As the name Mended Hearts would suggest, they are products of the wonders of modern cardiac surgery. And their annual golf outing, which takes place at Forrest Little on Monday, is understandably special. But it takes on a particular fascination at this time, in view of extraordinary news from across the Atlantic.

It is some years now since Newlands member, Christy O'Hanlon, became the recipient of a heart transplant. And those healthy, able-bodied players who continued to struggle off high handicaps, had reason to be envious of the skill and determination which allowed him to compete successfully off 15.

By any standards, however, the American breakthrough by Erik Compton is truly remarkable. At 18, he is the first heart-transplant recipient to qualify for the US Amateur Championship. He did it on the testing terrain of Weston Hills CC where he followed a three-under-par 69 with a solid 72.

"I've been dreaming about going to the Amateur," said Compton, who lives in Miami, Florida and happens to be America's top-ranked junior golfer. "I've been working all summer to achieve this and obviously it's a wonderful thrill." "There have been other transplant successes to qualify but we don't believe there have ever been a heart-transplant recipient," said Craig Smith of the US Golf Association this week. The US Amateur will be played at Oak Hill CC, Rochester, New York on August 24th to 30th.

When he was only nine years old, Compton began to have heart problems after contracting a cold. He was eventually diagnosed with dilated congestive cardiomyopathy, a disease which caused his heart to steadily enlarge and weaken.

Aged 12, he underwent surgery to replace the weakened organ with the heart of a young motor accident victim. At the time, it made him the youngest candidate for this type of surgery at Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital.

"The person who gave me this second chance, I'm taking him with me to Oak Hill," said Compton who doesn't know the identity of the donor. "I'm taking this person on a journey some people never get the chance to go on."

He is heading to the University of Georgia this autumn on a golf scholarship and he takes four drugs each day to fight tissue rejection. Doctors say his long-term prognosis is good. But on his rather special assignment later this month, all those in the world's fraternity of golfers will wish him well - especially the Mended Hearts.

"I do enjoy my golf, but after taking one sport seriously for so long, I would not want to do the same again," Former Wimbledon tennis champion Virginia Wade, who plays off 18.

Despite repeated warnings in this column, people insist on attributing record status to the latest hole-in-one story. And I can only repeat that it is a minefield. Make the claim in good faith and in the time it takes to shout "ace", some wiseacre will come tut-tutting along, pointing to where it has been done before.

This time we're talking about Matthew Stuart who, at the tender age of five years, three months and five days, scored a hole-in-one in the US last Monday. His ace with a shortened driver at the 86-yard par-three seventh hole at Fox Ridge CC was, naturally, claimed as a record. But was it?

It would appear so, according to the latest record books which note that Tommy Moore was six years, one month and seven days when he aced the 145-yard fourth at Woodbrier GC, West Virginia, in 1969. And the record for the girls is attributed to seven-year-old Lynda Rader, at the 135-yard second at Twin Creeks GC, Tennessee, in 1968.

In further digging, how- ever, I came to an older tome. Therein, I learned that Coby Orr of Littleton, Colorado had a hole-in-one at the 103-yard fifth at Riverside GC, Texas, in 1975. Orr was aged five. Unfortunately, the information is not more specific than that. So he could have been older than Master Stuart. Then again he could have been younger. Interesting?

Meanwhile, we congratulate Bray associate member, Gertie McClafferty, on her eighth hole-in-one which she claimed at Elm Park's short first last Sunday. Since taking up the game in 1971, Gertie had her first ace at the old 10th at Dun Laoghaire; had others at Courtown, Kilcoole and Newlands and had three at Bray. Sensibly, she is not claiming any records.

Golf has been greatly enriched over the years by the wonderful camaraderie among the caddying fraternity. Thankfully, it is still in evidence as Dianne Medlen discovered when she set about organising a pro-caddie tournament to benefit the Leukaemia Society of America.

It will be recalled that last year, Dianne's husband Jeff "Squeeky" Medlen, the much-loved caddie of Nick Price, died after a brave battle against leukaemia. Now his widow has organised an event in which tournament professionals will team up with the caddies and amateur partners at the Isleworth CC, Orlando on October 26th.

Early indications are that the line-up will include the celebrated former partnership of Peter Jacobsen and Mike "Fluff" Cowan. Fluff, a recent visitor to this country and a decidedly useful two-handicapper, split with Jacobsen so as to take the hugely rewarding bag of Tiger Woods, who cannot make the event because of a previous commitment.

News from the USPGA Tour is that the purse for the annual Skins Game, which Tom Lehman defends at Rancho La Quinta CC on November 28th and 29th, is to be increased from $600,000 to $1 million. It breaks down as follows: Holes 1 to 6 (incl) - $25,000 per hole; 7 to 12 - $50,000; 13 to 17 $70,000; 18 - $200,000. All of which is terribly ex- citing, of course. But it would be more exciting still if the tour, through an official statement on the matter, could assure yours truly and a growing number of sceptics that the players are, in fact, competing for these sums.

My understanding is that the loot is split as appearance money before the start and that the competitors then engage in some splendid, dramatic acting for the benefit of the television cameras. To their credit, how- ever, it must be conceded that they are somewhat more convincing than professional wrestlers. Which, come to think of it, wouldn't be hard.

Meanwhile, recent discussions among officials of the PGA of America could broaden the selection base for their Ryder Cup team. It has been suggested that the rules be amended so that American citizens not born in the US would be eligible. Which would open the door for Canadian-born Brian Watts, who was runner-up to Mark O'Meara in last month's British Open.

A more pressing issue for Watts is whether he can defer a three-year Japanese Tour exemption, before deciding on accepting a USPGA Tour card for next year. Watts earned sufficient at Royal Birkdale to gain exempt status, now that the British Open qualifies for the USPGA Tour money list.

In the build-up to the inaugural West of Ireland Seniors Championship, currently in progress at East Clare GC in Bodyke, the host club got a fascinating phone call last week. It seems that European Tour Productions, who are televising the event, were finalising preparations for their arrival at the venue. However, critical to their needs was a street map of Bodyke. NB: Described locally as a "crossroads village", Bodyke has an estimated population of 300.

This day in golf history . . . . On August 15th 1965, Dave Marr ended a three-year slump by capturing the USPGA Championship at Laurel Valley. The merit of his triumph couldn't be questioned, given that he finished two strokes clear of the joint runners-up, Jack Nicklaus and Billy Casper.

Marr, who died last year from cancer, is probably better remembered as captain of the 1981 US Ryder Cup team and as a fine commentator with the ABC television network. In leading the US side to victory at Walton Heath in 1981, he was maintaining a family tradition insofar as his cousin, Jack Burke Jnr, had been captain in 1957 and 1973.

Teaser: In a match, A and B are playing the last hole. B is one-up. A holes out for a four. B putts from a wrong place and holes the putt for a four. A congratulates B and concedes the match. Before leaving the putting green, A asks B if he (B) had putted from a wrong place. B acknowledges that he did so. A claims that B loses the hole under Rule 20-7a (playing from wrong place). Is the claim valid?

Answer: Yes. Concession of a match is not binding if subsequently a valid claim is timely made. A's valid claim was made within the time limit in Rule 2-5 (before the players left the putting green).