Arnold Palmer is coming back to Ireland in the next few weeks to see work get underway on two new courses at Milverton near Skerries where a 400-acre plus development is ready to go.

The project, which has been in the works for years, is setting-out to be even better than Palmer's creation at The K Club and the arrangement is that Palmer himself will pay six visits during the work to ensure that everything is going as he would wish.

The Milverton Estate dates back to 1537 and it has been home to the Earl of Thomond amongst others.

The old house was demolished in the 1960s but the planned "ve-star hotel will probably prove an impressive replacement.

YOUTHS HEADING SOUTH TO WATERFORD

West Waterford Golf Club, founded in 1993, will be baptised as a true championship course when the Irish Youths' Amateur Open is played there 28-29 June with local star Seamus Power expected to put up a good display at home.

The other players on the Irish team are Andrew Hogan (Newlands), Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin), Dara Lernihan (Castle/ UCD), Neil O Briain (Royal Dublin) and Fergal Rafferty (Dungannon). Reserves: Nick Grant (Knock) and Paul Cutler (Portstewart).

AMATEUR CALENDAR IN NEED OF REFORM

The amateur golf calendar in Ireland is badly in need of reform as "xtures are bumping into each other.

For example, the Leinster Youths' Championship at The European Club 2-4 July is overlapped by the Ulster Boys' Championship at Ballycastle 3-6 July and the European Amateur Team Championship at Western Gailes 37 July.

The Senior Cup qualifying rounds at The K Club and Beech Park have been changed to avoid the clash with the South of Ireland Championship . Clubs originally due to compete at The K Club 28-29 July will now play at Royal Dublin on Sunday and Monday, 15-16 July.

Clubs originally due to compete at Beech Park will now compete at that same venue 15-16 July.

The date of the Leinster Seniors Championship has been changed to Wednesday & Thursday, 15-16 August at Co Meath GC due to scheduled course re-construction.

Unfortunately, the new dates clash head-on with the European Seniors' Team Championship in Slovenia 1518 August.

FUTURE OF GOLF ON SHOW AT PORTLAOISE

The Leinster Branch of the GUI and the Eastern & Midland Districts of the ILGU have joined forces to launch a new competition which will give the rising stars of golf under 13 years of age the opportunity to make a name for themselves.

The Leinster Under-13 Open Tournament (Girls and Boys) will take place on Thursday 9 August at Portlaoise Golf Club.

The event will be open to boys with a maximum handicap of 28 and to girls with a maximum handicap of 36. It will be a threeperson team Stableford format.

Players from clubs outside the Leinster province are welcome and teams will be co-ordinated by the tournament's Organising Committee following the closing date on Friday, 20 July. All nonhandicap players are welcome to participate in short game competitions on the day.

HOLE-IN-ONE CLUB WINNERS

The winner of this week's hole-in-one competition is Neal O'Flynn (handicap 18) who recorded his memorable shot on the 6th at Clontarf Golf Course. Neal wins a Ping collection polo shirt, a fourball in Druids Glen and a fourball in Druids Heath plus a lesson with the resident PGA Pro.

This week's runners-up, who receive six golf balls, ball marker and pitch repair kit are:

Jim Slevin (18), 17th, Elm Park Noel Noonan (12), 4th, Lucan Tom Dee (23), 18th, Castleross Michael Mullarney (10), 18th, Killeen John McGimley (12), 13th, Galway Mary Carroll (26), 5th, Thurles Patrick McMahon (9), 14th, Massereene Peter Rea (9), 11th, Arklow Patrick Lynch (26), 14th, Killeen Sylvester Quinn (4), 13th, Rossmore