Refereeing standards set to benefit from new seminars

The Golfing Union of Ireland do not intend to be found wanting when they play host to next year's Home Internationals at Royal Co Down. Recently, the sport's governing body in this country held a rules seminar for referees at City West in Dublin and, due to its success, it is intended to repeat the exercise next March.

"We had four people from each province," explained Joe McNamara, convenor for Rules of Golf with the GUI, "and with more inter-club competitions than ever now, it is important to have a stream of referees coming through. The GUI will also be responsible for providing the majority of referees at the Home Internationals and this sort of seminar is extremely useful."

Indeed, the exercise was a mini-version of the R & A seminar (which is held annually at St Andrews) and featured lectures and video demonstrations over a twoday period. "Our aim is to improve the standard of referees, to improve their competency," added McNamara.

McNamara, who is also a member of the Leinster Branch, stressed the importance of club players being familiar with the rules. "In general, the awareness is very good - but there are a lot of people new to golf who have joined clubs in recent years and, to facilitate them, we also organise rules nights around different clubs which have proven to be very successful."

The much-acclaimed Faithlegg course in Co Waterford, which was designed by Paddy Merrigan, is to be augmented by the development by the Tower Hotel Group of a four-star country house at the 18th century Faithlegg House, a former novitiate of the De La Salle brothers.

The Tower Group - a joint venture between Abbey Travel Group and FBD insurance company - have commenced construction of the 82-room hotel which is planned to be in operation by next spring.

"The hotel will add a new dimension to our corporate strategy of focusing on growing or emerging niche markets," said Con Horgan, chairman of the group. "We are already well established in golf promotion through our special Tee Time in Ireland packages and Faithlegg House will be marketed to the higher end of the leisure and corporate markets."