Alan Dunbar during the third round of the Alstom Open de France, at Le Golf National, Versailles. Picture: David Lloyd/www.golffile.ie

There’s life after the European Tour Q-School and while it’s a far cry from the Race to Dubai millions, seven Irishmen have decided to part with €600 to continue their golfing odyssey at next month’s Alps Tour Qualifying School in Spain.

Paul Cutler will receive €15,000 from the Team Ireland Golf Trust as he attempts to find his place on tour in 2012. Picture golffile.ie/Luke Walker/golffupport.nlThe Team Ireland Golf Trust today announced grants totaling €139,000 to 15 aspiring golfers - a reduction of 11.4 percent on the €157,000 awarded to 15 players last year.

Michael Hoey basks in his moment of glory. Picture by Stuart Adams/www.golffile.iePutting coach Phil Kenyon might not have been amused by our recent Darren Clarke anecdote regarding the Dungannon man’s deep mistrust of his ability to putt as the Open loomed at Sandwich.

Clarke made a mockery of his own assertion that “I still can’t f***ing” putt by winning the Claret Jug with an impressive display on the greens when it really counted.

And Kenyon can take a bow again following Michael Hoey’s sensational two stroke victory in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on the Old Course on Sunday.

Ireland looks likely to survive the cash crisis and stage a hat-trick tour events this season.

Challenge Tour marketing executive Mark Aspland confirmed yesterday that he was "very hopeful" that the Challenge of Ireland would go ahead in July despite the economic gloom.

And it also emerged that Failte Ireland is planning to invest in the Irish Seniors Open again in addition to its announced support for the 3 Irish Open in Killarney.