Battle lines drawn up over war

GOLF tourism interests throughout the country are hopeful but openly nervous as to what the coming season holds in store.

It is not so much whether the war in Iraq happens; it's more a case of how long it lasts. If it is quick and decisive, the reservations already made by thousands of Americans should be relatively secure. If it drags on, then the likelihood is that there will be a number of cancellations and that means very bad news not just for the clubs, hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and pubs but also for the members of the Irish Golf Tourism Operators Association who held their annual awards dinner in Belfast yesterday.

The IGTOA has worked tirelessly over the years to enhance their business and in the process increase and expand the number of overseas golfing visitors to Ireland. Their membership clearly gets on very well, a point demonstrated by the warm and healthy atmosphere prevailing at yesterday's festivities.