AYRSHIREGOLF

SGU JUNIOR TOUR - Open entry for 2012 events

2012-01-30T19:58:00.000Z

(FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF WEBSITE)

The Scottish Golf Union has made changes to the entry system for the three Junior Tour Events for the 2012 season.

Traditionally, an invitation process was used to allow SGU selectors to assess boys’ performances over challenging courses, with a view to then picking national teams.

Now for 2012, entry will be open for the trio of Junior Tour competitions, with a nominated number of invites per event coming from SGU selectors.
As in the past, these three events will combine with other national championships and events to count towards the Scottish Hydro Boys Order of Merit (formerly the SGU Boys Order of Merit).

In December, the SGU announced an exciting new sponsorship agreement with Scottish Hydro who will be investing in junior golf over the next three years (2012-14). Scottish Hydro is this year’s official sponsor of the SGU Boys’ Order of Merit and Junior Tour series.

Scottish Golf Performance Development Manager Kevin Cademy-Taylor said: “We are trying to ensure the best players are in all our junior fields so we have a first-class competitive season for Scottish Boys.”

The SGU Junior Tour was launched in 2004 to provide leading Scottish Boys (Under-18) with additional competitive play on challenging courses; to provide coaching staff and selectors an opportunity to assess players and their development over such venues; and, to provide an appropriate competition structure and added incentive for young players to pursue higher honours.

Entry forms for the Junior Tour events along with all other national championships will be available for download from the SGU website – www.scottishgolf.org – from the beginning of February. The entry fee for Junior Tour events will be £15.

The fields for the Junior Tour events will be limited to a certain number, with a handicap ballot used to determine the final field.

The schedule for the Scottish Hydro Boys Order of Merit, including the three Scottish Hydro Junior Tour events, is a follows:

March 31-April 1: Scottish Hydro Junior Tour – Event 1 (Gullane No 2)
April 9-14: Paul Lawrie Foundation Scottish boys' championship (Murcar Links)
May 11-13: Golf Data Lab Scottish youths open amateur stroke play championship (Ladybank)
May 26-27: Scottish Hydro Junior Tour – Event 2 (The Roxburghe)
June 10: Dunfermline BS Scottish boys' area team championship (Cowglen)
June 16-17: Scottish Hydro Junior Tour – Event 3 (Rowallan Castle)
July 3-4: Loretto School Scottish boys' Under-14s open stroke-play championship (Buchanan Castle)
July 11-13: Scottish boys' Under-16s open stroke-play championship (Strathaven)
July 24-16: Scottish boys' open amateur stroke-play championship (Cardross).
August 14-19: British boys' amateur championship (Notts and Coxmoor)
August 21-22: Nick Faldo Junior Series Scottish qualifier (Panmure)
September 1-2: Paul Lawrie Foundation Junior Jug (Elgin)

If you have any questions regarding the Order of Merit, please contact
Kevin Cademy-Taylor on 01334 466 486

SCOTTISH LADIES GOLFING ASSOCIATION AGM - Ayrshire golfers amongst 2012 national officials

2012-01-29T16:58:00.000Z

(Courtesy of Calcarson Golf Agency)

Dewars Centre, Perth, Saturday 28th January 2012

A very healthy turn-out of SLGA members attended the SLGA AGM in Perth on Saturday 28th January 2012.

The meeting started on a sombre note as out-going President, Emma Wilson, asked for a moment's silence to remember three stalwarts of the Scottish women's game who died within the last year. They were past British Champion and Curtis Cup player Moira Milton, past Vet's Captain and President Liz Miskimmin and Scottish Senior Internationalist Moira Thomson.

Shona Malcolm

Reports of the year's activities, finances and LGU activities were ably given by SLGA Chairman, Shona Malcolm, Finance Director, Lynne Terry, and LGU Representative on the SLGA Board, Lorna Bennett.

Chairman, Shona, expressed disappointment that the proposed merger with the SGU, which gained a 94% vote in favour at the SLGA EGM on May, was not supported on the men's side. The SLGA board is anticipating a revised proposal in the near future and will give it due consideration then.

Isobel Crawford

Shona Malcolm remains as Chairman for a further year, and Aberdeen's Margaret McNaughton has take over from Emma Wilson as President. Lynne Terry retired after 10 years as Finance director. The SLGA are still looking for a successor. Performance director, Beth Paterson retired from the Board after four years sterling service, and her position has been taken by Ayrshire's Isobel Crawford.

Chairman of selectors Sandy Bushby (P and K) also retired from the board and has been replaced by Janet Griffiths.

Isobel Crawford's last year as Scottish representative on the LGU International Selection Panel finishes after the Curtis Cup in June, when Fiona de Vries takes over the role. Noreen Fenton (Midlothian) replaces Margaret Tough (Stirling and Clackmannan) as East Division selector and Addi Shamash replaces Martine Pow as South Division selector. They join Cara Gruber (North and Anne Laing (West) to complete the SLGA Selection Committee.

Subscriptions remain the same for a further year, and some minor tidying up of the regulations governing SLGA Championships and other tournaments was unanimously approved.
The meeting finished within an hour.

SCOTTISH GOLFER OF THE YEAR - Register your vote for Ayrshire ace

2012-01-26T11:03:00.000Z

Golfers throughout the country are being invited to vote for their Scottish Golfer Of The Year in a Scottishgolf survey.

