THE proverbial cat has been thrown in among the pigeons over the 'leave of absence' issue facing golf clubs in the Republic. This trend of members looking to take a break from their club has increased over the last year and, as clubs seek to halt losses of revenue, it's becoming a serious issue.

LEE Valley Golf Club have announced a three-year sponsorship agreement with the Mardyke Arena, UCC for their prestigious Senior Scratch Cup.

AT first glance, the outlook is gloomy for Padraig Harrington. After a nondescript start to 2010, the Dubliner has tumbled eight places down the world rankings and out of the top-10 to No 13.

Rory McIlroy beware, there's a Korean teen sensation looking to match your efforts.

THE infamous Bear Trap at Palm Beach Gardens snagged Graeme McDowell in its teeth at the weekend, denying the doughty Ulsterman his first top-six finish of 2010 and a golden opportunity to cement his place in the world's elite top-50.

On the walkway towards the first tee at Woodenbridge, it's not difficult to imagine competitive nerves being eased by the soothing babble of the Avoca River. Beauty of sight and sound come at a price in these parts, however, as the club's members experienced recently when an angry torrent burst the river-bank, wreaking destruction across fairways, tees and greens.

JOHN DALY'S file at US Tour headquarters bulged like an over-stuffed suitcase. Though disciplinary measures taken by the PGA Tour against its members are top secret, Daly's stunning 456-page rap-sheet was made public this week, following his failed libel action against the 'Florida Times-Union'.

Like the condemned man, Peter Lawrie feasted on a dry bread roll and water after his crime of taking a '10' during the second round of the Maybank Malaysian Open.

GRAEME McDOWELL can reach out for his first victory in the US this weekend after a splendid three-under par 67 put him in a tie for fifth, three strokes behind leaders Camilo Villegas and Anthony Kim after yesterday's second round of The Honda Classic.

A rasping breeze gusting to 25 miles per hour and a wintry nip in the air gave Portrush man Graeme McDowell a sense of home at Palm Beach Gardens yesterday as he compiled a deeply satisfying two-under-par 68 in the first round of the Honda Classic.

Among the promotional material lining the entrance to this week's Maybank Malaysian Open host venue is a poster of Darren Clarke with the caption, 'Come and get close to me'.

Ireland's only three competitors will be banking on staying cool when they tee up in this week's Maybank Malaysian Open title in steamy Kuala Lumpur.

STACKSTOWN helped make a three-time Major champion out of Padraig Harrington, but growing up on the scenic Co Dublin course also contributed to the Dubliner's most damaging obsession.

Padraig Harrington admits any player with aspirations of winning the 2010 Honda Classic will have to conquer a "big tough golf course".

IS there life after the emotional peaks and troughs of an inter-county GAA career? "Yes" is the answer, and it's to be found on the golf course. Top stars have been finding an outlet for their competitive juices after retirement from hurling and football by taking to the small-ball game in huge numbers.

PETER Lawrie won the President's (Des Smyth) Prize in the Esso-sponsored Links Golf Society outing at Royal Dublin on Thursday last.

RORY McILROY crossed an interesting threshold yesterday when he was accompanied by Dr Bob Rotella on the front nine at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, venue for this week's Honda Classic.

As Tiger Woods delivered his media apology last week with all the sincerity of a Communist apparatchik in the Stalin era confessing after many hours of torture that he had been an agent of Trotsky all along, I couldn't help thinking the enemy have finally got him.

Events in Tucson last weekend tellingly illustrated the extent to which players from these islands have applied the once intimidating skills of their American rivals to the matchplay format.

A second-round charge from Ian Poulter put the Englishman firmly in contention at the Waste Management Phoenix Open in Arizona yesterday.

US Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem is under increasing pressure to officially discipline Tiger Woods over the sex scandal that has rocked professional golf.

TRANSITION year students Hugh Martyn of Headfort and Royal Tara's Ciaran O'Rourke are set for a Meath golf marathon with a difference on Tuesday, March 9.

SHANE Lowry gave the Team Ireland Golf Trust a big 'thumbs up' for helping him embark on his professional career last May -- and then opted out of the scheme for this year.

WE'VE gagged at some of his outlandish on-course costumes; glowered at his selection ahead of Darren Clarke for the Ryder Cup and guffawed out loud when he dared suggest he'd be second only to Tiger Woods at the top of the world!

MAYDAY, mayday! 14,000 and one golfers have disappeared from the fairways.