ONE of the country's most distinguished clubs looks to be set for a rather special, international honour. In the quest of a location for their first overseas academy, officials of the American magazine, Golf Digest, have been visiting Ballybunion.
Golf Digest, which has a monthly readership of about five million, currently employs 13 professionals at 500 schools in the US. And with thoughts of spreading their wings, the organisation have been drawn towards this country through some gentle encouragement from Bord Failte.
As it happens, their interest in Ballybunion comes only two months after the acquisition by the club of a 14 acre site on the far side of the road from the clubhouse, at a cost of £350,000. Plans for the site are extremely fluid at this stage, but they could include a top grade hotel.
John Hobbins and Ken Watson, representatives of the US magazine, made a fact finding trip here last week when they also visited Adare Manor and Tralee. "The project is still very much at the exploratory stage but we loved what we saw at Ballybunion," said Watson yesterday. "In fact you've made incredible strides in Ireland since I was last there five years ago.
Jim McKenna, secretary/manager of the Kerry club said yesterday: "The most obvious benefit to us would be the publicity value of being associated with such a prestige publication. We have yet to get down to serious talking but the indications are that they would require indoor and outdoor facilities."
Though a promised visit by President Clinton hasn't materialised so far, Ballybunion remains hugely popular with Americans, despite the fact that the club deliberately reduced green fee traffic from 27,000 to 25,000 rounds last year. Even at that, their revenue rose by £40,000 to £875,000.
Meanwhile, the Golf Digest approach may be yet another dividend from the club's priceless association with Tom Watson, dating back to 1981. Indeed the indications are that he could soon be embarking on a long awaited upgrading of the Cashen links, to complement his recent work on the Old Course.
IT would tie safe to assume that over the last few days, countless yarns and reminiscences have been prompted by the passing of Brud Slattery, the former secretary of Lahinch GC.
Indeed one can still picture the twinkle in his eyes as he recalled the exploits of his great friend and rival, Mick O'Loughlin.
One such story captures the very essence of Irish golf the reason it holds such a magical appeal to visitors from abroad.
Two very important looking people arrived for a game, began Brud, the consummate storyteller. "I sensed they were ripe for the taking, so I told them I'd fix up a fourball with myself and O'Loughlin. Whereupon I despatched a caddie to go up the village and get the butcher."
Down came O'Loughlin - Mick the Mate, as he was known locally - apron and all. The visitors were amazed. One said to Brud: "If the butcher is as willing as this to leave his business and play golf, he can't be making much money". To which came the memorable reply: "No. But sure he's making plenty of friends".
Brud would also recall the occasion when, as a spectator, he was rebuked for speaking while O'Loughlin faced a difficult putt on the 17th at Lahinch. Denouncing the soft spoken Brud as "a bloody schoolmaster", O'Loughlin fumed: "When the tinshin is on me, I can hear the bees fart".
Then there was the time when they were paired in a Barton Shield match at Ballybunion. As they approached the old 12th, Mick asked Brud what club he should play. On being recommended a wedge, he responded: "Sorry Shlattery that shot is not in my programme".
It seems delightfully appropriate that Brud will be buried today in Ennistymon, not far from where O'Loughlin in his butchering business, made more friends than money.
SHOULD we be all that surprised at the impact Tiger Woods is having on the US tournament scene? Were we not prepared for such precocious brilliance by the career of Jack Nicklaus, who will celebrate his 57th birthday next Tuesday?
Nicklaus was 20, a year younger than Woods, when he played as an amateur in the 1960 US Open at Cherry Hills. With rounds of 71,71,69 and 71, he finished second, two strokes adrift of the winner, Arnold Palmer, who shot a stunning final round of 65.
The most significant aspect of the exercise, however, was the fact that Nicklaus happened to be partnered by Ben Hogan over the last two rounds. Bitterly disappointed by his own failure, Hogan commented afterwards: "I played 36 holes today with a kid who should have won this thing by 10 strokes".
The Bear recalled: "It was pretty special for me as a young guy of 20 to look at the leaderboard and see I was there at 142 and Hogan was there at 142. I remember saying to myself `Hey, I'm playing with Ben Hogan'. I was pretty excited. And to go out and play with him and see him hit every green in regulation and the way he played, the way he handled himself, how courteous he was to me. It was a special thing".
At the Masters the following year, Hogan sought out Nicklaus for a practice round - a memory which led him to talk of Woods. "I enjoy watching the young man," said Nicklaus. "I think he's got a tremendous future. I'm very interested in his career, very interested in what he does. Maybe Hogan wanted to watch me for the same reason. I don't know."
A MILESTONE was reached yesterday in the manufacture of Irish golf apparel - and John Swan Ltd celebrated their golden jubilee in appropriate fashion. They completed what is expected to be a long term arrangement with Padraig Harrington, whereby he will wear their shirts and slacks on the European Tour.
"We wanted to do something special to mark our jubilee and we're delighted to have signed up a player of Padraig's quality and potential," said Alan Swan yesterday. "As far as we're aware, this is a first in Irish golf and we're in it for the long haul."
IN ALL the upheaval at Newcastle United over the resignation of Kevin Keegan, little thought has been given to its serious golfing implications. Surely the loss of a playing partner - as has happened to television pundit Alan Hansen through the appointment of Kenny Dalglish - is of far greater importance than such a trivial matter as winning some silverware.
And it can now be revealed that there was a significant difference of opinion on a golfing issue, between Keegan and his £15 million striker, Alan Shearer.
In common with most observers, the former Newcastle boss believes that a person's true character is revealed on a golf course. "Some throw the clubs around and get really annoyed with themselves," he said. "Others can shank a shot here, miss a shot there and it doesn't bother them at all."
But Shearer, who plays a useful game off 14 handicap trenchantly disagrees. "I keep, my cards close to my chest, he said. "You won't suss me out in 18 holes of golf."
Teaser: Rule 4-4a states that a club may be replaced if it becomes damaged in "the normal course of play". A player has a habit of hitting the head of his putter on the ground as he walks to the next tee, especially after missing a putt. On one occasion, after missing a short putt, the player hit the head of his putter on the ground so hard that the putter broke. The player said that he often tapped the putter on the ground and that it was not done in anger nor with the intention of breaking the club. Should he be allowed to replace the club?
Answer: No. If, in similar circumstances, a player subjects a club to a strain which may result in its breaking, the club should not be considered to have been damaged in "the normal course of play."
