Irish club golfers are set to take a step into the new technological age ahead of their British or European counterparts. The Golfing Union of Ireland - who were one of the first sporting organisations in the country to host their own website - and the Irish Ladies Golf Union have signed a contract with Belfast-ased Smart Card and Leisure to implement a new internet-based Central Handicapping System.

Although the new CHS, the first system in Europe to cater for both men's and women's handicaps with regard to centralised handicapping, won't be introduced until April of next year, a pilot scheme is due to commence on September 1st at ten selected clubs throughout the four provinces to fine-tune the implementation.

The two unions have been involved in researching the possibilities of a centralised handicapping system for over two years - and, under the terms of the scheme, all members of affiliated clubs will be provided with a smart card (similar to a credit card) which will carry both the GUI and ILGU logos, the player's name, club and secure personal identity number. The unions expect to cover the costs of these cards through sponsorship.

The introduction of the centralised system will certainly ease the angst of organisers of open competitions and such like, as it will give them automatic access to the central data base. Each affiliated club will have automatic access to its list of members' handicaps on the internet and also access to visiting golfers' handicaps through use of his or her personal number.

Under the terms of the agreement, Smart Golf has also agreed to supply - free of charge - a Club Handicap Management Computer System to those affiliated clubs not already computerised to enable them to interface to the CHS.

For the first time, the new system will enable the GUI and the ILGU access to every club golfer's handicap record and extensive reporting facilities based on a secure password system.

While domestic action this week is concentrated on the East of Ireland Amateur Championship at Baltray (the only strokeplay provincial championship), eight Irish players - Michael Hoey, Mark Campbell, Peter Martin, Michael McGeady, Colm Moriarty, Chris Moriarty, Tim Rice and Andy McCormick - will be among competitors from 28 countries in a field of 288 participating in the British amateur championship at Hoylake.