Organiser Ciaran Tighe, managing director of All in Golf, says: "The Emerald Pro-Am Tour offers an affordable and accessible tournament for golfing professionals while at the same time offering amateurs a unique opportunity to test their skills alongside the pros."

The Emerald Pro-Am Tour consists of two separate competitions . . . The Emerald Pros and the Emerald Amateurs. The two competitions run concurrently with the professionals and amateurs playing together.

"It takes a lot of money, support and commitment by professionals to make it on the top tours and the majority end up not making it, " says Tighe. "This tour offers the pros the opportunity to afford the experience needed to make it and also discover oneself in the heat of competition. It's our aim to provide all amateurs with a handicap of 18 or less a tour that is both competitive and professionally run. For the handicap golfer the tour provides an opportunity to play with a pro, treat guests to a new golfing experience and hopefully improve their golf along the way".

The Tour runs from 2 November to 18 April and there are prizes for each event and also an Order of Merit title for both the professionals and amateurs to chase.

The cost of joining the Emerald Pro-Am Tour is 60. Fees payable for each event are 50 (members) and 65 (non-members) for the pros and 60 (members) and 75 (non-members). Only members can compete for the Order of Merit title.

The 23 events will take place in some of the best golf courses in Leinster. Commencing in Knightsbrook Golf Resort on Friday, the Tour moves onto the O'Meara course in Carton House and then moves onto The Heritage . . . the recent venue for the Seve Trophy.

Throughout the season, competitors will play in Powerscourt east and west courses and the Montgomerie course in Carton. (See dates and venues below).

The Sunday Tribune is delighted to be associated with the Emerald Pro-Am Tour and each week we will provide a round-up of results and update the Order of