem very happy with it. In fact I'm fortunate in having a very contended team." Either way, Hoey and McDowell seemed pleased with life, as well they might.
As British Amateur champion, the Shandon Park player will be going from here to the Loch Lomond Invitational next week, followed by the British Open at Royal Lytham.
Meanwhile, McDowell returned last weekend from the Palmer Cup at Baltusrol where he gained the distinction of halving a singles with Bryce Molder, currently acknowledged as the best amateur in the world.
As a bonus, the Rathmore player won his other singles against Lucas Glover, another virtual certainty on the American Walker Cup team.
Indeed the Walker Cup is very much on people's minds here, certainly those of us from Britain and Ireland. The team to defend the trophy against the Americans at Sea Island, Georgia next month, will be finalised after the final on Saturday and announced next Monday. At this stage, Hoey and McDowell would appear to be automatic selections.
Still, neither player is taking anything for granted. "All I know is that I'm pleased to be playing well," said McDowell, who was actually one up playing the 18th against Molder, the amateur medalist in the US Open at Southern Hills last month.
All six Irish players were in excellent spirits yesterday. West of Ireland champion Michael McDermott, who will lead off the side in today's strokeplay in the company of a Greek and an Icelander, said: "It's not an overly difficult course but every hole presents its own challenge."
Stephen Browne compared it to The Curragh. "They've narrowed the fairways and had hoped to have it playing really firm and fast but there was an inch and a half of rain here on Saturday evening," he said. Timmy Rice and Noel Fox, the remaining members of the side, also expressed complete satisfaction to the build-up to the event.
After 36 holes of strokeplay today and tomorrow, the leading eight nations go into the top flight which will decide the title on a matchplay basis on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
A total of 23 countries are competing - Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Wales.
England, with the world-class Luke Donald and reigning Irish Open Strokeplay champion Richard McEvoy in their line-up, are favourites to regain the title they last won at Puerta de Hierro, Madrid, in 1991. The main continental challenge is expected to come from the host country.
Today's strokeplay order of an Irish team, which is probably the strongest to represent the country since the triumphant line-up of 1983 at Chantilly is: Michael McDermott, Stephen Browne, Timmy Rice, Noel Fox, Graeme McDowell, Michael Hoey.
Five scores out of six to count.
Incidentally, even at this 11th hour, Walker Cup skipper Peter McEvoy claims there are still places in his side up for grabs.
