THE ADVISOR INSIDER NEWS

The Advisor has been busy keeping pace with all the news from the international world of golf.

The Kildare Hotel and Country Club host venue to the 2005 Ryder Cup Matches has formally changed its name to The K Club, as it has been affectionately be known for years.

Speaking of the Ryder Cup, the decision has been pushed back from February to September in naming the 2009 venue. Sentimental favorite St. Andrews has dropped out of Scotland's bid to give the remaining four a better chance against strong bids from Wales and England, although from single properties. For those of you keeping score – Scotland's remaining venues are Loch Lomond, Turnberry, Gleneagles and Carnoustie. Wales' bid is for Celtic Manor and England is proposing sister property to The Belfry- Slaley Hall.

Great news for the Lancashire Coast, one of the British Isles most historic golf areas. Hoylake has been approved to be added back into the Rota for The Open Championship possibly as early as 2006. The last time Hoylake (Royal Liverpool) hosted an Open Roberto De Vicenzo narrowly held off Jack Nicklaus to win the Claret Jug.

Kingsbarns Golf Links, which debuted last summer as an instant star on the world's "Must Play" lists will reopen April 1, 2001 after giving the course some much deserved rest in the winter months.

For you low handicappers, start some serious practice now to be ready to qualify, as The British Amateur returns to the Old Course at St Andrews in 2004.

The ever popular Continental Newark to Glasgow route is now featuring DC10 service.

Old Course times at St Andrews continue to be oversubscribed. It fact, the Links Trust returned requests for play the following year earlier than ever. If you are planning a trip in 2002, it's not too soon to start to plan and submit your dates.

It's not just the Old Course in St Andrews that is a difficult tee time, now the more popular courses in Ireland, especially Ballybunion Old are also reaching saturation for the summer months. The Advisor personally recommends trying the northern route from Shannon to Dublin (or vice versa) for fantastic uncrowded golf, spectacular scenery and the friendliest people you'll ever met.