There are now over 200 one-armed golfers organised in a worldwide society of their own, boasting handicaps as low as six. To attend their championships is to be humbled as they produce golf strokes of amazing strength and skill matched only by indomitable spirit.

They are quite simply magni"cent and it is very exciting that they are now planning a Ryder Cup-type event of their very own.

The idea was mooted in Montreal this summer and it has already received the support of the US PGA, the Ryder Cup organisers and the R&A. The intention is to send a British and Irish team for an inaugural match close to the 2008 Ryder Cup in Louiseville.

At least one Irishman is a likely candidate for the first team. Michael O'Grady from Mullingar plays a very strong game off a seven handicap and he proved his worth again at this year's World One-Armed Championship when he was narrowly beaten in the "nal by six-handicapper Nick Champness from Royal Ashdown Forest.

The Society aims to increase its membership by recruiting members of any age and giving them coaching to the point that they can earn and justify an of"cial golf handicap, just like two-handed golfers.

"Many of our new members are introduced to us within months of having lost an arm, or the use of an arm, and the Society offers counselling which plays a large part in rehabilitation and social adjustment, " says Irish chairperson Mary Jennings.

"We know that there are both males and females of all ages out there with a hand or arm disability who do not realise that they can play golf on equal terms with able bodied persons.

We hope that this new event will help to attract more of them."

Of course, it will take money to make this happen. An initial target of 35,000 has been set and the R&A is helping a bit. But it is hoped that every golf club will help by donating as little as 10 to the cause. Cheques can be sent to Mary Jennings, Society of One-Armed Golfers, 75 Glendale, Leixlip, Co Kildare; telephone 016242673; or e-mail: marymj@indigo. ie GET AHEAD WITH A HOUSE ON THE OLD HEAD The Old Head of Kinsale Golf Club has made a worldwide impact since opening, as the sheer splendour of the place has swept aside those who promoted Pebble Beach as the winner of golf's beauty contest. Now, along with the news that the Old Head is closed for its usual winter break until 27 April, comes word that the day is coming when golfers can enjoy actually living on the Head. A new entry on the club's website announces that they will soon begin work on the construction of suites on site for members and their guests. The demand will be mighty.

DO YOUR BIT FOR CHARITY BY THINKING PINK Fancy strutting your stuff in a pink jacket? Then get in touch with Joan Walker.

A jacket which, just in case it doesn't get you noticed on colour and cut alone, carries the Ryder Cup crest and Padraig Harrington's signature. Walker is raising charity funds with the Killiney Lions and approached her hero for a prize. The jacket goes on Ebay later this week so if pink is your colour don't blink.

LEFT AND RIGHT DO BATTLE FOR CONTROL OF CASTLECOMER Word from Castlecomer that they are arranging an internal match between lefthanders and right-handers reminds one that this is hurling country.

Because of the manner in which the sport is played, the ex-hurler seldom conforms to what could be called good golfing form, all but swinging the club from the wrong end. This may have had more than a little to do with Castlecomer's success in getting out of their region in the Senior Cup this year. A first for them.

Waterford, who should know a thing or two about these matters, got flattened in the final by a team that had two lefthanders, a cack-hander, a club captain and a club vice-captain. People were wondering why team manager Michael Fogarty had stopped short of giving it his best by fielding 75-year-old club president Ray O'Donnell to add extra zest to it.

Left-handers JD Harding and Michael Dermody play off two and four respectively and club captain Billy Walsh plays the dimples off the ball as a cackhanded three-handicapper. Walsh is, of course, son of Kilkenny's legendary goalkeeper, the late Ollie Walsh, who also played a strong low-handicap game and would be delighted that his grandson Gary is quite a golfer off seven.

Club vice-captain Pa O'Neill, who rounded-out the 'regular' side of the Senior Cup squad with Michael Buggy, is one of the chief organisers of the Lefts versus Rights and he was at great pains to stress that this event is open to men and women.

BRENNAN INTO SINGLE FIGURES AT ASHBOURNE Edward Brennan is the sort of fellow who makes any ordinary mortal a little jealous . . . and let them stand back in admiration.

He joined Ashbourne just two years ago and started off on what seemed a fairly tight handicap of 18, based on the fact that he looked "t and wasn't old. Now he is poised to plunge into the ethereal world of single "gures having won with 41 points on Saturday of last week off 12, and won again next day with 42 points off 11. That has got him down to 10.

Meanwhile, club manager Ronan Smyth isn't at all shy in announcing that they have a great junior programme with about 160 kids being coached by professional John Dwyer. He also says that their greens are the best, they wouldn't know how to spell temporary, and that everyone is welcome to enjoy a mixed grill for just 30 from Monday to Friday this winter.

MULLINGAR'S GOLFING AND CULINARY PEDIGREE SAFE The Mullingar golfers are an organised bunch and operate their succession matters more effectively than Buckingham Palace. Already they know that club captain John Wims will be succeeded by Frank McKeon who will, in turn, be succeeded by Pat Keenaghan (just announced exclusively here).

Wims is of a great club dynasty, as his late father Jim, who hailed from Ballymote, a town that produces only decent people if bad golfers, was Mr Mullingar for many years having served in every office in the club. He, with the late Victor Fitzpatrick and Con Crowley, taught generations of young fellows how to hold the correct end of a steak knife when they were driven half-daft by the beauty of the course and the lovely smell of the midlands beef wafting from the clubhouse.

Playing in the scratch cups there was always an ordeal as the game passed the dining-room windows on tees four and 10.

The traditions are in safe hands.

WHICH IRISH GOLF COURSE IS COMPRISED OF ONLY 15 HOLES?

Driving along the M50 is quite a treat for the golfer as it provides a peak into the lovely courses at Rathfarnham and Edmondstown.

They are clearly busy at Rathfarnham these days as machinery can be seen on the move.

They have Geoff Howes on-board, eliminating some fairway hilltops to improve visibility and adding a new par-three in the old practice area.

This will bring the hole count to 15 but this is likely to remain the same for some time as hopes of building three more holes on lands to be purchased from the adjoining Rockbrook School have foundered with a refusal of planning. This leaves Rathfarnham on the menu as a table-quiz question.

But club members are taking this in their stride as Des Cole prepares to succeed Alan Campbell as captain and Brid Connolly, whose husband Malcom was captain a few years ago, is set to become lady captain.

Over the road at Edmondstown, meantime, it is as if the clock has stood still since the 1970s with the name Howard Jacobs still on the winners' board. This ageless hero is now operating off 13 so ef"ciently that he scored 42 points last weekend to win by seven from a hapless but impressed and unbroken John Cousins (10).