More lists. But the latest one to find a space on my desk among the Christmas cards, parking tickets and rejected ideas for a family millennium party, happens to contain very good news for nine Irish clubs. Indeed two of them, Ballybunion and The European Club, have gained rather special mention.
In their wisdom, Golf Monthly and 10 other important international magazines, decided, with the help of their readers and a panel of experts, to compile a list of the "500 Best Golf Holes in the World at the Year 2000". And to ensure everything was in order, R & A captain Michael Bonallack and USGA executive director David Fay oversaw the final deliberations.
As it happens, there are 15 Irish golf holes on the list, which may appear rather modest at only three per cent of the total. But given that the poll is truly international - only 81 holes from these islands gained selection - it becomes quite impressive, especially with this country staging relatively few important tournaments.
Anyway, the chosen Irish holes are: Ballybunion - 2nd (par 4), 7th (par 4), 11th (par 4); The European Club - 7th (par 4), 13th (par 5), 14th (par 3); Royal Co Down - 4th (par 3), 9th (par 4); Waterville - 11th (par 5), 17th (par 3); Portmarnock - 14th (par 4); Lahinch - 4th (par 4); Tralee - 17th (par 4); Old Head of Kinsale - 17th (par 5); Royal Portrush - 14th (par 3).
The most famous of these would be the 11th at Ballybunion, the ninth at Royal Co Down and the 14th (Calamity) at Portrush. But it is interesting to see new courses such as The European Club, Tralee and the Old Head making an impact, without having staged an international tournament, amateur or professional.
The commander-in-chief at The European Club is certain to glow considerably redder than Rudolph this Christmas, on reading the Golf Monthly editorial. It says: "The star of the show was surely The European Club on the east coast of Ireland, which also claims three holes (along with Ballybunion, Wentworth and Royal Dornoch).
"It is a major coup for this relatively new links and a tribute to Pat Ruddy who created a course worthy of challenging the best. Consecutive holes - the monster, par-five 13th and the short 14th and the 470-yard par-four seventh - are the ones which caught the eye, not only among our enthusiastic readers but also the judging panel."
On the downside, it is sad to see some of the country's great holes being overpowered by modern equipment, especially the golf ball. One thinks particularly of the 414-yard 14th at Portmarnock, where Christy O'Connor needed two glorious drivers during his miraculous, non-counting round of 73 in the Dunlop Masters of 1965. Which makes its inclusion all the more welcome.
"The only natural golfer is a kid at five-years-old. Everyone else has to adjust his swing." Nick Faldo.
OF COURSE it could never happen in this country. Even the most recalcitrant of golf-club members are certain to come into line before the Government is forced to wield the big stick of legislation against them. Still, it's interesting to ponder the possibilities of non-compliance with the equality laws.
For instance, the attorney general of Massachusetts has taken the unprecedented step of ordering a superior court judge to install "an overseer" in a country club which discriminated against women. Haverhill Golf and Country Club lost two discrimination suits, most recently to nine women who were awarded $1.97 million in damages.
A jury decided unanimously that the women were unfairly denied "primary memberships", which come with choice starting times and greater access to the club. Sound familiar? Anyway, the club rejects the court's findings and plans to appeal.
By way of response, the women asked that Haverhill be ordered to stop discriminating. And they requested that the court appoint a monitor who would have authority over the club in any related matter. The AG agreed, saying: "Frankly, I really don't see any likelihood of any change unless a monitor is in place."
ANY doubts we may have had about golf being very big business should be removed by the latest figures from the industry. Golf tourism in Europe is currently valued at $2 billion per year - twice the combined money spent on golf equipment and clothing. And the figure worldwide is $10 billion. These fascinating figures came from Peter Walton, chief executive of the British-based International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO), who was in Dublin this week to honour Druids Glen. He added that golf tourism was growing at an annual rate of 12 per cent. And the best news of all? "Ireland are in there at the forefront," he replied.
It must be a few years since Dai Davies, golf correspondent of the Guardian, enthused about a visit he had made to Cruit Island GC at Kincasslagh, Co Donegal. Instinctively, I sensed that his views on the place might be transferred to print, somewhere down the road.
So it has happened, in Beyond the Fairways, which carries the sub-title The past, present and future of world golf, is written by Davies and his wife Patricia and is published by Collins Willow at Stg£16.99. With a foreword by Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal, the book is an admirably comprehensive work by two very experienced observers.
Patricia Davies, who writes on golf for the Times, will be better known in this country as the sister of Maureen Madill and a fine golfer in her own right. In the event, Dai and Patricia have produced a beautifully-crafted and highly informative book, which carries the bonus of brilliant illustrations by Harold Riley.
And what of Cruit Island? We are informed: "Should you happen to find roughly the right part of the mainland, cross the bridge to Cruit and just drive on - do not give up. Eventually you will run out of island. It is likely to be shut. Don't worry. Find the honesty box, insert the £7 it costs per person and climb to the first tee.
"The view from there is fantastic: all rocks, other islands, turbulent seas beating on a battered coastline and vast expanses of sky, stretching away to Newfoundland." These words capture the essence of what is essentially a very personal journey for the two authors, who predict that "As golf moves into a new millennium, it is about to change, at professional tournament level, totally and completely and for ever."
Thankfully, such happenings wouldn't affect Cruit which, one suspects, will retain its timeless charm.
WHAT sort of money will tempt a leading tournament professional into action on the eve of the Millennium? $120,000. That's the guaranteed minimum reward in the $3.5 million Williams World Challenge at Grayhawk GC, Arizona on December 29th to January 2nd, involving Tiger Woods, David Duval, Davis Love, Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson, Mark O'Meara, Justin Leonard, Hal Sutton, Sergio Garcia, John Huston, Tom Lehman and Paul Lawrie.
Are such events good for the game? "I would have said absolutely not 20 years ago," remarked Jack Nicklaus. "Johnny (Miller), Arnold (Palmer) and I could have done that type of thing, but it wouldn't have been right because the prize money would have been way out of balance. But it's not out of balance today. It's amazing how things change."
Teaser: A player's partner, opponent or fellow-competitor plays a stroke from near a bunker and the divot comes to rest near the player's ball lying in the bunker. May the divot be removed?
Answer: A player is entitled to the lie which his stroke gave him. Accordingly, in equity (Rule 1-4), the divot may be removed without penalty. The same would apply if the player's ball was lying in a water hazard.
