`Duke' of golf rides into the sunset

THEY HAVE been making quite a fuss down on the Costa del Sol about the recent retirement of a legendary figure in Spanish golf. Sebastian Miguel, who holds the distinction of being the first golfer to achieve a televised hole in one, has stepped down as head professional of Las Brisas, where he held the position since the club's inauguration in 1968.

When reference is made to The Duke in Hollywood circles, there is immediate recognition of the soubriquet for the late John Wayne. But in Spain, it can refer only to the younger of the famous de Miguel brothers, because of the dashing figure he cut on the world's fairways.

Sebastian and Angel Miguel have a special place in Irish golfing lore because of their contribution to the 1958 Canada Cup in Mexico City where they finished second to Harry Bradshaw and Christy O'Connor. But there is also the painful memory, from an Irish perspective, of Angel's victory in the individual trophy in which he finished level with Bradshaw on 286, only to beat the Delgany man with an 18 foot birdie putt at the third play off hole.

Sebastian was born in Madrid in 1931, a year after his brother. By 1967, with the Portuguese Open and three Spanish Open titles to his credit, he had become one of the most respected golfers in Europe. These achievements earned him an invitation that year to participate in one of the earliest Shell Wonderful World of Golf matches. So it was that at El Prat, Barcelona, he scored the first ever televised hole in one.

He also holds the record of 11 World Cup appearances for Spain, five of which were with his brother in 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959 and 1960. But it was Angel who was in the side as the partner of Valentin Barrios in 1973 when the event was stated at Las Brisas for the first time. That was the celebrated occasion when Johnny Miller, who raced away with the individual trophy, partnered Jack Nicklaus to a stunning, six stroke victory for the US over the South Africa, represented by Gary Player and Hugh Baiocchi.

EVEN the most modestly talented of us have had the blissful experience. It's called the perfect golf shot a career best, out of the screws or, in modern professional parlance, flushing it. But it invariably poses the question "Why can't I do it all the time?"

This was the challenge which exercised the mind of sports psychologist, Dr Maynard A Howe, causing him to invent a new training aid called "SOUND advice." And it has already achieved such outstanding results that it has been endorsed by no less a figure than Jack Nicklaus. Renowned teachers such as Phil Rodgers, Jim Flick and Butch Harmon also approve.

So, what is it and how does it work? It is a motion sensitive instrument, easily attached to the grip of any golf club. When switched on, it measures imperfections in a golf swing and instantly signals those faults to the golfer with an audible "beep." It also "beeps" its approval when the club is swung correctly.

Effectively, any undue muscle tension prompted by swinging the club incorrectly is registered by a "SOUND advice beep. The objective is to develop a proper swing by eliminating all but one beep the one that signals the proper weight transfer on the downswing. "It helps you understand exactly how to correct your swing," said Fred Griffin, golf director at Grand Cypress Academy in Orlando. For further information, phone 001 612 2212300.

I WONDER where Ben Hogan went wrong. There was the great man, remorselessly hitting golf balls in his search for the elusive "secret." How he must bitterly regret that the book "Learn Golf in a Weekend" was unavailable to him in his hours of need.

The author, Peter Ballingall, informs us that the aim of the book is knot just to teach you the basic golfing techniques in a course lasting 12 hours over a weekend but also to show you that golf is very much a game of mental approach, whatever level of skill you reach."

On day one the beginner is taught the golf grip and setting up (30 minutes each) putting, chipping and pitching (one hour each) and full swing (two hours). Then on day two of the week end, the concentration will be on ball control (90 minutes) bunker play (one hour), play awkward lies" (90 minutes) and playing the game" (two hours). Total time 12 hours. Simple as that.

If the book had been titled "A weekend introduction to golf" I would have found it somewhat acceptable. As published however it is yet another example of the endless exploitation of golfers who in their naivety, are happy to believe anyone with the message that a fiendishly difficult game can, by some miracle, be made easy.

WHEN PROBLEMS arose with the Aroeira greens last weekend, there were understandable suggestions that the Portuguese Open should have remained at Pen ha Longa where it had successful stagings in 1994 and 1995. Against that background, I was delighted with the chance of playing the course last Saturday.

In fact the trip across Lisbon held further appeal on the discovery that the resident professional happened to be Irish. He is Robert Judd, a younger brother of Tony Judd, the Forrest Little and former Courtown professional.

"I came here on holiday this time last year and approached a few clubs about a job," said the expatriate Judd who had worked as an assistant to his brother. "Within a few days I accepted an offer from a golf academy here in Lisbon and built up a good clientele of pupils."

He went on "Seven months ago, Penha Longa approached me and I am now the club's head professional. I like it here and plan to stay a few years." His teaching activities are concentrated mainly on continental Europeans, of whom he regards the Germans as the most challenging pupils. "They lack natural coordination which, I think, stems from the fact that they don't play a stick game like hockey or hurling," he said.

As for the course, designed by Robert Trent Jones and with an overall length of 6,864 yards off the back tees its challenge lies mainly in a tight, heavily bunkered layout on severely undulating terrain. I suppose the par four 13th would have to be considered exceptional, given that I had an eagle two there. But overall, it was in fine condition, a splendid test rendered all the more attractive my the sight and sound of the Estoril grand prix circuit close by.

IT'S BEEN a good week for the caring image of golf. Firstly we had the annual accounts from the Links Society, indicating that £267,700 was donated to various charities during the 1995-'96 season. The main beneficiary was Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Dublin, which received £55,000.

Then came the final statement from the JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am, which was held at Limerick GC last June. Remarkably, the event raised £2,940,146 which has been distributed to 12 charities. The highest figure of £50,300 went towards the provision of an angio cardiography laboratory at the Regional Hospital, Limerick.

IN BRIEF Mick McCarthy, the newly appointed national soccer manager, has given his blessing to the second AIB International Golf Classic at Luttrellstown on May 27th, when proceeds will go to the retired Republic of Ireland International Players' Trust With 191 competitors seeking 132 places, next week's Ulster Bank sponsored West of Ireland Championship will have a handicap cut off of 2.7 (exact), the lowest for five years.

This year's Ulster Professional Championship is to be staged at the splendid Castlehume course near Enniskillen on September 10th and 11th . . . Prospective entrants are reminded that the closing date for the Ulster Bank All Ireland ladies Fourball Championship is April 4th. Details Phone 1800 224 455.

TEASER During the Portuguese Open last weekend, England's Stephen Field found his ball in an area marked ground under repair on the 14th green. In the absence of a rules official, he claimed relief placing the ball outside the affected area. From there Field putted through part of the GUR and carded a par three. One of his playing partners later reported the incident to officials of the European Tour. What was their ruling?

ANSWER Before Field signed his card, they informed him that he had incurred a penalty of two strokes for a breach of Rule 25-1b (iii). Explaining the decision tournament director Andy McFee pointed out that when electing to take relief from GUR the player is obliged to take maximum available relief. Since Field neglected to do this he was penalised two strokes. So a score of 69 was amended to 71.