A £2 million up-grading of the course has commenced at Fota Island with the objective of bringing it up to PGA European Tour standards. Ultimately, the aim is to attract the Murphy's Irish Open to the venue at a future date.

The course - originally designed by Peter McEvoy and Christy O'Connor junior - was purchased by Killeen Investments, owners of Mount Juliet, last year. Jeff Howes, the Canadian-born golf architect who worked closely with Jack Nicklaus in the development of the Kilkenny course, has been retained by Fota Island for the refurbishment programme which commenced yesterday and will last for 10 weeks. The intention is that the revised course will be back in play by this time next year.

Although initial plans included re-routing the existing course, it has been decided to stick with the original lay-out. However, the programme will include an extensive fairway drainage system, the building of additional tee boxes, the relocation of a number of greens and the rebuilding of a number of greens "to ensure a consistency of quality and standard" throughout the course.

Indeed, a measure of the major redevelopment is that eight new tee-boxes will be constructed, eight greens will be re-located and ten of them will be re-built. "We want to ensure that Fota keeps pace with the very best golf facilities in Europe and would be a worthy host for any major tournaments which might come to the southern region."

Gordon Eivers from Balcarrick GC will defend his title when the AIB Lord Mayor's Cup takes place at Clontarf GC from August 9th to 15th. Qualifying takes place on Sunday week and the top 64 will qualify for the matchplay starting on Monday, August 10th.