From India to Ireland... for golf

India has more than one billion people. Ireland is home to just six million. But the Atlantic island has lots of what India's middle class, now 300 million strong, wants: places to play golf.

The result is that Irish tourism organizations are working hard to bring Indian golfers to Ireland. Marty Carr of the travel company Carr Golfing says that between 500 and 1,000 Indian golfers are expected to visit Ireland this year, but that number could rise to 10,000 within five years. The country's wet and cool climate, the quality of the golf courses and the friendliness of the people will impress the visitors, he believes. "We are confident that when they come here, they will get the message out," Carr told the Irish Times.

Indian golf got a big boost last week when Arjun Atwal won the Wyndham Championship in North Carolina. He became the first player born in India to win on the US Professional Golfers' Association Tour.