Delegates at the Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI) annual general meeting last weekend voted 14-11 to retain the three-quarters differential in four-ball competitions, against the wishes of the Royal and Ancient. Many golfers are going to be very disappointed by this decision, but the R and A concede that the union is the ultimate authority in such matters.

The vote was more decisive than last year's margin of 13-12, as Ulster joined forces with Munster in favour of retention. "There is no point in individuals taking the GUI to task on this issue," said honorary secretary Gerry O'Brien. "The meeting simply reflected the wishes of the majority of the clubs."

Meanwhile, a decision was postponed until next year on whether Ireland will go it alone in the Eisenhower Trophy. The hope of the GUI is that the other three home unions will eventually come around to the Irish view on this issue.

The GUI are to set up a school for referees. Four candidates from each province will attend a weekend seminar supervised by a rules official from the R and A.

The New York Metropolitan Golf Association is to play a representative match against Ireland at Portmarnock Hotel and Links on May 5th and 6th. The visitors will then compete in the Irish Amateur Open Strokeplay Championship at Royal Dublin.

In 1999, competitors in the Irish Junior Cup, Jimmy Bruen Shield and Pierce Purcell Shield will play off their lowest handicap from the previous 12 months. In the meantime, the Leinster Branch are to apply the existing, national regulation this year, whereby handicaps for the Provincial Towns' Cup, the Metropolitan Cup and the Barton Cup are as applied on November 1st last.

Mark Gannon and George Crosbie have replaced Frank McCarroll and Denis O'Sullivan as senior international selectors.

Close champion Kenneth Kearney is the sole Irish representative on the European team for the inaugural match against the Asia Pacific Federation in Perth, Australia, on April 22nd to 24th.