By SHAY KEENAN

Robinson named as Irish women's captain

CLAIRE ROBINSON from Knock, Sinéad Keane from The Curragh, Larne’s Roma English and Ailish McCartan from Greenore will captain the Irish women’s, girls’ and senior international teams for the 2010 season.

Keane, a past international, will continue as captain for the Girls’ European Team Championships, to be played at Aalborg, Denmark, from July 6th-10th. Keane will look to lead her team to a successful defence of the title won by Ireland in Finland last year.

McCartan will accompany Keane as team manager for the European Championships before taking over the reins as captain for the Girls’ Home International matches to be played at Bangor, August 4th-6th. Aisling O’Leary from Wexford will act as team manager for this event.

Robinson, a past Curtis Cup player, will again lead the Ireland team for the European Women’s Team Championships at La Manga, Spain, July 6th-10th and the Women’s Home Internationals at Whitchurch, Wales, September 8th-10th. Ballycastle’s Fiona McComb is the team manager.

English, with many years experience of international events, will serve as captain of the Irish Seniors teams for both the Seniors’ Europeans Team Championships in Berlin, Germany, from August 31st to September 4th and the Seniors’ Home Internationals to be played at Sheringham GC, East Anglia from September 28th-30th.

Musselburgh Old Course the oldest

EVER wondered where the oldest golf club in the world is?

Well records recently recovered seem to suggest the Old Golf Course at Musselburgh Links holds that distinction after it was officially recognised as the oldest surviving golf course in the world by Guinness World Records.

Historians uncovered the earliest record of golf being played on any surviving golf course from an Account Book of Sir John Foulis of Ravelston, an Edinburgh lawyer.

The earliest game played on Musselburgh Links took place on March 2nd, 1672, where he documents “he lost at golfe at Musselburgh . . . £3.05.0.”

This documentary evidence was included in The Golf Book of East Lothian, published in 1896 and written by John Kerr, the minister of Dirleton.

Mary Queen of Scots is believed to have played the golf course in 1567; its origins however are probably in the 12th or 13th century.

The Naas-based clubmaker Derek Murray, of Fore Golf, has achieved a notable distinction in claiming the 2010 World Clubmaker of the Year award, presented by the Golf Clubmakers’ Association in the USA. It is the first time since its inception 20 years ago that a non-American claimed the honour.

The GCA, based in Austin, Texas, is the oldest association devoted exclusively to the craft of custom fitting and clubmaking and has a worldwide membership of over 6,000. "The GCA Clubmaker of the Year award acknowledges the best clubmaker in the business," said Golfsmith USA Vice-President Dave Lowe, who served on the panel of judges. "This award recognises Mr Murray's ability, integrity and professionalism."

Kelly maintains his links form

ST MARGARET’S professional John Kelly, who won the gross at the previous outing to Co Louth, showed the field the way home in the Right Price Tiles/Waterford Crystal-sponsored Links Golf Society outing to Portmarnock Hotel and Links last week.

Kelly fired a three-under-par 68 to win the nett by three shots from David Heary from Clontarf, with Kevin Commins from Ardee taking third place on one-over-par 72. Eamonn Brady from Clontarf edged out Fergal Kennedy from The Island and local Joe Hutton for fourth place on a countback after all three finished on 73.

Robert Giles from Greenore took the gross with a one-over-par 72 on a countback from Michael Lavelle (The K Club) and Neil O’Briain from Royal Dublin.

Lee Owens from Killiney led the winning team home on 61 in partnership with Shane Kerrigan from St Anne’s and Willie Leggett from The Island.

Galgorm Castle to host EuroPro event

GALGORM CASTLE Golf Club will host Northern Ireland’s first PGA EuroPro tour event, which is scheduled to take place at the Ballymena venue from June 21-25th, 2010.

Northern Ireland already boasts a rich golfing heritage with star names such as Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke flying the flag around the world.

Galgorm Castle is already a proven venue and has hosted numerous professional events on the domestic Irish PGA circuit, while last year’s British Universities Championship was successfully staged over the championship course.

“We are absolutely delighted with the news,” said Gary Henry, general manager of Galgorm Castle Golf Club.

“Having already hosted domestic PGA tournaments and major celebrity events such as the George Best Golf Invitational, it is with great pleasure that we look forward to welcoming the leading European players from the PGA EuroPro Tour here this year.”

The George Best Foundation will also be involved with the event – particularly the pro-am and gala dinner – to help raise funds for its many ongoing projects to help provide children with a better lifestyle through participation in sport.

ILGU seek a team manager

THE ILGU is inviting applications for the position of team manager to the Irish delegation at the World University Golf Championships, Malaga, Spain, June 7th-11th 2010.

The position of team manager is a non-paid, voluntary position with the selected person being responsible for both the men’s and women’s squads.

Should both squads travel, an assistant manager may also be sought.

Ideally the person should have some experience of university golf.

For more information, please email gillian@ilgu.ie before Friday, January 22nd 2010.

Korda books US Curtis Cup place

JESSICA KORDA, 16-year-old Florida-based daughter of former Czech Republic tennis ace Petr Korda, booked her place in the United States Curtis Cup team for the June match against Britain and Ireland, with a brilliant victory in “The Sally” – the South Atlantic Ladies Amateur strokeplay championship – at Oceanside Country Club, Ormond Beach in Florida over the weekend.

Jessica, with her father as caddie, won the second event on the Orange Blossom Tour with a 13-under-par total of 275, a record low for the event. Korda had rounds of 75, 69, 62 and 69. Her third-round 10-under-par effort of 62 took one shot off the ladies’ course record.

Candace Schepperle finished second on 279. She was the only other player to be under par with her four-round totals. Schepperle scored 73, 68, 68 and 70.

Ireland’s Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush) fired rounds of 71, 70, 81 and 80 for a total of 302 to finish in tied 10th place.

Stirling student Rachel Cassidy from The Island, Dublin, finished on 328 after rounds of 80, 83, 80 and 85 – disappointing for the player who was the top European finisher (in 20th place) in the Harder Hall Women’s Invitational seven days earlier.