Irish Ryder Cup body set up

DES SMYTH, who competed in the event on two occasions, is part of a high powered committee composed of golfers and businessmen set up to spearhead Ireland's bid to play host to the Ryder Cup in 2005.

The 43 year old European Tour player who played on the first full European Ryder Cup team (rather than a Britain and Ireland representation) in the 1979 match with the United States at the Greenbrier, West Virginia, and was again selected for the encounter at Walton Heath in 1981 is one of the most respected professionals in the game.

The Minister for Sport, Bernard Allen, named the eight man committee yesterday. It comprises Hugh Mackeown (chairman), who is chairman of Musgraves and a former Irish international; Roy Douglas, the chief executive of Irish Permanent; George Crosbie, a director of Examiner Publications and a former Irish international and team captain; Michael McCumiskey, the secretary of the Irish PGA; Aidan Marsden, of the Department of Education; Marc Howard, of the Department of Education, and Smyth. The eighth member has yet to be appointed, but will be a nominee of Enda Kenny, the Minister for Tourism.

"I am treating this bid in a very serious manner," Allen said yesterday. "The Ryder Cup is now one of the great events, not just in golf, but within world sport. It would be a major boost to this country to stage the event and I feel very strongly that Ireland is, at this stage, well entitled to host the Ryder Cup."

The Minister announced his intention to form this committee during the Murphy's Irish Open in July. Since then, Allen has made a formal approach to Ken Schofield, the PGA European Tour's chief executive, informing him of Ireland's intention to bid for the event in 2005.

The Minister for Tourism also had discussions with Schofield during the Smurfit European Open, and the matter is due to be discussed by the Ryder Cup committee during next week's Volvo Masters in Valderrama.

Seve Ballesteros, who will captain Europe in next year's match in Valderrama, and Bernhard Langer are among those who have advocated Ireland as a future potential venue.

Allen said: "While Ireland is entitled to host the event, there is no guarantee it will automatically come to us. I am acutely aware of the intense level of competition which we face from a host of European countries.

"But I am equally confident Ireland has the infrastructure, the golf courses and the unrivalled public interest to make a Ryder Cup match in this country the most memorable ever."

Meanwhile, Tralee has been dropped from the top 100 courses in Britain and Ireland in Golf World's November issue, along with such notables as Slaley Hall - which hosted the Nortumberland Challenge on the European Tour this season - and the Jack Nicklaus design at St Mellion.

Four Irish courses feature in the top 10 - Royal Portrush, Royal Co Down, Portmarnock and Ballybunion (Old) - while the only Irish newcomer to the top 100 is The European Club (at 44th).