Donald doesn't duck issue of name-dropping

FOR reasons he can no longer recall, Philip Donald decided in 1980 that he would like to have Arnold Palmer's autograph. But it became something of a problem, given that he didn't frequent the major golf championships. The search and subsequent success, however, led him into a consuming passion which is the subject of a charming article he has written for the journal of the British Golf Collectors' Society.

Donald, who lives in Belfast had an auspicious introduction to famous players when his father brought him to the 1951 British Open at Royal Portrush. He took with him the obligatory schoolboy's autograph book and was rewarded with the signatures of such notables as Alf Padgham, Bobby Locke, Henry Cotton and, of course, the winner, Max Faulkner.

But that was only a boyhood whim. The serious stuff was to start many years later. How to reach Arnold Palmer? "I needed an address and some US stamps so I could send a stamped addressed envelope for the reply," he recalled. "A colleague on holiday in the USA brought me the stamps and purely by chance, I found a Who's Who in America in our local library.

"Within 10 minutes, I had addresses for Palmer, Snead, Hogan, Nelson, Nicklaus and Trevino. I wrote to them all and a month later, to my amazement and pleasure, I had five replies. Thus a collection was born. My albums now contain signatures, letters, signed photographs, signed first day covers, together with signed books from the winners of over 250 major championships, men and women, professional and amateur.

He went on. "Max Faulkner and David Graham wrote personal letters on their very distinctive notepaper Jack Nicklaus, Gene Sarazen and several others sent large signed autographs. Walter Hagen's son, Walter Jnr, sent me a signature of his father's cut from a hole in one certificate. Larry Mize replied after two years. The worst writer is Curtis Strange the most attractive writer is Ken Venturi."

Remarkably, of all of the champions who have communicated with him, the only ones he met in the flesh were JoseMaria Olazabal, Tom Weiskopf, Mark Calcavecchia and Ulster's own Fred Daly, who lived "a dog leg par four from me."

"The ladies generally responded by saying they were flattered to be included in such a collection," he added. "My earliest winner is Joyce Wethered, who thanked me for reminding her of a pleasant visit to Portrush, where she won one of her championships. Her great rival of the 1920s, Glenna Collett Vare died the week I wrote to her but her brother subsequently sent me one of her cancelled cheques a sure way of knowing the signature is genuine."

All of this arose out of a recent letter which Philip wrote to me. Naturally it was in search of an autograph. His latest mark? Alan Shepard who, 15 years ago, became the only man to hit golf balls on the moon.

THERE are some wonderful stories about life at St Anne's GC and Dick O'Riordan has included many of them in a charming history of the club to celebrate this, its 75th jubilee year. It was said that the old club, "with all its imperfections, was a veritable palace." Now upgraded to 18 holes, with complementary facilities, St Anne's retains its traditional warmth, as personified by the current captain Benny Smyth and the lady captain, Antoinette O'Connor.

Arguably the most celebrated clubhouse story concerns a member who was making his way home by bicycle down Dollymount beach towards the light at the end of the Bull Wall. There, feeling tired and emotional, he sat on the rocks only to wake up with waves lapping around his legs.

But help was at hand. A passing boat was alerted by his bicycle lamp and he was hauled on board, bike and all, and deposited back on terra firma the following morning at Ringsend. From there, he cycled home. A wiser man? Unlikely The club has had some marvellous characters, all of whom are acknowledged in a worthy production.

THE name Sorenstam had a magical ring to it last weekend, when enthusiasts marvelled at the achievement of Annika, heroine of a second successive US Women's Open triumph at Pine Needles Lodge. Back in the homeland, however, there was another Sorenstam who had a far from happy outcome to her golfing activities on Sunday.

Charlotta, two and a half years younger than her remarkable sister and a fellow member of the Women's European Tour, was leading a local event in Gothenburg with two holes to play. A miserable bogey, double bogey finish, however, forced her to settle for third place.

"I wanted to see Annika on television out I must admit that I was tired and very, very annoyed with myself as mad the five hour car journey back to my home in Stockholm," she said. "Of course I knew she would win, but I still wanted to see her do it."

Annika was on the 13th and within sight of victory at Pin Needles when her sister eventually caught up with the action to Sweden's new sports television channel. "It was a great thing, for her to do to win that way," said Charlotta. "I was very, proud of her." The sisters maintain contact my transatlantic telephone. "I stayed with her at her home in California in April and I will be going back for her wedding. But that's a secret."

Would Annika be returning to Europe to compete in the Guardian Irish Open at Citywest GC next month? "I don't think so," Charlotta replied. Then, as if to remind me that there are two Sorenstams, she added with a smile. "But I'll be there."

INDICATIVE of the dramatic change in tournament values in the US, is that Tom Watson, an overdue winner of the Memorial last weekend, was aged 29 and with three major titles to his credit, before reaching his first million dollars in official earnings. It took Phil" Mickelson only the first five months of this season to amass that total. And he did it at a record young age of 25, years 10 months and 26 days.

Predictably, all of the youngest players to win at least $1 million in a season, did so during the current decade. They are 1 (in 1996) Mickelson 2 (1992) Davis Love (28 years, 13 days) 3 (1995) BIW Mayfair (29 years, 2 months, 9 days) 4 (1995) Lee Janzen (30 years, 11 months, 16 days) 5 (1992) Fred Couples (32 years, 6 months, 9 days).

AFTER much speculation, Tiger Woods has decided he twill be return in to Stanford University on September 28th for his Junior year. But the 20 year old US Amateur champion made it clear at Muirfield Village last weekend that he intends keeping his options open.

After receiving the Jack Nicklaus Award as college player of the year, Woods said. "What people don't understand is that I'm not exempt anywhere on the (USPGA) tour. It would be very difficult to come out and play a limited tour schedule and earn my card by making the top 125 on the money list. If I failed, I would have to go to qualifying school.

So, his performances in the Greater Milwaukee Open (late August) and the Quad City Open (September), to which he has received invitations, could be decisive. "If I managed to win either of those events with the consequent two year exemption on tour, I would re-evaluate the situation," he said.

IN BRIEF: Celebrated rugby internationals Gavin Hastings and Jeremy Guscott are to play successive rounds of golf in each of the four home countries on the same day, June 18th. The event, known as the Longest Day Golf Challenge, will also incorporate a team event at Royal Dublin in aid of the Central Remedial Clinic. Further enquiries from (61) 8336346. Peter Hill, the captain of Ballinasloe GC, informs me that his club are playing host to an all Ireland inter pub golf competition next Friday and Saturday. Further information from (0905) 42126 ... Away from their Irish Open commitments, Murphy's and Druids Glen are combining forces to support the second annual Phoenix Park Cup on July 10th and 11th in aid of the Irish Fulbright Commission. Further information from Kim McGuire at (01) 6688777.

TEASER: A correspondent from Sutton GC is confused as to whether a player may start a round with 15 clubs declaring one of the clubs out of play. Decision 4-4c/1 by the Royal and Ancient should clarify matters. It poses the question Before the start of a round, a player discovers that there are 15 clubs in his golf bag. He declares one of the clubs out of play, removes it from his bag, places it on the floor of his golf cart and beg ins the round. Is the player subject to penalty?

ANSWER: Yes, for starting the round with more than 14 clubs. Rule 4-4c has to do with declaring an excess club out of play on discovery of a breach after a round has started. There is nothing in the rules to permit carrying, during a round, an excess club declared out of play before the round.