ALL THE LATEST NEWS ON AMATEUR GOLF IN AYRSHIRE

Tuesday, November 11, 2025

BELLEISLE PARK DEVELOPMENT PLANS - South Ayrshire Council inviting feedback on three development options

Have your say on the new design options for Ayr Belleisle Golf Course.

South Ayrshire Council Sport, Leisure, & Golf Service are inviting public feedback on three proposed developent options at Belleisle Park following on from last year’s engagement sessions and feedback received, with three new design options available for feedback.

The options include the original proposal tabled last year with enhanced practice facilities, a GolfPod & Revised Course Masterplan option, and a GolfPod with Revised Course Masterplan & Off-Course Facility Improvements option.

You can have your say from date Wednesday 5 November until the survey closes on Thursday the 4th of November

Designs will also be available to view in person anytime at Belleisle Park Clubhouse from Wednesday 5 November until Thursday 4 December.

There are links below with more detail on the development options and also a link to the survey for submitting feedback


LINK TO BELLEISLE PARK DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS



LINK TO BELLEISLE SURVEY

Sunday, November 09, 2025

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE - 2025 winner honoured at Ballochmyle

The 2025 Ayrshire junior competition winners were honoured for their successes at the annual dinner of The Ayrshire Junior Golf League which was held at Ballochmyle Golf Club on Monday the 3rd of November.

In the presence of a capacity audience, who enjoyed an excellent meal before the presentation of prizes, the succesful teams and individuals were presented with their trophies for their efforts during the season.

The evening was chaired by Ayrshire Junior Golf League Chairman, and current Captain of Ballochmyle Golf Club, Billy Stewart, who also presented the prizes to the succesful golfers.

McRobert Thistle Trophy
Findlay Andrew

The presentations began with the Macrobert Thistle Junior Golfer of the Year trophies. The boys' winner for 2025 was Findlay Andrew (Turnberry GC) who enjoyed many successes  in junior opens in Ayrshire in 2025, while also winning the Ayrshire Boys' Championship and the Ayrshire Junior Order of Merit, and being an integral part of the succesful Turnberry junior team throughout the summer.


McRobert Thistle Trophy
Orla Moran

The girls' winner for 2025 was Orla Moran (Irvine GC) who retained the trophy which she won in 2024
after another excellent aseason which saw her have notable performances at national level in the Girls' and Women's championships as well as winning the Ayrshire Women's Champion of Champions Trophy, retaining the Ayrshire Girls' Strokeplay title and the Prestwick St Cuthbert Ladies' Club Champuionship title, amongst other achievements.



The other prizewinners honoured at the annual dinner were:-

Matt Lygate Trophy (Ayrshire Junior Team Champions) - Turnberry GC
Andrew D. Nimmo Trophy (Ayrshire Junior Handicap Team Champions) - Loudoun GC
Prestwick Circuits Trophy - Finlay Watt (West Kilbride GC)
Carrick Trophy - Robert Meney (Prestwick St Nicholas GC)
Ayrshire Boys Champion - Findlay Andrew (Turnberry GC)
Hilmarton Trophy (Ayrshire Boys Handicap Champion) - James McNeillie (West Kilbride GC)
Ayrshire Boys Matchplay Champion - Jake Hendry (West Kilbride GC)
Ayrshire Girls Champion (Orla Moran (Irvine GC)
Prestwick Salver (Ayrshire Girls' Handicap Champion) - Sandi Rogerson (Kilmarnock Barassie GC)
Ayrshire Junior Order of Merit        3rd - Gregor Hay (Turnberry GC)
                                                         2nd - Euan Forrest (Turnberry GC)
                                                         Winner - Findlay Andrew (Turnberry GC)
Wallace Thornton Trophy                Runners Up - West Kilbride GC
                                                         Winners - Turnberry GC
Under 16 Knockout Trophy             Runers Up - Kilmarnock Barassie GC
                                                         Winners - Irvine GC
Junior Champion of Champions      Runner Up - Orla Moran (Irvine GC)
                                                         Winner - Euan Forrest (Turnberry GC)
AJGL Championship                       Runners Up - Irvine GC
                                                         Winners - Kilmarnock Barassie GC

Matt Lygate Trophy - Turnberry GC


Andrew D. Nimmo Trophy - Loudoun GC






Prestwick Circuits Trophy - Finlay Watt

Carrick Trophy - Robert Meney





Ayrshire Boys Champion - Findlay Andrew

Hilmarton Trophy - James McNeillie



Ayrshire Boys Matchplay Champion
Jake Hendry

Ayrshire Girls Strokeplay Champion
Orla Moran 

Prestwick Salver - Sandi Rogerson


Junior Order of Merit - 3rd
Gregor Hay



Junior Order of Merit Runner Up
Euan Forrest



Junior Order of Merit Winner
Findlay Andrew

Wallace Thornton Trophy Runners Up
West Kilbride GC

Wallace Thornton Trophy Winners - Turnberry GC


Under 16 Knockout Trophy Runners Up
Kilmarnock Barassie GC

Under 16 Knockout Trophy Winners - Irvine GC

Champion of Champions Runner Up
Orla Moran

Champion of Champions Winner
Euan Forrest

Ayrshire Junior Golf League Championship Runners Up
Irvine GC

Ayrshire Junior Golf league Champions - Kilmarnock Barassie GC


Thursday, October 30, 2025

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION A.G.M. - Barry O'Rourke elected as new President of The Association

New AGA President Barry O'Rourke
Barry O'Rourke (Caprington GC) was elected as the new President of The Ayrshire Golf Association at the Annual General Meeting held at Loudoun Gowf Club on Tuesday the 28th of October 2025.



