Going star spotting with no sign of Bruce Forsyth

Never mind student princes, for the next few days you won't be able to stroll the streets of this particular corner of the Kingdom of Fife without tripping over a precious ego or two. No other sport can marry so many personalities from such divergent walks of public life.

But then no other sport has a system of handicap scoring that enables Douglas to go head to head with Dev, or that sets standards of behaviour that makes playing a pleasure, or that enables 64-year-old Charlton to keep pace with an opponent young enough to be his grandson.

There are other attractions. Jackson, acclaimed for his performances in Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown and the remake of Shaft, admitted: "The golf course is the only place I can go dressed like a pimp and fit in perfectly. Anywhere else, wearing lime green pants and alligator shoes, and I got a cop on my buns."

Hugh Grant, representing the British film industry, has already played a practice round at the magnificent new Kingsbarns course this week. He said: "For a middle-aged golf addict like myself this is like dying and going to golfing heaven."

The star of Notting Hill and Four Weddings and a Funeral is a relative newcomer to the game, but like so many others he has quickly become hooked. Grant said: "I used to have many different types of books on my bedside table, but these days about 95 per cent of them are about golf. Sad, isn't it!"

Golf is a joy for Redgrave. It has provided him with a outlet for his energies after quitting rowing.

The game is also helping him realise a new dream of raising £5 million for children's charities over the next five years.

Redgrave has organised his own Golden Five series of tournaments that pits amateurs against sports and television stars - former boxer John Conteh and Michael Greco, Beppe from EastEnders, top their respective Order of Merits.

Significantly, the BBC has taken an interest in Redgrave's tournaments and talks are taking place about a major involvement in 2002.

Aiming to be down to a single-figure handicap by 23 September next year, the second anniversary of his record-breaking medal success in Sydney, Redgrave has become a regular on the charity golf circuit.

His team came second in a Golf Foundation tournament at The Buckinghamshire near Denham on Monday.

"People who play golf are a nice bunch," he said. "Of all the charity days I've done, I've never been with a horrible group. I've had a nice time every time I've played." The hope is that a nice time is had by all this week.