GOLF: In 1940 a 16-year-old Noel Fogarty took a trip to a race meeting in Milltown-Malbay with his father to watch a horse named Bill Bailey run at the local meeting.

Bill Bailey won and the following day Fogarty junior travelled for the first time by train from Ennistymon to Lahinch.

And so was born a love for the county of Clare and in particular Lahinch so that 10 years later Fogarty played in his first South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch and to this day is a regular visitor to the venue.

Fogarty played in some 30 South of Ireland championships, winning the coveted Blue Blazer in 1967 when he beat Scott McDonald 2 and 1 in the final. He was runner-up to Joe Carr two years later.

Such memories and many more have been captured by Arthur Quinlan in his excellent 'South of Ireland' Centennial Memories: The story of Ireland's oldest provincial golf championship - there was no tournament from 1914 to 1919.

The period covered includes the first competition, when Dr G Browning won the title in 1895 through to Justin Kehoe's brilliant victory over Stephen Browne last year.

Quinlan, a regular contributor to The Irish Times, has had the unique experience of reporting on 56 of the 100 championships and has been a member of the club for as many years. Last year he was elected an honorary life member.

It was a baptism of fire for Quinlan in 1946 when he reported on probably one of the greatest finals in the 100 years when John Burke beat Joe Carr in an enthralling encounter that finished on the 39th hole.

Burke won 11 South titles - the last against Carr in 1946 - while Carr's first of three wins came two years later when he beat his good friend and clubmate Jimmy Carroll in the final.

Burke won four titles in-a-row from 1928, but went out of the game for seven years before coming back with a flourish to win the 1939 title. But to everyone's surprise he lost out to Dr Paul Murray of Milltown in the semi-final of 1940 before winning six in-a-row from 1941.

Dr Murray took up golf after a distinguished rugby career came to an end in the mid 1930s. He was one of Ireland's most versatile rugby players - having played at scrumhalf, outhalf and centre as well as captaining Ireland. He later became president of the IRFU.

Dr Murray's grandson, Jody Fanagan, won the South title 55 years later in 1995, when he beat Padraig Harrington in the final.

Darren Clarke won in 1990 and was followed the next year by Paul McGinley. Adrian Morrow from Portmarnock is the last player to lift the title more than once and others to win twice include Mark Gannon, Liam McNamara, Padraig O'Rourke and Walker Cup selector Rupert De Lacy Staunton.

Lahinch captain Christy Killeen says of the book: "The thousands of golfers who have participated in the South over the years will readily approve of the publication of this collection of memories."

Another celebration this month is at the Curragh golf club where members are celebrating a unique and historic event. Records show that golf was played on the "links near Donnelly's Hollow" in 1852, 150 years ago, making the course the oldest in Ireland.

1n 1851 David Ritchie came to Ireland from his native Edinburgh, where he had been a member of the ancient golf club Musselburgh (founded 1774). On his death in 1910 the Kildare Observer reported: "He claimed to be the oldest golfer in Ireland, having played with Mr Alexander Love (a local landowner from Killashee) on the links near Donnelly's Hollow in the early 50s of the last century."

Also in 1852, the Earl of Eglington, who was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and founder captain of Preswick golf club (1851) played golf on the Curragh with Col Campbell of the Queen's Bays, who was captain of Preswick in 1854.

In 1883 the Curragh golf club was formed under the Rules of the R&A. This makes it the second oldest club in Ireland, behind Royal Belfast.

On September 24th, 1910, the title "Royal" was conferred on the Curragh club. Correspondence with the British Home Office confirms that this title is still valid although documentary records are missing, not having survived the handover when the Curragh Camp was evacuated by the British Army in 1922.

Celebrations and competitions to commemorate the 150 years will take place over the weekend of August 10th and 11th.