Twelve member clubs were represented at the meeting and several apologies were intimated, where approval was sought and obtained for adoption of the minutes of the 2024 AGM as well as the President's Report, Financial Report, Coaching Report and Ayrshire Junior Golf League Report, which had all been previously circulated to member clubs.

Past President
Andrew Gilligan
Outgoing President Andrew Gilligan (Royal Troon) also provided an update on the ongoing efforts, pursued over the last three years by The Association with the national governing body, to try to establish equal opportunity for all the female members of The Associations member clubs to take part in several national events which are owned, administered, and financed by the national governing body Scottish Golf which, due to restrictive historical entry arrangements, are not available for over 90% of female members of Ayrshire Golf Association member clubs to enter and take part in. The position remains a focus for The Association as discussions continue.

On demitting office Past president Andrew Gilligan thanked The Association members for allowing him the honour of serving, and proposed incoming President Barry O'Rourke to take over the position for the next two year period.

On accepting to nomination and election, President O'Rourke paid tribute to the work of his predecessor before handing over a Past President's badge to the outgoing President.


New AGA Vice President 
William Fleming

Barry O'Rourke becomes the fifth member of Caprington GC to serve as Ayrshire Golf Association President, following on from R. Leslie Crawford (1981-1983), John Boyd (1989-1990), John C. Rutherford (1994-1996), and Ricky Magee (2006-2008)  

President O'Rourke's first task in office was to propose the election of Ballochmyle immediate Past
Captain William Fleming as Vice President of The Association for the next two years, who accepted the nomination with thanks to the member clubs for the honour bestowed.




AGA Secretary
Alasdair J. Malcolm


Association Honorary Life President Alasdair J. Malcolm (Golf South Ayrshire GC) was re elected as the Secretary / Treasurer of The Association for a seventeenth successive year, having served on The Executive for an umbroken period of thirty six years, since being first elected as Ayrshire Junior Golf League representative in 1989.




By rotation four Executive members, Andrew Reid (Irvine), Paul Kennedy (Irvine), John Shanks
(Irvine) and William Fleming (Ballochmyle), who moved to the postion of Vice President, retired at the AGM, leaving five vacancies for three years to fill.

Andrew Reid, Paul Kennedy and John Shanks all stood for re election, with former immediate Past President Scott Gilchrist (Loudoun) also continuing his work with the association by standing for a further three year period on the Executive. 



Alistair Tweedie

The fifth vacancy on the executive was filled with the confirmation of the election of Troon St Meddans GC immediate Past Captain Alistair Tweedie, who stood for election to the Area Association Executive for the first time.







The full list of executive members for 2025 - 2026 are:-

PRESIDENT                 Barry O'Rourke (Caprington GC)

VICE PRESIDENT William Fleming (Ballochmyle GC)

PAST PRESIDENT Andrew Gilligan (Royal Troon GC)

LIFE PRESIDENT         R. Leslie Crawford (Kilmarnock Barassie GC)

LIFE PRESIDENT         Iain Harvey (Kilmarnock Barassie GC)

LIFE PRESIDENT         Alasdair J. Malcolm (Prestwick St Cuthbert GC)

SECRETARY                 Alasdair J. Malcolm (Golf South Ayrshire GC)

EXECUTIVE MEMBERS

Kirk Ramsay (Redburn GC)

Mike Hazlewood (Golf South Ayrshire GC)

John W Watt (Golf South Ayrshire GC)

Brian Fisher (Largs GC)

John Rushbury (Royal Troon GC)

Robert Wilson (Ballochmyle GC)

Debbie Watt (Ayr Belleisle Ladies GC)

Steven Stamper (Turnberry GC)

Liz Keohone (Loudoun GC)

Jim McGhee (Loudoun GC)

Andrew Reid (Irvine GC)

Paul Kennedy (Irvine GC)

Alistair Tweedie (Troon St Meddans GC)

John Shanks (Irvine GC)

Scott Gilchrist (Loudoun GC)

JUNIOR LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVES

Andrew Reid (Irvine GC)

Paul Kennedy (Irvine GC)

After election of officials the proposal tabled by The Association to retain the Area per capita subscription sum at £2.50 for the seventh consecutive year was approved by members present, while Secretary Alasdair malcolm advised the members present that the Scottish Golf per capita sum would remain at £17.50 for the 2026 season, as confirmed at the last Scottish Golf AGM in early 2025.

