SO, you want to go abroad for a round or two of golf? But you don't want to travel too far.

Well, the island of Anglesey is proving to be an increasingly popular destination with Irish golfers, helped no doubt by a journey aboard the Stena HSS which lasts a mere 99 minutes from Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead.

Indeed, Holyhead Golf Club - a par 71 coastal heathland course - is one of the courses available to trippers from Stena Line Holidays. Bull Bay, which is Wales's most northerly course, and Anglesey, a short links course, are also included on the itinerary.

Travel and golf, for one day golfers, starts at £45 while packages including accommodation and golf commence at £78. "We've had a very good response and we expect it to get even busier," admitted Eamonn Hewitt of Stena Line.

Interestingly, the initiative is a two way one with a growing number of Welsh players availing of the one day trips to play Charlesland and Kilternan. SOME old friends who, nowadays, display their golfing skills to an American audience return to this side of the Atlantic for the big money Volvo PGA Championship which starts at Wentworth on Friday.

And three of them - namely Nick Faldo, Jesper Parnevik and Frank Nobilo - could be worth a flutter over a course which tends to throw up a quality winner. Faldo is a player who always seems to do well over the tight, tree lined Wentworth course and, at 14 to 1, represents decent odds.

Parnevik, who has enjoyed a superb start to the US Tour, is priced at 18 to 1, while Nobilo is available at attractive odds of 28 to 1.

The in form Bernhard Langer, winner of the last two tournaments he has played, is not surprisingly installed as the 11 to 1 favourite. Given his recent form and his track record (he has won the title three times) at Wentworth, Langer is again likely to be very much in the hunt. Still, Nobilo could prove to be the prodigal son of the European Tour and mark his return with a top four finish. He's worth an each way bet.