SPIES are about to descend on this fair land. Golf spies. After visiting selected clubs disguised as casual, green fee paying enthusiasts, they will compile candid reports for their French masters. And the findings, for good or ill, will be found in next year's edition of the Peugeot Golf Guide.
When first published in 1995, the book concentrated on French courses. In the current edition, however, their activities have extended to Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland, while the 1995 reports on French venues have been updated. Now, the publishers are set to focus on Ireland and Germany.
Explaining their raison d'etre, Gaetan Mourgue D'Algue said "Virtually all existing guides are more like directories. In fact, it would be naive to rely on golf clubs to provide realistic assessments of their own facilities. Our goal was not to criticise each course systematically, but to help courses improve by comparing them with other courses in their region."
To this end, his organisation will be making unheralded visits to about 70 Irish courses this year. And the likelihood is that about 50 of them will be assessed in the guide on the basis of standard of the course, general facilities and hotels and restaurants in the region.
For the current edition, so called inspectors visited 500 courses from which 300 were eventually chosen, on the basis of the golfing population in the various countries. If a report is considered to be over critical, the guide will authorise a return visit to establish whether the assessment is justified. The book contains no photographs because "a single photo can hardly do justice to a course, while it could conceal its faults' Top of the current list is Valderrama, venue for the 1997 Ryder Cup on Spain's Costa del Sol. It received 23 points out of a possible 30, while Montreux, in Switzerland "the beautiful scenery of the Alps does help the player to enjoy a course which otherwise has no particular originality" is ranked 300th with nine points.
Devised and published in France, the bilingual guide is printed in English and the local tongue. For instance, Alemannic courses in Switzerland are assessed in German and English. But in this country, it is anticipated that English only will be used.
Reputable clubs have nothing to fear, according to Mourgue D'Algue, who is a former French amateur international. "Granted, we are gaining a reputation for being very blunt," he admitted. "But if a club happens to have temporary problems, they should be aware that we revise our assessments each year."
He concluded "By the end of the century, we hope to have a comprehensive guide to all the very best courses in Europe."
ARISING from last week's piece on Sam Snead, Skerries member Niall Weldon was reminded of the occasion when he met and played with the legendary American. It happened during the Kerrygold Classic at Waterville, where Snead displayed rare athleticism for a man of 64 years, as he was then.
"We were in the foyer of the Waterville Hotel, dressed in tuxedos, when someone dared Snead to reach the lowest piece of the chandelier, about nine feet off the ground," Weldon recalled. "To our amazement, he took off his shoes, went back some paces, then ran forward before making an extraordinary bicycle kick. And sure enough, one of his feet touched the chandelier."
His general mood, however, was much less impressive. For instance, when he was asked what he thought of his pro-am partners "Not so good," he replied. "In fact one guy was so bad that if you gave him a rake, he wouldn't be able to scratch his ass with it."
THEY arrived on the Inishowen Peninsula at lunchtime last Tuesday by minibus from Derry Airport. There was Nick Faldo and his manager, John Simpson, and certain members of the player's family. But the women golfers of Ballyliffin continued with their competition, oblivious to the fuss. Nor did the rank and file male members pass much heed.
Perhaps that's what made this beautiful area so attractive to Faldo three years ago, when, on a helicopter visit, he played the old course as part of a hectic tour prior to the defence of the Irish Open title at Mount Juliet. Since then, a splendid, second 18, designed by Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock, has been completed. And the US Masters champion wanted to have a look.
The party were there for about six hours, during which time Brian Harkin, the 1993 captain, laid on a splendid reception for the visitors and the club council. It seems that Faldo was suitably impressed by the handiwork of Ruddy and Craddock on the new, Glashedy stretch, which the party surveyed from three buggies.
Why was he there? "Perhaps he wants to build up the same sort of relationship with us that Tom Watson has with Ballybunion," one of the Ballyliffin members suggested to me. Then again, it could be the effect of that green, Masters jacket. Come to think of it, Watson made his first visit to Ballybunion in 1981, a few months after his second Augusta triumph.
AND then there were 12. After completing his final round in the Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth last Monday, Philip Walton became the last member of the triumphant Ryder Cup team to sign a special, commemorative flag from the event at Oak Hill.
The flag's owner, Daily Mail golf correspondent, Michael McDonnell, thought of the signatures as an ideal way of enhancing its value for the benefit of some deserving charity. But he got more than he bargained for. In fact, he has 14 names instead of 12.
"The problem arose at The Oxfordshire, where I left the flag with the recorder, Carmel Treacy," said McDonnell. "As the various Ryder Cup players came in to record their score, she asked them to sign the flag. Unfortunately, two others also signed it, with out being asked."
Ms Treacy, who hails from Scarriff, Co Clare, was powerless to stop Sandy Lyle adding his name to the list. Nor could she help that England's Phil Golding, 10 times a competitor at the Qualifying School, decided to follow suit. "Perhaps the extra names will add to its value," said McDonnell optimistically. Perhaps so. Phil who?
A NOTE arrived informing me that officials of the PGA WI would be gathering at The Belfry Hotel next Monday for a press conference about the 2001 Ryder Cup. Could this be it? Has Ireland's turn eventually arrived? Was this to be the payoff which a tearful Seve Ballesteros alluded to on the 18th green at Oak Hill last September, when Philip Walton got the winning point?
A quick phone call to the PGA offices yielded no further information. Then my pulse rate returned to normal when I remembered that in 1901, the great JH Taylor became a prime mover in the founding of the PGA. Which means that the year 2001 will be its centenary. And with the PGA having the choice of this venue, as opposed to their brethren in the European Tour who selected Valderrama for 1997, where else will they play the matches other than The Belfry?
In brief Members of Sutton GC were stunned by the sudden passing last weekend of the irrepressible Eilish Gunning, a former lady captain. One of her proudest moments was to partner Peter Cowley in the victorious Irish Mixed Foursomes side of 1982 ... Eoin Doyle informs me that the Dublin Golf Network now has over 300 members playing 15 courses. Further information on this admirable project, launched last year, can be had from (01) 6606273 ... The highly progressive Connemara club are planning an additional nine holes. In the meantime, John McLoughlin informs me that they are developing their own marketing on the Internet . . . Castletroy, home club of the recently crowned Irish Women's Close champion, Barbara Hackett, will be staging their 24th Bank of Ireland sponsored Women's Scratch Cup on Sunday, July 14th ... Visitors to Druids Glen for the Murphy's Irish Open are reminded that Delgany GC have organised a full "watch and play" programme for the week. Further details from (01) 2874536 . . . The European Club are offering free summer golf to youngsters of 12 to 18, playing with an adult.
Teaser In stroke play, alter finishing the 10th hole, A and B played from the teeing ground of the 15th hole instead of the 11th hole. They realised their error before completing the 15th hole, returned to the 11th tee and completed the round. What is the ruling?
Answer A and B each incurred a penalty of two strokes under Rule 11-4b. They were correct in discontinuing play at the 15th hole and returning to the 11th hole. Strokes played at the 15th hole, when it was played out of order, did not count.
