Deals from Ballyliffin, Newbridge

SHORT GAME:BALLYLIFFIN GC have extended an invitation to all GUI registered societies to the popular north west links on January 9th.

The club is asking for two representatives from each society to visit Ballyliffin and enjoy a complimentary round of golf and afterwards to meet with local hotels to discuss society requirements for the year.

As an added incentive, all society bookings confirmed on the day will receive a complimentary fourball at Ballyliffin GC. Play and stay packages at Ballyliffin start from only € 199 for two BB, one dinner and two rounds of golf. Contact Ballyliffin on 074-9376119 or info@ballyliffingolfclub.com.

PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP winners Newbridge are offering a special deal for new members.

To celebrate the opening of their new clubhouse, Newbridge Golf Club are making a special offer.

There will be 50 memberships available for a reduced rate of € 1,950, with three payment options available.

Option 1: Payment in full up front.

Option 2: € 37.50 per week for one year by direct debit.

Option 3: € 27 per week for two years by direct debit. This includes your green fees for 2010.

More details about the club and membership details can be found on the club website, newbridgegolfclub.com

12 Irish women among  R&A scholars scheme

THE R&A have awarded more scholarships to women golfers than ever before.

Thirty-six women, including 12 from Ireland, a rise from 26 in 2008, will receive grants which help players at or near international standard to continue their competitive golf while still attending university.

To qualify for a scholarship, women must possess a handicap of three or less while men must be plus one or better.

The grants, totalling over €100,000, have been awarded to 91 players from all over the world. On April 6th-7th, RA scholars will converge on St Andrews to compete in the annual RA Scholars Tournament.

The event, which offers World Amateur Golf Ranking points, awards the winning man a place in the European Team for the Palmer Cup, contested by students from Europe and the US, while the victorious woman will get a place at a Ladies European Tour event.

IRISH RECIPIENTS: NUI Maynooth: Ciara Butler (Newlands), Sarah Cunningham (Ennis), Chris Drumm (Rosslare), Niamh Kitching (Claremorris), Craig Martin (Kilkenny), Kelan McDonagh (Athlone), Tommy McGowan (Strandhill), Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down), Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge), Aedin Murphy (Carlow), Lucy Simpson (Massereene), Brendan Walton (The Island). Limerick: Sarah Crowe (Tipperary), Naoimh McMahon (Shannon). Ulster: Louise Coffey (Malone). Stirling: Rachel Cassidy (The Island). UCD: Gerard Kelly (Co Louth). Athlone IT: Anne McCormack (Roscommon). Queen's: James Patterson (Knock).

Irish clubs can enter LGU foursomes

THE Ladies Golf Union has expanded the 2009 Peugeot LGU Coronation Foursomes to include Irish clubs. More than 34,000 women from England, Scotland and Wales played in 2008, and with Irish clubs now joining the number is set to rise significantly.

Clubs are invited to hold a Stableford foursomes competition - entry fee € 4 per pair - before June 17th.

Winners of the club competition proceed to area finals which will be held throughout Britain and Ireland.

Area final winners will then join the LGU in St Andrews for the grand final on Monday, September 21st, and enjoy a dinner in the luxury Old Course Hotel.

The grand final winners will then join one of the world's top professionals and play in the Women's British Open Pro-Am.

Further information can be found on the LGU website at www.lgu.org, or telephone: 0044 1334 475811.

Malahide claim Irish Times title

THE second Irish Times Readers Golf Tournament took place recently at the world renowned Sawgrass Golf Resort and Spa in Florida.

In a week where the golf reached a very high standard, the team of John Hayes, Christopher Ryan, Kieran Gantly and James Meehan from Malahide Golf Club emerged victorious with 352 points.

They were pushed all the way by the formidable fourball of Colin Burton (Beaverstown), Martin Stummvoll and Eoin O'Neill (both Roganstown) and Darren Gaynor (Nuremore) on 338 points, who in turn just held off the challenge of The K Club members Azhar Bari, John Cousins, Paul Lawlor and Dermot Kelly on 331.

According to John Hayes, a key member of the winning team, "Seven days of amazing sun and four days of golf on three quality courses made this a week not to forget".

The third Irish Times Readers Golf Tournament will take place next November 21st-28th. For information call (01) 822 6662

Tournament package includes: four rounds of golf - two rounds at The Players Stadium, one at the Dye Valley Course and one at Ponte Vedra Country Club - plus seven nights BB at the Sawgrass Golf Resort and Spa and return flights from Dublin to Orlando.

Legends join Olympic campaign

JACK NICKLAUS and Annika Sorenstam have joined the campaign to put golf back into the Olympics.

The International Golf Federation have named Nicklaus and Sorenstam as global ambassadors in support of the bid.

The International Olympic Committee will vote in Copenhagen next October on whether to add two sports to the 2016 Olympics.

The last time golf was on the programme was 1904.

"I believe with its inclusion, golf can strengthen the Olympic movement throughout the world," said Nicklaus.

"At the same time, it can have a tremendous impact on the growth of golf."

Sorenstam, who retired as a player this month, stated: "Now, as I step aside from competitive golf, a major objective of mine is to help grow the game around the world - and I can think of no better way to grow it than through the Olympics."

Meadow goes well in Florida

FORMER Irish Girls champion Stephanie Meadow, a resident student at the International Junior Golf Academy, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, finished joint 17th in the Ginn Open qualifying tournament over 36 holes at the Ginn Reunion Resort, Florida, where the LPGA event will be played next year.

Meadow had rounds of 75 and 79 over the 6,461-yard, par-72 course for 154.

Alexis Thompson from Coral Springs won the event by two shots with rounds of 72 and 74 for 146.

Thompson last year became the youngest US Women's Open Championship qualifier at 12 years of age.