Irish eyes on the Eisenhower

THE Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI) is to make a concerted effort to bring the Eisenhower Trophy the world amateur team championship to this country in 2002. A formal application to play host to the tournament is to be made to the Royal and Ancient and the USGA, the championship controllers.

The Eisenhower, which was inaugurated in 1958, is, in effect, the World Cup for amateur golfers, and is contested biennially. The championship has never been held in Ireland. If the GUI is given the go-ahead, the event would be held in October 2002.

Ironically, the move comes at a time when Ireland is poised to break from the traditional Britain and Ireland joint entry in the four-man team competition. Keith Nolan could have the distinction of being the last Irishman to play on a joint team when he competes in the Philippines on November 14th-17th. A final decision on the "go it alone" stance will be taken at the GUI agm next February.

Given Ireland's international reputation for staging golf tournaments, however, the GUI feels the time is opportune to make a bid for the Eisenhower (which comes to the Western Hemisphere every fourth year) in 2002. The GUI staged the Walker Cup at Portmarnock in 1991 and, next year, will play host to the European Amateur Team Championship, also at Portmarnock.

Meanwhile, the Irish Amateur Close Championship will revert to a purely matchplay format when the event is staged at Westport next August.

There will be an increase in numbers from 174, who competed at Royal Co Down this year, to 192 players for the 1997 championship. The last occasion the championship was entirely matchplay was at Royal Dublin in 1986 (when John McHenry won). Since then there has been a 36-hole strokeplay qualifying round, with the top 64 players progressing to the matchplay stage.

The GUI has also affiliated a further 10 clubs: Ardacong (Tuam), Bearna (Galway), Druids Glen (Wicklow), Powerscourt (Wicklow), Christy O'Connor (Hollystown, Dublin), Kilmashogue (Dublin), Roundwood (Wicklow), Chloic Cheann Faola (Falcarragh, Donegal), Ardminnan (Down) and Down Royal Park (Down). This brings the number of clubs affiliated to the union to 359.