There being no further business tabled by member clubs, Prresident O'Rourke brought the meeting to a close with an expression of thanks to all those who had attended. 

  

AGA President Barry O'Rourke and the 2025 - 2026 Executive team
Clockwise from top left
Vice President William Fleming, Past president Andrew Gilligan,
Secretary Alasdair J. Malcolm, Kirk Ramsay, Mike Hazlewood, John W. Watt
Brian Fisher, John Rushbury, Robert Wilson, Debbie Watt, Steven Stamper, 
Liz Keohone, Jimmy McGhee, Andrew Reid, Paul Kennedy, Alistair Tweedie, 
John Shanks, and Scott Gilchrist  


Tuesday, October 21, 2025

WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY LEAGUES - Ayrshire finish 2025 campaign with a win for the A team and a draw for the Youths

The Ayrshire A and Youth teams completed their 2025 West of Scotland league campaigns on Sunday the 19th of October, with the A team winning away from home against Renfrewshire at Elderslie GC and the Youths team drawing 4 – 4 in the corresponding fixture at home at Ballochmyle GC.

Having lost their previous two fixtures the A team ended the season with a good win in very wet conditions at Elderslie, losing only two of the six ties in the match.

Match details (Renfrewshire names first):-

Stewart Watt (Old Ranfurly) lost to Blair Morton (Royal Troon) by 3&1

Roddy McCauley (Fereneze) lost to Harvey Broadfoot (Royal Troon) by 7&6

Ryan McKenzie (Erskine) halved with Craig Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert)

Derek Anderson (Cochrane Castle) halved with Alan McLean (Largs)

Steven Higgins (Erskine) lost to Cameron Aitken (Largs) by 4&3

Chris Guthrie (Paisley) beat Jamie Hay (Ayr Belleisle) by 3&1

Fraser Lawrie (Old Ranfurly) lost to Joe McSorley Prestwick St Cuthbert) by 2&1

Andy Farmer (Kilmacolm) beat Steven Stamper (Turnberry) by 3&2

RENFREWSHIRE A    3   AYRSHIRE A   5

In the other fixture played on Sunday, Stirlingshire had a 5-3 away win over Dumbartonshire at Douglas Park, while the Glasgow Vs Lanarkshire fixture scheduled to be held at Cathcart Castle fell victim to the inclement weather.

Lanarkshire, with rescheduled away games still to play against Renfrewshire and Glasgow, lead the league at present, the current positions being :-

  

GP

W

D

L

GF

GA

GD

PTS

LANARKSHIRE

3

3

0

0

18.5

5.5

13.0

12

STIRLINGSHIRE

5

2

2

1

19.5

20.5

-1.0

12

RENFREWSHIRE

4

2

1

1

19.0

13.0

6.0

10

AYRSHIRE

5

2

1

2

20.5

19.5

1.0

10

DUMBARTONSHIRE

5

1

0

4

16.0

24.0

-8.0

4

GLASGOW

4

0

2

2

10.5

21.5

-11.0

4

In a match which proved close throughout, the Ayrshire Youths team shared the spoils with Renfrewshire Youths in their final fixture of the season at Ballochmyle.

Match details (Ayrshire names first) :-

Cameron McGarvie (Prestwick) lost to Stuart Dickson (Fereneze) by 2&1

Euan Forrest (Turnberry) beat Neil Rainey (Erskine) by 5&4

Aidan Hay (Irvine) beat Scott Palin (Old Ranfurly) by 4&2

Jamie Robertson (Loudoun) lost to Cameron Grose (East Renfrewshire) by 1 hole

Findlay Andrew (Turnberry) beat Lewis Greenlees (Paisley) by 1 hole

Mason Chisholm (Irvine) lost to Robbie Campbell (Paisley) by 2&1

Sam Crozier (West Kilbride) beat Evan Cole (Elderslie) by 6&4

Ryan Kennedy (Irvine) lost to Callum McClelland (Fereneze) by 2&1

AYRSHIRE YOUTHS   4   RENFREWSHIRE YOUTHS  4

In the other matches played on Sunday, Stirlingshire beat Dumbartonshire 5 – 3 at Bonnybridge and Lanarkshire had a 5-2 home win over Glasgow at Carluke.

With one outstanding fixture between Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire still to take place, Lanarkshire secured the Youths league title for 2025 with their win at Carluke over Glasgow, the present league standings being :-

 

GP

W

D

L

GF

GA

GD

PTS

LANARKSHIRE

4

4

0

0

20.5

11.5

9.0

16

STIRLINGSHIRE

5

3

1

1

23.5

16.5

7.0

14

AYRSHIRE

5

2

1

2

20.5

19.5

1.0

10

RENFREWSHIRE

4

1

2

1

16.5

15.5

1.0

8

DUMBARTONSHIRE

5

1

0

4

16.5

23.5

-7.0

4

GLASGOW

5

1

0

4

14.5

25.5

-11.0

4