GOLF: If it is said that money talks, but real money whispers, then the quiet and diligent transformation of Fota Island golf club speaks volumes. After undergoing a face-lift and successfully playing host to the Murphy's Irish Open last year, the Cork course has had its new standing further endorsed by being selected as the "Golf Course of the Year" by the Irish Golf Tours Operators Association.

Redesigned by architect Jeff Howes, who is currently working on The Heritage Club project near Portlaoise with Seve Ballesteros, Fota Island was last night presented with the accolade as best course for 2001 at the IGTOA awards dinner in Killarney. Fota Island is owned by Killeen Investments, who also include Mount Juliet in their golfing portfolio.

At the awards dinner last night, the Jerry Donworth award for "Outstanding Contribution to Golf in Ireland" was presented to Damian Ryan, the director of golf with Bord Fáilte. Golf tourism in this country has increased dramatically from 52,000 visitors in 1988 to 250,000 in 2000.

Although the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11th last year affected late-season tourism, the indications are that golf bookings for this year have started to pick up again.

Wilma Erskine, of Royal Portrush golf club, was presented with the "Secretary Manager of the Year", while The K Club was named as the "Golf Hotel of the Year".

This year's awards were tied in with a golf classic that was run at Waterville, Dooks, Ring of Kerry and Killarney in which in excess of €60,000 was raised for victims of the terrorist attacks in America. A sum of €50,000 was raised for the Ulysses Fund, which is administered by the America-Ireland Alliance, and which will be used to give families of the victims of September 11th holidays in Ireland, while a further €10,000 was raised for the Twin Towers Fund, which is fronted by Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York.