Gary Love, who died last week, was noted throughout these islands as a distinguished physician. But as a member of Knock GC, he also had the remarkable golfing distinction of being the only Irish Close champion of modern times, not to have played for either his province or country. And I am indebted to an old friend of mine, Dermot Melia of Howth GC, for explaining Love's international absence, after he had qualified automatically by beating George Crosbie in the Close final at Malone in 1956.

"When I met him in Dublin about 25 years ago, he talked about 1956 and how he was already committed to an overseas tour with the British Universities' golf team at the time he won the Close," said Melia. "So he asked to be excused by the Irish selectors, who never got around to picking him after that. I gathered this was a considerable disappointment to him."

Interestingly, Love was Ulster Boys' champion, also at Malone, in 1952.