News Digest - 15.02.08

New Nicklaus exhibition in World Golf Hall of Fame

The World Golf Hall of Fame has added some special exhibits on loan from the Jack Nicklaus Museum at The Ohio State University as part of its new "Jack Nicklaus: Golf's Golden Champion" exhibition. Visitors can now see the MacGregor set of irons the Golden Bear used to win the 1986 Masters at the age of 46. Other items include his Wilson sand wedge and Tommy Armour 693 driver that he used to win the 1975 Masters and PGA Championship. Also on display is his 1991 Senior PGA Championship Trophy.

"We're giving guests an opportunity in the lead up to the 2008 Masters Tournament to see the clubs Nicklaus used in the 1986 Masters, which is still arguably the most dramatic Masters Tournament in history," explains Jack Peter, Sr. Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Hall of Fame, which is located in St. Augustine, Florida.

Golf offer at Newburgh on Ythan Golf Club

Newburgh-on-Ythan Golf Club in Aberdeenshire, which will host the North East District Amateur Open championship this year, has teamed up with Murcar Golf Club to offer a round at both courses for only £99. For more information go to www.newburghlinks.com

Royal Cinque Ports President celebrates 40th Anniversary

The Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club at Deal has presented Jack Aisher with a silver salver to commemorate his 40th year as club president.

After the death of the owner, Sir Aynsley Bridgland in 1967, Aisher took on the presidency and arranged for the members to buy the club. Aisher, now 97, joined Cinque Ports as a country member in 1947, becoming a full member in 1958 and captain in 1962.

In 1934 he watched every shot of Henry Cotton's then-record score of 65 in the second round of the Open. The following year he played at Deal for the first time but was ineligible to become a member since, as a tile maker, he was "in trade", a restriction relaxed a decade later.

A four-handicapper at his peak, Aisher continued to play until only two years ago.

Mount Juliet launches online tee booking service

Mount Juliet, which hosted three Irish Open in the nineties and two WGC events in the noughties, has just launched an online tee booking system

Colin Donovan, the Golf Division General Manager at Mount Juliet, explains: "The system was installed in September last year and we wanted to let the members get used to it first. Now it's ready to accept visitors' bookings as well, so to any golfer who wants to play at Mount Juliet, we're open for their online business!"

You can book your round at www.mountjuliet.ie/golf. But telephone bookings will still be accepted!

Top Amateurs Earn First Stage Bye of European Tour Q-School

Being a top-ranked amateur now gets you one step closer to making it onto the European Tour.

It was announced this week that the top players in the R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings will receive an exemption into the second round of the European Tour Qualifying School.

The three highest ranked players in the WAGR Top 10 at the end of week 34 (Sunday 24 August 2008), who have entered Q-School, will be automatically qualify for the second stage.