British Open tickets onsale

SHORT GAME:DAILY and season tickets are available for the 2012 British Open at Royal Lytham St Annes on July 19th-22nd.

The British Open sees a return to the Lancashire venue for the first time since 2001, when the USA’s David Duval finished three clear of Sweden’s Niclas Fasth and a chasing pack that included current champion Darren Clarke.

Lytham holds many great golfing memories, not least as the venue for two (1979 and 1988) of the late Seve Ballesteros’s three British Open victories.

Season tickets offering entry on all eight days (including practice rounds) are available at the price of £230 (€268) – £10 less than the cost on the gate this year at Royal St George’s.

Daily tickets cost £60 (€70). Early purchase reductions also apply to concessionary tickets for 16-21-year-olds. Under-16s will continue to be admitted free of charge.

Nelson joins her sister as captain

TALK about keeping it in the family.

This year’s Lady Captain at County Louth Golf Club is Sheila Nelson, while her sister Kitty Duffy is the Lady Captain at nearby Dundalk GC.

Next year the Duffy tradition of being in office will be continued at the Blackrock club as Kitty’s husband Dermot will be the Dundalk captain for 2012.

They aren’t the only members of the family to captain a club. Their brother Stephen Burns was captain in Ennis in 2006.

Meanwhile, back in County Louth Finbar Ronan is next year’s Vice-Captain, his sister Anne is Lady Vice-Captain and his brother Mahon is next year’s President.

* THENorth Dublin Captains' Association will hold their Christmas outing on December 9th at Forrest Little. Places must be booked by Tuesday, December 6th.

The association’s agm will follow the golf at 5pm, with the annual dinner afterwards.

R&A make changes to prize voucher guidelines

ONE of the significant changes the RA has made to the guidelines on the use of prize vouchers, which come into effect on January 1st, 2012, is that they may now be credited to a club account and used for items such as a bar bill or a club subscription.

The organising committee is strongly encouraged to define accurately the purpose for which the voucher may be used, for example the purchase of goods in a professional’s shop or sporting goods shop, goods and services from the club or from any retail or food and beverage source.

A voucher may be credited to a club account and be used for items such as a bar bill, club subscription, payment of entry fees, and other goods and services at the club.

If the value of the voucher, is, say €100, the organising committee may, at its discretion, issue two vouchers for €50 and four vouchers for €25.

When making payment in respect of the voucher, it is the duty of the organising committee to satisfy itself that the conditions of the voucher have been complied with and that it has been redeemed for the respective goods and/or services.

An amateur golfer may submit a voucher to his national, regional, state or county golf union or association and thereafter be reimbursed from the voucher for expenses incurred in competing in a golf competition.

Handicap motion defeated

A MOTION to have handicaps in fourball competitions increased from three-quarters to full was again defeated in all four provinces when delegates voted at the annual provincial meetings last week.

Other notable changes will see four clubs from the Leinster metropolitan area qualify for the provinces finals of the Jimmy Bruen Shield – an increase of two from former years.

In Ulster caddies will not be permitted in the Ulster Fourball competition.

A motion from the Rockmount Club – in light of the GUI’s healthy bank balance and the poor economic climate – calling for the GUI to subsidise teams getting to the All Ireland finals in 2012 was carried in Munster but defeated in the other three provinces. The motion also called for subsidies in the following competitions: Cups and Shields, Fred Daly Trophy, Irish Junior Foursomes and the Irish Mixed Foursomes.

A motion from Tramore GC that a player’s handicap lapse if they fail to compete in at least three singles competitions in their home club was defeated in three of the four provinces while being carried in Leinster.

See full list in “Motions at ADM” below.

Esker Hills shine at La Calla

THE Irish domination of the 3TS Charity competition continued with another victory at the recent international final at La Calla in Spain.

The Irish have always done well in this event and Esker Hills from Co Offaly emerged as the 2011 winners. The Irish qualifiers defeated the host club in the decider, winning by 84 points to 78. It is the seventh time in the nine years of the event that the Irish representatives have won.

Bringing home the silverware this year were David Coffey, club Captain Seán Doolan, Paul Stewart and Loretta Flynn.

It was also announced that the 3Ts Charity event will continue.

Westport to host industry conference

THE inaugural Connacht Golf Industry Conference will take place at Knockranny House Hotel, Westport, on Sunday, January 29th, 2012. With the support of all 41 affiliated clubs in the region, this event will be a “must visit” for everyone involved in the industry, including golfing enthusiasts.

The event will be hosted by Westport Golf Club and their marketing manager and conference chairman, Paul O’Neill.

“An introductory newsletter was sent to over 200 industry professionals last weekend and their positive responses have being overwhelming.

“It is our intention to create an environment, through the conference, that will highlight what’s on offer to the local golfer and more importantly to the golfing tourist when they visit the region,” said O’Neill.

A number of keynote speakers have been invited to make presentations to the trade on Sunday morning. This will be followed by a golf services exhibition, which will be open to the public, free of charge.

With over 60 stands already showing interest in exhibiting at the conference, there should be plenty to keep those attending the show occupied.

The conference newsletter can be obtained by e-mailing pauloneill@live.ie.