Owners aware of the interest and importance of the Old Head

Views expressed recently in the letters' columns of this newspaper, suggested that the Old Head of Kinsale would be a wonderful public amenity. Correspondents may be interested to learn that the former owner of the property, Michael Roche, wholly supported such feelings about the spectacular headland.

Indeed I found his overall attitude to be quite revealing, when we talked at some length on the matter. For a start, Roche explained how, when he made the decision to sell the property in 1985, he was acutely aware of its importance, both from an historical and environmental standpoint, locally and nationally.

So it was that at various times from 1985 onwards, he "offered the Head to Cork/Kerry Tourism, the Board of Works and Cork Co Council." Indeed he stressed: "I told Cork/Kerry Tourism that it was a national monument, but they showed no interest." Roche, who received the 216-acre property as a wedding gift from his father in 1965, went on:

"The only people who made an actual bid were Cork Co Council, but their offer was nowhere near the sort of figure I had in mind." Eventually, after being on the market for four years, it was bought in 1989 by the present owners, John and Patrick O'Connor, for about £300,000.

The decision to sell was based on a number of considerations, notably the fact that as many as 100 sheep per year were actually disappearing over the edge of the 300-foot cliffs, down into the wild Atlantic. But there was also a more sinister loss.

He remembered a grim morning when he arrived on the Head to discover 46 sheep lying dead, the victims of attacks by local dogs. "There was always a problem with trespassers," he added. "People seemed to think they could come and go as they pleased." Trespassers found a way onto the Head through damaged fences and when Roche took no action against them, they assumed they could be there by right. It meant that when the O'Connors let it be known that they were building a golf course on what many viewed as a public place, the response was fairly predictable.

"We started with Cork County Council, who were the initial planners, and they expressed the view that there were public rights to the Old Head," Basil Hegarty, the golf club solicitor, said yesterday. "I told them there weren't. They then consulted their lawyers and in the fullness of time, conceded that I was right and they were wrong. Two high court judges have decided it would be inappropriate to have any right of way there." Hegarty went on: "The Old Head of Kinsale, as a golf course, did not need planning permission because such developments were exempted at that time. Nor was there any statutory obligation to protect environmentally sensitive areas of the property, though we have painstakingly done so. The only planning issue concerned the erection of the clubhouse.

" Meanwhile, the notion that all non-golfing visitors are banned, is rejected by Jim O'Brien, the club's general manager. "From a safety standpoint, we couldn't have individuals wandering about the place," he said yesterday. "But special-interest groups are always welcome."

"I like them, other people seem to like them and I can fit into them. Honestly, there's even enough room for a spare ball and my scorecard in the back pocket."

Catrin Nilsmark on the hot-pants in which she caused quite a stir during the Women 's British Open last weekend.

Sykes strikes back

This being a time for thoughts of hotter, sunnier climes, I'm reminded of the delightful story Peter Alliss tells about Eric Sykes, Jimmy Tarbuck, Sean Connery et al, on a golfing holiday in Marbella. And how, while they were taking a sauna, Tarbuck decided to take a rise out of fellow comedian Sykes, who was often ribbed about his deafness.

Seeing Sykes approaching, Tarbuck suggested that by way of switching things around, they should all pretend to be unable to hear anything he might say. So, when greeted with a hearty "Good morning" from Sykes, they made no reply.

Unperturbed, he sat down in the sauna and looked around at the others. "Well, I don't feel too bad considering," Sykes went on. "I must confess I had one or two brandies and a couple of big cigars last night." Still no response. And still be persevered: "How long are we going to stay in here? Will be play nine or 18 holes before lunch? What's happening?" Not a word. As the minutes ticked by, however, Sykes twigged they were up to something. Whereupon he suddenly looked up and said: "Can anyone tell me what time this train gets into Calcutta?"

A Golfer's Life

When I was interviewing Arnold Palmer last week, he suggested gently that some of the information I was seeking could be found in his latest book "A Golfer's Life", written in collaboration with James Dobson. "Don't you have a copy?" he enquired. I didn't. "Then I must send you one." There was no secretary standing by to take the necessary details. Yet earlier this week, an autographed copy of the book arrived on my desk from Arnold Palmer Enterprises in Youngstown, Pennsylvania. With is was a note from his associate, Doc Giffin, which read: "Dermot - Happy to fulfil Arnold's promise to send you a copy of his latest book. Glad to hear from you via the Boss. Best regards . . ." It is a measure of the great man that I wasn't the slightest bit surprised.

Leonard on the outside

While the respective captains have been making all the right noises about restoring goodwill to the Ryder Cup, observers will find a rich irony in the current status of the qualifying tables on either side of the Atlantic. The central figures, leading two years ago to the Americans' dance of the ours, are likely to be absentees at The Belfry next month.

I refer, of course, to Justin Leonard, who sank an outrageous putt from 50 feet on Brookline's 17th green, and Jose Maria Olazabal who didn't, from half that distance. And while the Spaniard is in a dispiriting 18th position in the European table, Leonard appears to be out of things at 23rd on the US list.

"Justin's playing better, but when you go through swing changes, as he's done, you get worse before you get better," said Curtis Strange. The American skipper added: "Because of what happened two years ago, the world thinks that Justin is automatically on the next team, which obviously is not the case. You've got to get into the 12 best for 2001 and right now, Justin's not one of those 12." Olazabal, whose main focus has been on the USPGA Tour this year, has made no secret of his indifference to further Ryder Cup honours, while insisting that Brookline has nothing to do with it. Could this be the end? If so, Olazabal has left t he remarkable legacy of 11 wins and two halves from 15 matches partnering Seve Ballesteros: the amazing Spanish Armada.

This day in golf history

On August 11th 1974, Lee Trevino went into the final round of the USPGA Championship at Tanglewood GC, a stroke clear of Jack Nicklaus and maintained his advantage to the finish to capture the title for the first time. Closing rounds of 69 from both players gave Supermex a 72-hole aggregate of 276.

Teaser: What is a burrowing animal? Dogs dig holes. Is a dog a burrowing animal?

Answer: As Seve Ballesteros discovered during the Volvo Masters at Valderrama, a dog is not a burrowing animal. A burrow is a hole or tunnel in the ground made by certain animals, such as rabbits, moles, ground hogs and gophers, for shelter and habitation. Thus, a burrowing animal is an animal that makes a hole in which it may live. Since a dog does not dig holes for habitation or shelter, a hole made by a dog is not a burrowing animal hole.