It could only happen in America. The World Amateur Handicap Championship is an event on such a monumental scale, and with such a pretentious name, that the resort golf capital of the world, Myrtle Beach is the ideal venue for it.

This year's tournament takes place next week and with almost 5,000 players in the field, it requires 65 courses to get them all around 72 holes before the finals on Friday. Gweedore club president John Breslin flies out today to take his place in the seniors category having read about the tournament in a magazine article. "Sure it will be a bit of fun. I'll give it a go," he said. It will also provide a break for Breslin after a hectic president's week at Gweedore where the Diver family cleaned up with husband and wife Sean and Kathleen Diver claiming the main individual prizes and their son an Fionnan finishing third in the juniors.