The dual attraction of playing golf and helping sick children at the same time proved to be a real winner in last year's inaugural Musgrave Crumlin Children's Hospital Club Challenge. The aim now is to make the 1999 version of the national inter-club competition, which is editorially supported by The Irish Times, an even bigger success.

A total of £42,439 was raised by participating clubs in last year's competition, which helped Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children to provide new equipment and facilities. Part of the on-going drive is to help towards the biggest building project since the foundation of the hospital in 1956 which will increase the number of operating theatres from four to seven at a total cost of £14 million. The event is a three-person team competition open to all clubs affiliated to the Golfing Union of Ireland and is played using the rumble format: i.e. first six holes one score to count, second six holes two scores to count, and the last six holes all three scores to count.

Clubs throughout Ireland are being requested to play their own domestic competitions from May to August, with the winning club teams going forward to the provincial finals in early September.

Although the team entry fee is decided by each club, the suggested fee is £30 per team (£10 per golfer) from which the club will retain its weekly competition subscription.

Anyone seeking further information can contact tournament co-ordinator Pat Cashman at 01455 8455.

There is an exceptionally large Irish entry for the British Amateur Championship which takes place from May 31st to June 5th at Royal Co Down. Thirty four Irish players have been accepted into the championship, with strokeplay qualifying taking place at Co Down and Kilkeel. The top 64 players and ties then advance to the matchplay phase.