McNeill named in Bolivar team

It's a sign of the boom time in the Irish amateur game that elite teams can be dispatched around the globe without the need to include either the British amateur champion or European amateur strokeplay champion.

As the Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI) continues its strategy of securing top-class foreign tournaments for its players, Gavin McNeill, the Irish close champion, and Walker Cup player Graeme McDowell, who is on scholarship to the University of Alabama, have been selected to represent Ireland in the Simon Bolivar Cup in Caracas, Venezuela, on November 7th-10th.

McDowell recently won the Toby Cup, an international collegiate tournament, in Japan - and Walker Cup captain Peter McEvoy has pinpointed such international exposure as a key ingredient in Britain and Ireland's ability to retain the Walker Cup, as was the case at Sea Island this year.

In recent years, the "home" unions have sent one representative to look after the interests of all players competing in Venezuela, and, on this occasion, Jack Lynch, the incoming president of the GUI, will accompany the players.

Meanwhile, a further two full internationals are also getting the opportunity to escape Ireland's winter climate by being sent to play in South America.

Justin Kehoe, from Birr, the South of Ireland champion, and Johnny Foster have been selected to represent Ireland in the Juan Carlos Tahilade Cup in Los Lagartos Country Club, some 50 kilometres from Buenos Aires, on December 13th-16th.

Michael Hoey, the current British amateur champion, was not considered for either trip as he has signalled his intention to turn professional after next year's US Masters.

In the past, however, he has benefited from similar participation in tournaments in the Middle East, Asia and South America. Stephen Browne, the European amateur champion, has recently joined the professional ranks.

With the domestic season finished, the lure of further competition abroad is an attractive one - and it is not confined to the top international players.

For instance, Holywood Golf Club, as winners of the Fred Daly Trophy for junior golfers, have earned an invitation to compete in a four-nations final - along with England, Scotland and Wales - at La Manga on November 24th-December 1st, and up to 40 club members have decided to go along as fairway supporters.

And Mallow - as winners of the Irish Senior Cup - and Shandon Park, as holders, will be competing in the European Club championship in Medici in Italy next month.

A more immediate foray into international competition will be taken by Mark Ryan (Grange) and Mark O'Sullivan (UCD and Galway), who, as winner and runner-up in the Irish youths championship, will compete in the European Under-21 Championship at Turnberry on October 25th-26th.

Meanwhile, golf's most recognised icon around the world, the clubhouse of the R & A at St Andrews, is to undergo a major refurbishment.

The R & A is upgrading the interior and approaches of the clubhouse, but claims that the image "which instantly defines the Home of Golf" will be retained.