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.

Approximately 300 members and their guests many of them from overseas and chiefly the United States enjoyed a day's golf over the classic Royal Portrush and Royal Co Downs links before sitting down to dinner in the Europa Hotel in Belfast.

Considerable sums of money were raised for such charities as Sports for Success, Barrettstown Children's Camp and the Children's Hospital Crumlin just another manifestation of how much the game of golf does for worthy causes.

"From a personal viewpoint, things are looking pretty good," said Marty Carr, president of the IGTOA and, of course, a son of the legendary Joe. "We are pleasantly surprised at the activity. We are ahead in bookings from this time last year.

"Other operators say the US market is holding up well, but I must be honest and say that others admit that the phones have gone dead. And to look at the worst possible scenario, if a 747 blows up over Heathrow, we may as well close the doors."

Looking on the brighter side, however, Carr claimed: "The golf market is stronger than most other sectors. Golfers have a passion to travel, in contrast, let's say, to a couple and a family who are just looking for a nice, relaxed vacation and can find what they want at home.

"Golf is generally a five star industry and that in turn is stronger than the four or three star."

Carr revealed that the Father and Son competition he runs at Waterville each August is sold out for this year and has a waiting list for 2004.

A number of the teams come from the US. It is clearly a form of competition that appeals to them.

Those whose minds stretch back to the 1980s when American Football had a strong grip on sports enthusiasts in this country will be interested to hear that Dan Marino of Miami Dolphins fame is in the field this year.

Tourism minister John O'Donoghue has good reason to be concerned about the situation from at least two standpoints, his official position and the fact he comes from Killarney, where overseas visitors are absolutely vital to local prosperity.

He has frequently acknowledged just how important overseas golfers are to the Irish economy, while Bord Fáilte's director of golf Damien Ryan is also keeping a wary eye on developments.

"We have our fingers crossed that bookings already made will stand up," he said with a touch of trepidation. "Right now it looks very good but fresh bookings are not coming through and we must be realistic, there is always the fear of cancellations in the event of war breaking out.

"Experience has proven that golfers are resilient. In the recent past we have been hit by foot and mouth and the parlous state of the US economy. Times are tough in Wall Street and such areas and there is a cut back even there. But the golfers keep coming.

"If the war is prolonged, then that is bad news. We have Plan B in place and we will hit the British and European markets even harder. A task force will be in place to make up for any American losses but we haven't reached that stage yet. If it is a quick war or, please God, it doesn't happen at all, then we can start planning even for 2004. We're just waiting to see what happens."

Last night's IGTOA award winners were: Best golf hotel, Bushmills Inn, Co Antrim. Secretary/manager, John Quigley (Portmarnock). Outstanding golf course, Mount Juliet (Co Kilkenny). Jerry Donworth award for outstanding contribution to golf Padraig Harrington, currently on tour but who taped a one-minute acceptance speech which was played at the function.