Amateur Scene: Ireland's Brian McElhinney makes his first appearance on a Walker Cup team, and England's Gary Wolstenholme, who has played on four winning sides and, at 44, is the oldest player on either team as Britain and Ireland look for an unprecedented fourth successive win over the US in Chicago on Saturday and Sunday next.
Never in the 83-year history of the two-day clash have Britain and Ireland dominated the series as in recent years. They may have won the cup only seven times - the US have 31 to their name - but four of those wins have been achieved in the past five contests, starting with a victory in 1995 against a Tiger Woods-led team.
The last time the event was held in the US, at Sea Island in 2001, a Britain and Ireland team featuring Graeme McDowell, Luke Donald and Paul Casey won for the first time on American soil to follow up their triumph at Nairn in 1999.
If that was a kick in the teeth for the US, it got worse at Ganton, Yorkshire, two years ago as the hosts racked up a historic third successive victory.
This year, team members Rhys Davies, Lloyd Saltman and 16-year-old Olly Fisher are potential professional stars. Throw in the craft of Wolstenholme and Nigel Edwards and experienced matchplay golfers such as British Amateur champion McElhinney and Gary Lockerbie and the four-in-a-row is on the cards.
Steeped in history but under the radar of the casual golf fan, the Walker Cup and Chicago Golf Club may be the perfect blend of tournament and venue as the two come together for the first time in 77 years.
Begun in 1922 by President Bush's great-grandfather, the Walker Cup is the most prestigious event in amateur golf. As for Chicago Golf Club, it's the oldest 18-hole course in the US and one of the five clubs that formed the USGA. Yet it's so fiercely private, even many residents of Wheaton are unaware of its existence.
The players will get a rare treat in playing Chicago. Ranked 39th on Golf Digest's list of "America's 100 Greatest Courses", it was designed in 1894 by club founder Charles Blair Macdonald and updated in 1923 by the renowned architect Seth Raynor.
But after hosting three US Opens and four US Amateurs from 1897 to 1912 and the 1928 Walker Cup, Chicago Golf Club has mostly disappeared from public view. Its membership is so small and exclusive, the average number of rounds played there in a year is approximately one month's play at many Irish courses.
Meanwhile, Ulster, without their star player McElhinney, will still start as strong favourites to lift the Golfsure Interprovincial title at Co Sligo GC, Rosses Point, starting tomorrow. With a blend of youth and experience that sees the winners of five of the six major titles and four teenagers in the line-up, Ulster will take some beating.
Jim Carvill has made a big impression on the amateur scene after some years on the professional circuit with victories in the East and South; Rory McElroy won the Close and the West; and Gareth Shaw captured the North crown with a victory over Stuart Paul at the third tie hole.
Shaw is one of the teenagers named by Ulster after the province finished third last year behind Leinster and runners-up Munster.
There are seven changes in all as the selectors look to the future. Out go Johnny Foster, and his former Ballyclare colleague Gareth Maybin, who have both joined the paid ranks, Michael Sinclair, Alastair McKinley, Andrew McCormick and 2004 North champion Trevor Coulter.
Making senior debuts along with Shaw will be Stephen Crowe, Conor Doran, Nicky Grant, Brendan McCarroll and McIlroy.
Leinster also make changes that see senior debuts for Robert Cannon (Balbriggan), David Houlihan (K Club), Neil O'Briain (Royal Dublin), Brian O'Connor (Hermitage), Paul O'Hanlon (Curragh) and David Rawluk (The Island) as they bid to retain their title.
Former Irish champion Ken Kearney is recalled to the Connacht side, which also includes three members of the host club - Serryth Heavy, Gary McDermott and Martin McTernan.
Cian McNamara makes a welcome return to a Munster team that also has youth on its side, with the Douglas pair of Aaron O'Callaghan and Peter O'Keeffe and West Waterford's Mark Shanahan included.
The Leinster women will also be chasing a repeat victory when their Interprovincials tee off at Royal Belfast tomorrow.
The province show just one change from the side that won at Ballybunion last year. Mary Dowling (New Ross) comes into the side in place of Rachel Cassidy (The Island).
Munster, seeking a third title in four years, name the same side that finished runners-up last year.
Ulster include four of their most experienced players in Maura Diamond, Gemma Hegarty, Helen Jones and Shauna McVeigh. Into the side come Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor), Brenda McLarnon (Fortwilliam) and Nikki Moore (Clandeboye).
Connacht, who have yet to win the series, call in Sarah Gallagher (Claremorris), Laura Holmes (Enniscrone) and Ann McCormack (Roscommon).
