Sport – hope springs eternal

Sir, – Fionnuala Ward wittily recounts how being whitewashed in her tennis match was “existential in its bleakness”, but at the end of it all, she was ready to organise and lose more matches (“Game, set and match – the unforgiving nature of tennis”, An Irishwoman’s Diary, March 21st).

Beaten in a golf match at the far end of the golf course with several holes remaining is no fun either.

Listening to the ebullient victor in the long march back to the clubhouse being overly generous with a few tips and being reassured you have plenty of room for improvement, the golf course is the last place you want to be.

Nonetheless, the following morning you are out there again, adjusting your grip and extending your swing. Long live the stayer! – Yours, etc,