Develop a good short game and you will be a match for anyone. That was the dictum.

Now that one is somewhat older and enjoying a touch of arthritis and gout it seems time to take this advice because the short game is the only one in town, all the way from tee to green.

When the best drive, on the flat and not wind-assisted (lest you think one is totally beaten), is about 210 yards and up to 100 yards short of the young tykes all around, one had better be straight; and straight again with the second shot; and then quite deadly into the green and on it.

This, then, was a subject of discussion during the week when the Irish Amateur Open champion of 1955 came visiting. John Fitzgibbon, for 'tis he who won our national open all of 52 years ago and still plays a neat game at Portmarnock, stopped sipping his soup and paid attention when this theory was put forward.

"'Tis true enough, " said he.

He became even more attentive when told of the astounding moment at Royal Dublin's 15th this year when one witnessed Rory McIlroy . . . who had taken time out to come over and greet one as "Mr Ruddy" thus making me feel good but old . . . rocket a driver off the deck into the wind during the Irish Amateur Open.

"Did he now, " mused the old champion.

"Yes, " says I, "and I tried it myself the other day and was astounded to find that I could get it up and going with these big-headed, new fangled drivers. 'Twas a huge help into the wind."

The soup was abandoned and off we went to the 13th fairway to test things out with guidance and advice from our mutual friend Paddy Kelleher.

"I have been working on an image I saw in a picture of Sam Snead many years ago, " says I.

"The picture was taken from the back at the top of the backswing and it was amazing how he had his posterior protruding into the lens and the knees bent. This caused his torso to lean over at just the right angle for a perfect posture and pivot. It works."

"Posture, " cried Kelleher.

"Posture indeed, " muttered Fitzgibbon.

Well, a most enjoyable hour was spent beating balls off the deck. Fitzgibbon, it can be reported, still has a champion's set-up, swing and consistency; and he has now remembered that the driver off the deck can be a great friend.

It was great to see that three lads, whose combined ages went comfortably above 200 years, with butts protruding to varying experimental degrees, could still thrill at the discovery of golfing hope.

One awaits with eagerness and anticipation the results from Portmarnock in the coming weeks.