It's not often that a humble, handicap golfer gains the distinction of making significant contributions to the centenary histories of two clubs. But this has been achieved by the remarkable Billy Cunningham, whose membership of Carrickmines stretches back 75 years - to his times there with Samuel Beckett.

The centenary history of the club, charmingly titled On Carrickmines Hill, landed recently on my desk. And it had me looking back to the 1993 centenary history of Foxrock GC, where Beckett and his brother Frank were also members. In it, Cunningham recalled how Beckett carried few clubs and putted with a two iron.

There is considerably greater detail in the Carrickmines book, splendidly compiled by Marcus Webb and John Briggs. In the event, Cunningham can trace his membership of the club back to 1924 when he and Beckett, among other Dublin University undergraduates, were granted special junior status at the knockdown subscription of a guinea a year.

In a delightful chapter, Cunningham recalls playing with Beckett on one particular afternoon, when the prospective Nobel Laureate missed a putt: "He then made a skelp at the ball with his putter; took a divot and hit the ball into heavy rough.

"Neither of us could find the ball and an elderly gentleman, Grove White, arriving on the green inquired: `Are you looking for your putt?' He then gave us a dressing-down for disgraceful behaviour, tramped off with his walking-stick and reported us to the secretary, who was playing on an adjoining fairway. JH Carnegie was a man of foresight. We heard nothing further about the incident."

The oldest member continues: "Sam Beckett and I played together for Carrickmines in the Barton Cup. We lost a match on one occasion against Royal Dublin at the 20th hole. Our opponents were a stockbroker named Nicky Manly and a Captain Jameson. (In fact Manly and JF Jameson were members of the Royal Dublin teams which completed the double of the Senior Cup and Barton Shield in 1924).

"Beckett, who incidentally played cricket for Trinity First XI, was a fine natural golfer, a proficient iron player and a splendid companion, with a good sense of humour. I enjoyed my golf with him at Carrickmines. Money was scarce and we contributed little to the bar receipts. We might perhaps have a glass of ginger beer on a hot day or even a glass of beer. From time to time we might combine to play against James Barrett."

This, of course, was the celebrated club professional from 1908 to 1950 when his son, Jimmy took over the role which he filled until his retirement in 1984. In the history of the game in these islands, it is doubtful if any club enjoyed such long and distinguished service from a father and son.

Among Jimmy Barrett's exhortations to his pupils were: "Don't mind where it goes so long as you hit it properly"; "Harness the wind" and "If you hook the ball, you can play golf". A grateful club granted him honorary status in 1994.

Meanwhile, Billy Cunningham informs us that: "When Sam (Beckett) went off on his literary career, his father found himself without a successor in his firm of quantity surveyors. Frank returned to Dublin to fill the gap. I enjoyed many games with him. Frank told me that they had to send food parcels to Sam during World War II when he was living in occupied France."

The book, to which a number of members, including Vere Wynne-Jones, have made contributions, is worthy of a much-loved institution.

Quote: "Very, very few people really know what they are saying. But they are great actors. They are fantastic at selling themselves. Some of the things I see on the (driving) range make me laugh."

- Seve Ballesteros, assessing the current crop of golfing gurus.