Two Irish in elite squad

Alison Coffey, of Warrenpoint, and Milltown's Suzanne O'Brien are the only Irish players named in the Britain and Ireland elite squad to prepare for next year's Curtis Cup match against the United States. The squad, under the direction of coach Maureen Madill, will meet throughout the winter and spring in the build-up to the match at Ganton on June 24th-25th.

Although Coffey and O'Brien, who made a significant contribution to Britain and Ireland's win over the Continent of Europe in the Vagliano Trophy match at North Berwick in July, are the only Irishwomen to make the 12-player training squad, Cork teenager Claire Coughlan, who won the Irish Close championship at Carlow during the season, has been named as third reserve.

Becky Brewerton, the 16-year-old winner of the British Women's Amateur Strokeplay in August, has been elevated to the squad where she joins five members of the 1998 Curtis Cup team: Kim Andrew, Fiona Brown, Rebecca Hudson, Hilary Monaghan and Becky Morgan. Three of the squad - Anne Laing, Lesley Nicholson and Moanghan - are scholarship students at Heriot Watt University in the US.

The squad will meet for a training session at the Scottish National Golf Centre in Drumoig on November 19th-21st and will then meet again for a training/fitness session at Elysium, near Wolverhampton, on February 12th13th. Prior to the Curtis Cup, the squad will meet for training at Ganton Golf Club twice, first over the St Patrick's weekend, on March 17th-19th, and again on June 2nd-5th. Most of the players will also compete in the Weetabix Challenge at Ganton in April.

The squad is: Kim Andrew (Cliheroe), Fiona Brown (Heswall), Becky Brewerton (Abergele), Alison Coffey (Warrenpoint), Emma Duggleby (Malton & Norton), Rebecca Hudson (Wheatley), Anne Laing (Heriot Watt University), Hilary Monaghan (Heriot Watt University), Becky Morgan (Monmouth), Lesley Nicholson (Heriot Watt University), Suzanne O`Brien (Milltown), Kerry Smith (Waterlooville). Reserves: 1, Kirsty Fisher (Royal Lytham & St Anne's); 2, Louise Davis (Conwy); 3, Claire Coughlan (Cork); 4, Heather Stirling (Bridge of Allan).

Meanwhile, the Royal & Ancient - one of the game's two Rules-making authorities, the other being the United States Golf Association - have amended or redrafted a number of rules "in continuance of the policy of making the Rules of Golf as clear and concise as possible" for the new edition which comes into effect on January 1st next.

The main changes from the existing rule book relate to amateur status and are: Rule 1: Amateurism - a new rule has been introduced to explain the concept of amateur status and the purpose and spirit of the rules.

Rule 3: Prizes - the prohibition against playing for prize money has been re-positioned with a new prize rule, and a single prize limit of £300 has been established.

Also, an exception to the prize rule has been introduced allowing vouchers to be used to cover expenses incurred in participating in golf competitions, provided the reimbursement of such expenses is controlled by the National Union. It is hoped this will, in particular, reduce the cost of competing at the highest level of the amateur game and enable those fortunate enough to win vouchers to use them to offset their future expenses.

Rule 5: Instruction - a new exception permits expenses for instruction to junior golfers, provided it is part of a programme approved by the governing body.

Of more interest to the ordinary club golfer, are changes in definitions. For example, under "Honour", the word "entitled" has been amended to clarify that a player who has the 'honour' is to play first and does not have the right to defer to another person. In all, there are 47 changes under etiquette, definitions and rules - all of which come into play on the first day of the new century.