Golf: Plan ahead

The Regal Scottish Masters, a sanctioned event, may have heralded the start of the British snooker season, but competition starts in earnest on Monday with the first major ranking domestic tournament, the Rothman's Grand Prix at the Hexagon Theatre in Reading. It follows the Dubai Classic, the first major ranking event, which ends this weekend. Sixty-four players will be competing at the Hexagon where Stephen Hendry defeated Steve Davis in last year's final. The UK Open, which is being held at the Guild Hall in Preston from 13 to 29 November, is the third major ranking tournament of the season. The title holder is John Parrott, the former world champion, who defeated Jimmy White in last year's final. In December the World Matchplay is staged at the The Dome in Doncaster where Gary Wilkinson caused a surprise last year by defeating Davis in the final. The first major ranking tournament of 1993 is the Regal Welsh Open in Newport from 22 to 31 January and the domestic season climaxes with the Embassy World Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield from 17 April to 3 May where 32 players will compete for the sport's greatest prize.

Rothmans Grand Prix, Hexagon Theatre, Reading, 12-25 October. Admission: Matches to quarter-finals: pounds 1- pounds 2.50. Quarter-finals: pounds 2- pounds 3. Semi-finals: pounds 7 afternoon, pounds 10 evening. Final: pounds 8 afternoon, evening session sold out. Box office: 0734-591591.

UK Open, Preston Guild Hall. Admission: 13-21 November: pounds 1. 21-24 November: first 250 tickets pounds 1, remainder pounds 2.50. Quarter- finals: pounds 3 afternoons, pounds 4 evenings. Semi- finals: pounds 5. Final: 28 November: pounds 6 first session, pounds 7 evening. 29 November: pounds 7 afternoon, pounds 8 evening. Box office:

0772-58858.

World Matchplay, The Dome, Doncaster, 4-12 December. Admission: First round: pounds 2 afternoons, pounds 4 evenings. Quarter-finals: pounds 3 and pounds 5. Semi-finals: pounds 4 and pounds 6. Final: pounds 5 and pounds 9. Box office: 0302-370377.