Portstewart Golf Club’s par fives have been offering up birdie and eagle opportunities all over the place. 

A missed four-footer means nothing when you’ve been out for a year battling lymphatic cancer.

Castle’s Alex Gleeson is dreaming of landing his maiden “major” after breaking the heart of Tramore’s Robin Dawson for the second year running in the AIG Irish Amateur Close Championship.

Dungarvan’s Kevin Stack and West Waterford’s Gary Hurley kept Munster interest alive in the Radisson Blu sponsored West of Ireland Championship at a sun-kissed County Sligo.

Ireland suffered a disappointing start to the Home International Championship at Ganton, suffering a narrow 8-7 defeat at the hands of a below strength England side.

Ireland swing into action in the Men’s Amateur Home Internationals at Ganton in Yorkshire today in buoyant mood after several of their players staged fine performances in recent events.

Irish Amateur Open champion Robbie Cannon angrily headed to Lahinch last night gunning for more South of Ireland glory after being sensationally left out of the 11-man Ireland team for next month’s Home Internationals at Ganton in England.

Rory McIlroy, who shared the lead after firing a five under 67 on Thursday at the Wells Fargo Championship, was stuck in neutral for much of his second round yesterday as he sandwiched seven pars between two bogeys on his first and ninth holes.

Muskerry’s Niall Gorey got out of jail with a dramatic semi-final comeback against Reeve Whitson, but had no answer to a brilliant Rory McNamara in the final of the Radisson Blu-sponsored West of Ireland Amateur Open at Rosses Point.

He might have been watched by 60 years-old Des Smyth, but Niall Gorey is determined to become the oldest swinger in town by breaking his championship duck in the West of Ireland Amateur Open at Rosses Point today.

Ireland suffered heartache in a dramatic climax to the Men’s Amateur Home Internationals at Glasgow Gailes on the Ayrshire coast last night as their title disappeared in the dying moments of the round-robin series.

Ireland captain Pádraig Hogan believes a strong start against hosts Scotland tomorrow will be key to success in the Home Internationals at Glasgow Gailes.

Alan Dunbar bounced back from a poor opening round to equal the course record at Carton House’s Montgomerie layout and leap into contention at the European Amateur Championship.

For hometown player Graeme McDowell, it was the realisation of a long-held dream, and after months of hype, expectation and promises, the return of the Irish Open to Royal Portrush, for the first time since 1947, delivered everything it said it would.

Is there any wonder Rory McIlroy is ready to embrace his tournament favouritism at Royal Portrush as the 2012 Irish Open gets underway today?

It took 17 years for Pádraig Harrington to return to his favourite golf course in the world and just 18 holes around Royal Portrush to convince him it was a worthy venue for not just an Irish Open but an Open Championship as well.

Muskerry’s Niall Gorey and West Waterford’s Gary Hurley are just five shots off the pace after a scorching start to the Golfsure-sponsored Irish Amateur Close.

Malahide teenager Gavin Moynihan joined major winners Padraig Harrington and Louis Oosthuizen on the roll of champions when he produced a brilliant short game display and defied near gale force winds to clinch the Irish Amateur Open in dramatic fashion at Royal Dublin.

Tiger Woods is in danger of missing the cut at the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, but Rory McIlroy’s hopes of winning back the world number one spot remain very much alive.

Shane Lowry continued to display his fondness for the Blackstone course on day two of the Ballantine’s Championship in Seoul.

It was a polished Diamond — one Harry Diamond from the Belvoir Park club in Belfast — who shone brightest at scenic Rosses Point to take the title in the final of the Radisson Blu West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship yesterday.

Stephen Healy (Claremorris) will represent the home province on the final day of the Radisson Blu-sponsored West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Rosses Point today after a clear-cut 4 and 3 triumph over Nicholas Grant (Knock) in their quarter-final yesterday.

Local teenager Sean Flanagan is still on track to claim the Co Sligo club’s first West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship since 1950 following his terrific showing in yesterday’s two matchplay rounds at Rosses Point.

England’s James McCormick was the surprise leader after the opening stroke play round of the Radisson Blu-sponsored West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at a damp and gloomy Rosses Point yesterday.

The Lee Valley Scratch Cup tees off this weekend.

THE RETURN of the Irish Open this year to Royal Portrush will act as a dry run for bringing the British Open Championship to the Dunluce links at the famed Antrim links in the future.

IRELAND won the Men’s Senior Home International Championship for an unprecedented fourth successive year at Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire yesterday and completed the Triple Crown with a 7-2 trouncing of England.

IN advocating what will seem a somewhat heretical suggestion, I am in no way denigrating either the current venue, Killarney, or the many other outstanding courses that have staged our national Open over the years.

SIXTY-ONE years have passed since a Rosses Point man last lifted the Radisson Blu sponsored West of Ireland Championship.

IRELAND made a flying start to their bid for a first Women’s Home International title for six years when they demolished England in the sunshine over the Whitchurch course in Cardiff yesterday.

The 3 Irish Open Golf Championship is underway in Killarney, Co, Kerry today.

Three players sharing the lead after the opening round of the Irish Boys Amateur Close Championship at Bangor Golf Club today.

Portstewart's Paul Cutler gave his Walker Cup hopes a boost when he captured the East of Ireland Amateur Championship at Baltray.

Portstewart's Paul Cutler and Portmarnock’s James Fox fired three-under-par 69s to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the East of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at fast-running Baltray.

ANDREW STRACEY (Littlestone GC, Kent), fired a final round 78 to win the Irish Seniors Amateur Open Championship at Bangor Golf Club yesterday.

IRELAND set out on the hunt for more silverware today bidding to extend their amazing run of international golf success.

Lucan's Richard O'Donovan recorded a fine opening round of 70 to lead after day one of the Irish Boys Amateur Close Championship at Portumna Golf Club.

Paul O'Hanlon from The Curragh is the new Irish Close champion after defeating Dara Lernihan from the Castle inyesterday's final, at Belvoir Park in Belfast.

The line-up for tomorrow's semi-final in the Golfsure Irish Amateur Close Championship at Belvoir Park in Belfast is Paul O'Hanlon from the Curragh against Scrabo's Andrew McCormick and Newlands' player Cian Curley against his friend Dara Lernihan from the Castle.

Forrest Little's Eoin Arthurs romped to a four-stroke win in the East of Ireland Championship at Co Louth today.

Forrest Little's Eoin Arthurs took advantage of perfect early morning conditions to scorch to a six-under par 66 and a two stroke lead in the East of Ireland Amateur Championship at County Louth.

Irish Close champion Shane Lowry beat the Castle's Ryan Boal at the 20th to clinch his place in Wednesday's West of Ireland Championship semi-finals at Rosses Point.

Five Irish internationals have made an early exit from the West of Ireland championship at Rosses Point.