The members have just decided to spend 1.3 million renovating and extending the classic old links at Arklow with a view to resuming their place at the top of the Irish gol"ng table by 2009.

Arklow was a main hub in Irish golf in the 1960s and 1970s when the annual scratch cup attracted stars like Des Smyth, John O'Leary, Joe Carr and Tom Craddock and was always praised as a great test, a links always in superb condition and as a most welcoming place.

Everybody wanted an invitation to play and a waiting list was part of life.

The welcome has always remained the same, the greens have always been the subject of praise as Martin Lipsett succeeded the late Johnny Lott and retained the magic of excellence, but the new technology began to make the links look short.

Length will be no problem from now as the new plan will stretch it to about 6,500 yards.

Nine of the older greens from the 1920s are to be rebuilt to the design of Eddie Connaughton who has been more or less architect in residence for the past "ve years during which the other greens have been modernised. He will also design a totally new 13th hole to incorporate some new land.

Water control is another big issue under the new scheme as drains will be modernised to handle the heavy downpours that are now so common and also shaped into graciou burns in the Scottish style. A new wall-to-wall irrigation system will ensure highquality tees, fairways and greens are attainable all year. The work will be spread over two winters to minimise disruption of play.

TOLAND SHOWS HE STILL HAS BAGS OF TALENT

Congratulations to Barney Toland who got a hole-in-one at the 17th on the old links in Ballyliffin at age 83.

THREE IS THAT MAGIC NUMBER FOR ASHE

Some people seem to go on forever.

One such is Mick Ashe, now a youthful 73, who has been a leader at Birr for decades and is still showing some fancy steps such as when he scored the third ace of his career at the sixth in Tullamore the other day. But he is far from a oneshot wonder as he "gured on the winning team in the Mid-Ireland Tourism Classic recently.

CONDREN IN FINE FORM AT GREYSTONES

Alan Condren has been in great form of late and capped it all by shooting a course record of 65 at home in Greystones last week.

He had been runner-up in the Leinster and Connacht MidAmateur championships and he won the Wicklow Scratch Cup at Delgany.

USA HAVE YOUNG STAR TO MATCH McILROY

Come back Rory McIlroy your country needs you. That could be the silent cry as the Irish amateur team heads to New York to play the biennial Carey Cup match against the Metropolitan Golf Association and will face local boy-wonder Cameron Wilson who kicks hard at age 14. It will be strange for the Irish who have got accustomed to producing their own boy-wonders.

This year's match will be of special interest as it happens at the magni"cent Donald Trump National which bears all the hallmarks of the man with impressive waterfalls, pristine course conditions and the mandatory palatial clubhouse.

It is planned they will get to meet The Don himself. That should be educational and give them a close-up of con"dence on the hoof. Through the week they will be hosted graciously by First American Title Insurance and they will get a warmup by playing in this weekend's Nassau Invitational at the nearby club of the same name.

The Carey Cup matches take place on 11-12 October and the Irish team is Cian Curley (Newlands), Paul Cutler (Portstewart), Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin), Shane Lowry (Esker Hills), Paul O'Hanlon (Curragh) and Simon Ward (County Louth).

TUBBERCURRY ON A HOT STREAK IN CONNACHT

Tubbercurry performed a real giant-killing act in the Connacht Shield when felling the mighty County Sligo in the final. Even the Rosses Point heroes could do nothing to stave off defeat having lost the first leg 4-1 away. Team manager Charlie Scanlon was taking no chances going to The Point and it paid to show respect as nails were bitten anxiously to the bitter end. His two trump cards came up trumps, however, with the pairings of Tony Hession with Jimmy Walshe and Jack Reade with Ivan Moloney winning out.