Scotland lost more registered golfers than any other country in Europe from '15-16, according to an annual report released by KPMG. The Golf Participation Report for Europe 2017 also claimed that the "home of golf saw the highest number of courses close during the same period." The statistics showed that there were 192,533 registered golfers in Scotland in '16, a fall of 6,711 from the 199,244 recorded 12 months earlier. That drop, which constituted 3.37%, saw Scotland join the Czech Republic as being the "only two countries to lose more than 2,000 golfers" (SCOTSMAN, 9/13).
The Int'l Cricket Council agreed to back Pakistan’s efforts to resume int'l cricket in its own country and said that it would "provide financial assistance for security needs." Pakistan is currently hosting a World XI cricket team for three T20 games in Lahore, a series that is "being touted as a watershed moment" for those bidding to restore int'l cricket in the country (REUTERS, 9/13).
Gaelic Athletic Association county Kilkenny is "calling for a decision on whether to change the format" of the All-Ireland hurling championships to be deferred for a year. A special congress on Sept. 30 will "consider a number of proposals," including one from Central Council which would "cut the number of counties competing" to 10 (five each in the Leinster and Munster Championships) from next year. Kilkenny favors retaining the current system for another season to see how the "Super 8" works in football (IRISH INDEPENDENT, 9/14).
