Competitive golf can be a cruel, cruel affair. One of its many agonies befell Noel Quinn as he missed a four-footer on the 36th green to end one short of John Murphy's president's prize at New Ross. The prize was taken with 77 points by John Woods.

GOLD COAST GOLFERS TO LIVE UP TO NAME

They seem to be an energetic bunch at Gold Coast Golf Club near Dungarvan where 100 worthies will be lined up for a shot-gun start to an amazing golf marathon at 7.30am next Thursday.

Many of the players will complete three continuous rounds while others will act as pace-setters for one or two rounds.

They expect to raise over /20,000 for charity and they will be driven by such determined and committed team captains as Tom White, Fidelma Horsom, Tom Considine, John Coade, Kieran Cullinan, Ger Enright, Tony Dunford and Justin Spratt.

HOLOHAN PROVES SHE'S NO ONE-HIT WONDER

To win a major club event once is a great achievement. To win twice is a true mark of golfing distinction and so it was a delighted Helen Holohan who won the president's (Ignatius Rice) prize to the ladies at Callan Golf Club with a fine score of 70.

The very same score with which she won the president's prize back in 1983!

CASTLECOMER CARRY A PARTY TO SLADE VALLEY

The ladies of Castlecomer are so thrilled at reaching the final of the Boyne Trophy against Slade Valley that they have arranged a bus to take players and supporters to the grand finale at Edenderry next Wednesday.

Predictions in golf are perilous and impossible at this level but travelling in hope will be the panel of Honoria Fogarty, Margaret Furlong, Betty Byrne, Claire Dowling, Joan Brennan, Betty Owens, Maureen Norton, Ita Madigan, Kathleen Ryan, Noreen Kinsella, Patricia Doheny, Mary Hahessy, Jean Ryan and Enid Abbott.

HOWLIN FAMILY ARE HOWLING WITH DELIGHT

Father and son struck gold in the captain's (John Moore) prize at Clane as Philip Howlin captured top prize and his father, Eamonn, won the past captains' prize.

GRIFFITH KEEPS GOING WITH CLAREMORRIS

Des Griffith seems to go on forever. He played junior golf for Connacht way back in 1969 and here he is today leading Claremorris into the All-Ireland playoffs in the FBD GAA Interclub Championship in the hope of regaining a title last won in 2005.

All they have to do is dispose of St Brigid's (Leinster), Boherlahan-Dualla (Munster) and Derrygonnelly (Ulster) at Faithlegg on the weekend of 8-9 September.

HOLE-IN-ONE CLUB WINNERS

The winner of this week's hole-inone competition and the prize of a Ping collection polo shirt, a fourball in Druids Glen and a fourball in Druids Heath plus a lesson with resident PGA Pro is Lucia Mullen (handicap 13) who recorded her memorable shot on the fifth Hole at Ballyliffin Golf Club. This week's runners-up, who receive six golf balls, ball marker and pitch repair kit are: Mike Waters (6), 16th Lahinch June O'Mahony (20), 13th Cork Marie Conlon (26), 11th Hazelgrove Miriam Quaid (19), 3rd Lee Valley Suzanne Geraghty (36), 8th Donabate Seamus McDonald (18), 10th Glenmalure John Irvine (16), 8th Downpatrick Frank Maher (18), 9th Charleville Carmel Verling (15), 7th Enni Liz Cleere (20), 10th Rosslare Ian McCool (22), 2nd Dun Laoghaire John Murray (25), 7th Waterford