Play golf and help sick children! It sounds too good to be true, but that's precisely what a major new All-Ireland Inter-Club golf competition - which will take place over the summer months with the national final to be staged in Portugal in early October - offers participating clubs.

The Musgrave Crumlin Children's Hospital Club Challenge, supported editorially by The Irish Times, is a three-person team competition open to all clubs affiliated to the Golfing Union of Ireland. It will be played using the rumble format, i.e. first six holes one score to count, second six holes two scores to count, and the last six holes all three scores to count.

Clubs throughout Ireland are being requested to play their own domestic competition on a Saturday or Sunday during the months of June, July or August with the winning club teams going forward to their provincial final at a venue and date to be announced shortly in The Irish Times. Each provincial winner will then travel to Portugal - approved by the R and A for the payment of expenses - to compete in the national final.

By participating in this national golf competition, clubs' will assist Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in providing new equipment and facilities. This drive includes the biggest building project since the foundation of the Hospital in 1956 to increase the number of operating theatres from four to seven at a total coast of £14 million.

Although the team entry fee will be decided by each club, the suggested fee is £30 per team (£10 per golfer) from which the club will retain its weekly competition subscription. Anyone seeking further information can contact tournament co-ordinator Pat Cashman at 01-455 8455.