In a reaction to last week's referendum on the Nice Treaty, the good citizens of the Czech Republic assured us they would progress in Europe, with or without our help. And we can't doubt them, given the strides they are making in golf.

Their first public course is under construction in the country's second city of Brno, which is subsidising the project. All five existing 18-hole courses in the Czech Republic, along with 10 nine-hole establishments, are privately owned.

Meanwhile, in the neighbouring State of Slovakia, a privately funded, 18-hole course will soon be added to the country's three nine-hole layouts. And we learn that by way of proving the bona fides of this part of Europe in golfing matters, help will be forthcoming from the R and A, who are considering ways of assisting the growth of the game in these countries.