Golf 2006 Ryder Cup: Ireland's biggest ever international sporting event will take place next September. Philip Reid previews the Ryder Cup

At last, it's (almost) upon us. The 36th Ryder Cup match, between holders Europe and the United States, will finally grace an Irish course. For a nation whose players have contributed cold hearts and cool heads down the years to a competition that is the ultimate in team golf, evolving from a gentlemanly match contrived by a seed merchant into a supreme battle where even major winners confess to wobbly knees over a short putt, the staging of the match on the Palmer Course at The K Club on September 22nd-24th will be the biggest international sporting event ever to be held in this country.

If you didn't secure a ticket in the public lottery, maybe you better start using your SSIA savings to invest in a flat-screen television; or pray that someone, somewhere in the corporate sector values you enough to extend a golden invitation.

The match is already a sell-out, with 45,000 spectators a day set to walk behind the 18 kilometres of rope that will separate the 24 players - that's all, just two dozen men - attempting to claim the gold trophy that represents the greatest prize in team golf.

The two teams for the match won't be finalised until later this year: the US team will be selected after the US PGA championship at Hazeltine in August, the Europe team after the following week's BMW International in Munich.

The American team's qualifying process is a two-year rolling system, with points weighed towards the second half of the process, but Tiger Woods, the world's number one, has already guaranteed his place.

Colin Montgomerie and Paul McGinley are currently leading the European qualifying, but a long road lies ahead before the 10 automatic places are decided and Ian Woosnam adds his two captain's picks.

So, what's in store? One hell of a party with a little matter of a golf match thrown in, it would seem.

Richard Hills, the director of the Ryder Cup , has the experience of being involved in every European staging since Walton Heath in 1981 and expects the 2006 version - which has been diligently planned - to meet and even surpass all expectations.

"The attendance of 45,000 a day is the absolute ceiling . . . we were heavily over-subscribed in all facets from a very early stage, in ticket applications and for corporate hospitality," said Hills, who praised the cross-party commitment his team have received from successive Irish Governments since The K Club was awarded the match in January 1999, ahead of Portmarnock, Druids Glen and Mount Juliet who had also put their hats into the ring.

With so many spectators following just four matches on each of the first two mornings and afternoons, when the fourballs and foursomes (alternate shot) are played, and with 12 singles matches scheduled for Sunday's final day of play, some 15,000 grandstand seats will be erected, as Hills put it, "to get people off the ground."

In addition, seven "Jumbotron" screens positioned around the course, on the practice range and in the tented village area will enable spectators to view play, while those in attendance will also be able to access RTÉ radio's special Ryder Cup channel which will be providing continual live coverage throughout the days of play.

The area around Straffan is set to be a "sterile" area with 24-hour closure of the roads and only limited access for the week of the Ryder Cup, with those attending the match availing of two Park and Ride facilities.

One facility at Weston Airfield in Leixlip will cater for 20,000 spectators, and the other at Palmerstown House in Naas for 10,000. Some 120 double-decker buses will ferry people to and from the course.

The two teams won't have to contend with any traffic restrictions. The USA team is being put up in the West Wing of the hotel at The K Club, the European team in the opposite wing. BMW will have 50 courtesy cars at their disposal during the week.

"This Ryder Cup is the culmination of a lot of effort," said Hills, "and fair play to everyone who has contributed along the way, from Enda Kenny through to John O'Donoghue.

"One of the challenges for us on the European Tour is that we want to ensure that it goes on beyond October (when the Ryder Cup has come and gone), that golf (in Ireland) is not going to fall off the edge of the radar."

That's not going to happen, as Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said he would envisage the Ryder Cup, "being the pinnacle, but not the end".

Hills continued: "It is the launch pad for continued, sustained success with many more of the world's 56 million golfers wanting to come to Ireland . .. . whatever happens, it will be a breath-stopping and wonderful experience, (where) golf and sport will be the winners."

In terms of marketing the Ryder Cup in Ireland, Fáilte Ireland has done a tremendous job. It seems the world and its mother knows that it is taking place at The K Club; and, as McGinley - the 17th Irishman in a long list to have played in the competition - has pointed out, it is the third biggest sporting event behind the Olympics and the World Cup.

It must be big. Even the GAA have agreed to move forward the All-Ireland football and hurling finals to avoid a clash!Ryder Cup Numbers

850 accredited international media (press, photographers, radio)

1,000 TV personnel

100 on-course TV cameras

200,000 metres of TV cable

1,200 marshals and security personnel

500 gardaí

8,000 hospitality meals served each match day

350,000 gallons of fresh drinking water will be used

2,000 sq metre merchandise tent

18 kilometres of rope

3,000 white stakes

Who's Who

Europe - Captain: Ian Woosnam Vice-Captains: Des Smyth, Peter Baker. Assistant-Captains: Sandy Lyle, David J Russell

United States - Captain: Tom Lehman Vice-Captains: Corey Pavin, Loren Roberts