British Open tickets:Spectators who want to watch Pádraig Harrington defend his British Open title at Royal Birkdale next July can buy a season ticket to cover eight days of official practice and championship play for a discounted price of £180 (€256) before the January 31st deadline.
"We are offering a large saving on season tickets purchased before the end of January 2008," said David Hill, director of championships at The R&A.
"The cost at £180 represents a 40 per cent discount when compared to daily admission charges for the four practice days and the four days of competition."
During the four days of the championship, from July 17th to 20th, a daily ticket will cost £55 (€79), with concession tickets available. Under-16s will again be admitted free by applying to the R&A in advance or if accompanied by a responsible adult on the day.
Revision of rules
Revisions to 28 of the 34 Rules of Golf, agreed jointly by The R&A and the United States Golf Association and aimed at improving clarity and reducing penalties to ensure they are proportionate, will come into effect from January 1st, 2008.
The R&A has also announced the extension of its sponsorship arrangement with Rolex, supporting publication of the Rules of Golf, until 2012.
One of the changes most likely to be encountered by golfers in regular play is Revised Rule 12-2 allowing a player to lift a ball in a bunker or water hazard for identification purposes.
There is a consequential change to Rule 15-3, which introduces a penalty for playing the wrong ball in these circumstances.
In strokeplay, a revision to Rule 4-1 reduces the penalty for carrying, but not using, a non-conforming club from disqualification to a penalty of two strokes per hole, with a maximum penalty of four strokes per round.
In matchplay, the state of the match is adjusted by deducting one hole for each hole at which a breach occurred, with a maximum penalty of two holes per round.
The penalty for the accidental deflection of the ball by the player, a partner, a caddie or equipment is reduced to one penalty stroke in matchplay as well as strokeplay in a revision to Rule 19-2.
Tackling slow play
The problem of slow play now dogs the game of golf wherever you play, and especially in weekend competitions.
We are all guilty of it sometimes and always quick to criticise our fellow members or committees for their lack of response when it becomes a problem.
The Provincial Branches of the Golfing Union of Ireland and the Club Managers Association of Europe are now ready to tackle the problem.
They are inviting clubs in Leinster, Munster and Connacht (an Ulster event may take place later in the winter) to participate in the re-education of golfers by practical measures at a series of seminars in their areas during November.
The Leinster Branch meeting takes place in the Castleknock Hotel on Monday, November 26th from 2pm.
The Connacht Branch meeting is in Ballinrobe Golf Club on Tuesday, November 27th at 2pm and the Munster Branch Meeting is in the South Court Hotel, Limerick, on Wednesday, November 28th at 2pm.
Phelan plays his part
Kevin Phelan, from Grantstown in Waterford, and the Nease High School Boys Golf Team set an historic Florida State High School record and were named "The Best Team in State History" last week.
They finished with a total score of 579 for the two-day tournament, winning by 23 strokes at Bridgewater Country Club in Lakeland, Florida.
Individual scores were: Ed Waller 142, Phelan 144, MJ Maguire 144 and Tyler McCumber (son of PGA and Champions Tour Pro Mark McCumber) 149.
The team's season record against all teams played was an unprecedented 62 wins from 62 starts. It's never been done before in the history of the state.
Kevin, had a few other highlights during this high-school season, including a hole-in-one at the Palencia Country Club, carding a 65 at the St John's County Championships at the Slammer and Squire and a fifth place finish at the St Augustine Amateur.
Winter offers
Play golf on any day for just €20 is again on offer at Carrick-on-Shannon GC, Co Leitrim, over the coming months.
The very successful winter series tees off this week and runs until March 8th, with the weekly winners qualifying for the grand final. The overall prize for the winning team is a trip to the Slieve Russell Pro-Am in May and includes three rounds of golf and two evening meals.
The format is a three-person rumble and details are available from 071 9667015 or email ckgc3@eircom.net
Meanwhile, Beaverstown GC is offering a winter deal up to the end of March 2008 of 18 holes of golf and a three-course steak dinner for €€45, available on Monday, Thursday or Friday. Contact 01- 8436439 or email manager@beaverstown.com.
Dean sets record
It might be November but the good golfers have not gone into hibernation for the winter months just yet.
The kind weather and great greens have led to a spate of good scores around the country but none to match the course record set last Sunday week at Blainroe Golf Club, Co Wicklow, by Paul Dean. He played superbly to record a two-under-par 70 and surpass the previous record of Mark Redmond by one stroke.
No stranger to the limelight, Paul, a former Irish rugby international and club captain, plays off the very respectable handicap of one.
Not to be outdone and leading the golfer of the year when teeing off, Terence Ryan (5), also a former captain, knew he had to shoot a good score and when the pressure was on duly did the business, shooting a 71 gross (nett 66) and winning the November medal by two shots from a trio of 68s from the chasing pack.
Déise Open qualifiers
This week sees the first of the Déise Open qualifiers at West Waterford GC. During the week an Open 16-hole competition will be held for men and women with handicap limits of 20 for men and 30 for women.
Three visitors and two members will qualify for the grand finals, which will take place in April 2008. Details from West Waterford GC at 058 43216 or email info@westwaterfordgolf.com
Open fixtures guide
The Irish Golfers Guide to Open fixtures will be available once again in 2008 listing all the Open fixtures around the country. If your club would like to have your Open fixtures included you should make contact with Oliver I Hilliard by phone on 090 9674258 or 086 3977087 or email irishgolfopens@eircom.net
Quinlivan wins by two
New Forest Golf Club in Tyrrellspass, Co Westmeath, was the venue last Sunday for the latest outing of the Midland Senior Alliance. And the Peter McEvoy-designed course proved quite a test for the competitors, but in the end James Quinlivan of PGA National proved the best in the gross category. The scratch golfer fired a 73 to win by two from Edenderry's Greg Carew (+1) and Paul O'Hanlon (+2) of The Curragh, who had won their outing to Mullingar.
In the nett section it was a good day for two seven handicappers from The Heath Golf Club, with Liam Horgan shooting a 72 to beat his clubmate Joe Delaney by a single shot, while Dermot Usher (4) of Newlands was third, a shot back on 74. The Alliance's next outing is to Esker Hills on Sunday, November 25th.
King for a day
It was a day for the high handicappers at the Oyster Golf Society outing to a windswept Castlebar Golf Club last Thursday.
Yet despite the testing conditions good scoring was the order of the day with 18 handicapper Joe King firing an impressive 41 points to edge out Peter McDonagh (20) on a countback over the closing nine holes, and Mickey Glynn (17) third, leading home a host of players on 35 points.
The gross winner was Paul Carney (14) with 25 points.
Next up for the society is a visit to Connemara on Thursday, December 6th for the Christmas Hamper outing. Places on the timesheet are available from David on 091 529609.
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