Martin Dempster: Enterprising Ruddy on the money with hole-in-one initiative

HAVING had the privilege to know Pat Ruddy for nearly 20 years, it came as no surprise that the affable Irishman has been quick out of the blocks in trying to take advantage of the new amateur status rules that came into operation on 1 January.

Ruddy designed and owns The European Club, a gem of a course near Brittas Bay in Co Wicklow, where the man himself once welcomed myself and some friends before disappearing into the kitchen and conjuring up a “snack” of steak and chips before sending us out to play. He’s anything but a sharp-suited type yet, at the same time, Ruddy has his finger on the pulse when it comes to golf matters and, from what I’ve seen, he is the first to take advantage of the R&A relaxing the rule concerning the prize value for amateur golfers achieving a hole-in-one.

In the first three months of this year, a cash prize of e1,000 is up for grabs for an ace at the sixth hole at The European Club, provided you stump up the e60 entry fee to enter an Open singles competition being run on a daily basis.

Yes, of course, it is a commercial move by Ruddy but hats off to him for leading the way and it will be interesting to see which Scottish golf club will be the first to grasp a wonderful marketing opportunity by putting up such a prize. It’s just a thought but Eyemouth, my hometown club, already boasts ‘Britain’s No 1 Most Extraordinary Golf Hole’ where the tee shot, by chance the sixth as well, is played over a cavernous gully, and the chance to win a pot of money for an ace on that would add to the appeal of a visit to the picturesque Berwickshire course.