County Louth Golf Club in Baltray, one of Ireland’s great links courses, will host the Nissan Irish Open for the first time next year.

GERARD O’TOOLE’S comments, reported elsewhere in this issue, that he would like to see next year’s Nissan Irish Open played on a links course in the Dublin area, will arouse speculation about where the country’s flagship tournament will take place — that is, if at this point seems quite likely, Portmarnock is ruled out of the equation for a variety of reasons.

THE NISSAN Irish Open will be played in the greater Dublin area for the next two years – but where isn’t exactly clear just yet and won’t be for some time.

MICHAEL CAMPBELL may be a New Zealand Maori of Scottish extraction but he will always have a warm place in his heart for this country.

PORTMARNOCK Golf Club, Nissan Ireland, Bord Fáilte and the European Tour came together in Dublin yesterday to triumphantly announce that the future of the Irish Open is secure for at least the next two years.