All those who vote are in with a chance of winning tickets to attend the Scottish Golf Awards Dinner in Glasgow on 23rd March.

Michael Stewart with the
South African Amateur Trophy

Amongst the candidates for the award this year is Ayrshire golfer Michael Stewart from Troon Welbeck who won the South African Amateur Championship, was a finalist in The Amateur Championship and was a member of the victorious GB & I Walker Cup team who beat the USA at Royal Aberdeen in September.

You can register your vote on the Scottishgolf website or by clicking on the link below.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3KBM726?utm_campaign=SGU%20Golfers%20e-bulletin%20-%2023%20January%202012&utm_source=emailCampaign&utm_medium=email

2012 AYRSHIRE FIXTURES - confirmed list of events published

2012-01-26T00:14:00.000Z

The complete list of Ayrshire Golf Association fixtures for 2012 has been published and distributed to member clubs, along with entry forms and posters for the seasons opening events.

The Ayrshire Strokeplay Championship takes place on 22nd April this year, at Prestwick St Nicholas with the matchplay taking place in early May at Western Gailes.

In July the Ayrshire Club Championship, which is fast becoming one of the most sought after titles in the county following two Ayrshire clubs in the last three years going on to win the National Club Championship title, takes place at Irvine (Bogside) GC.

August sees the Ayrshire Boys Championship take place at Largs as well as the Champion Of Chmpions final at Royal Troon and the Boys Matchplay Championship at Prestwick .

The Ayrshire Under 18 team have 3 home games, at Ardeer, Skelmorlie and Kilbirnie, in their five matches throughout the summer as they bid for the Wishart Trophy and West Of Scotland Inter County title.

In the West Of Scotland matches in September and October, the A team have three home games in their five matches whilst the youths team are away from home on three occassions in their competition for the West Of Scotland title.

Entry forms for the Ayrshire Strokeplay Championship have been distributed to clubs and can also be downloaded directly from the link on the left of this page, under the 'Mens Info' heading.

Entry forms for all other Ayrshire Golf Association events are also available to download from the website now, and will be distributed to clubs in due course.

The full list of County fixtures for 2012 are :-

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION

FIXTURES 2012

MONTH

DATE

FIXTURE

VENUE

APRIL

AYRSHIRE BOYS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

AYR DALMILLING

AYRSHIRE STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

PRESTWICK ST. NICHOLAS

MAY

7 to 10

AYRSHIRE MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

WESTERN GAILES

19 - 20

AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

BLAIRGOWRIE

AYRSHIRE U18 v RENFREW U18

ARDEER

JUNE

SCOTTISH BOYS AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

COWGLEN

AYRSHIRE U18 v STIRLING U18

SKELMORLIE

JULY

AYRSHIRE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

IRVINE

AYRSHIRE SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP

LOUDOUN

AYRSHIRE U18 v LANARK U18

BOTHWELL CASTLE

AUGUST

AYRSHIRE BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP

LARGS

CHAMPION of CHAMPIONS SEMI FINALS

ROYAL TROON

7 to 9

AYRSHIRE BOYS MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

PRESTWICK

CHAMPION of CHAMPIONS FINAL

ROYAL TROON

AYRSHIRE U18 v DUMBARTON U18

KILBIRNIE

SEPTEMBER

AYRSHIRE U18 v GLASGOW U18

BISHOPBRIGGS

AYRSHIRE A v STIRLING A

KILSYTH LENNOX

AYRSHIRE Y v STIRLING Y

BRUNSTON CASTLE

AYRSHIRE A v LANARK A

PRESTWICK ST. CUTHBERT

AYRSHIRE Y v LANARK Y

AIRDRIE

AYRSHIRE A v RENFREW A

AYR BELLEISLE

AYRSHIRE Y v RENFREW Y

RENFREW

OCTOBER

AYRSHIRE A v DUMBARTON A

MILNGAVIE (1230)

AYRSHIRE Y v DUMBARTON Y

WEST KILBRIDE (1200)

AYRSHIRE A v GLASGOW A

TROON DARLEY

AYRSHIRE Y v GLASGOW Y

HAGGS CASTLE

SCOTTISH GOLF AMALGAMATION - SGU reaffirm commitment to progress amalgamation

2012-01-24T23:02:00.002Z

The Scottish Golf Union (SGU), in consultation with the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association (SLGA), remains committed to working towards a unified body in the Home of Golf.

Following a series of encouraging meetings of an SGU working group, the findings were presented at the SGU’s Annual General Meeting at Tulliallan Police College on Sunday 22 January 2012.

Discussions were very positive and it is hoped that further dialogue with the SLGA can recommence.

A statement from the SGU Board said: “There has been much work undertaken by the SGU Areas and Board on this matter in recent times.

“The culmination was a workshop yesterday and there have been many very positive discussions, not just yesterday but in recent weeks.

“There remains more work to do and then to engage with the SLGA, which we look forward to doing as soon as possible.”

DOC THOM AYRSHIRE ORDER OF MERIT - Counting events for 2012 announced

2012-01-24T22:52:00.000Z

The schedule of counting events for the 2012 Ayrshire Order Of Merit for the Doc Thom Salver has been published.

The 15 event schedule begins with the Ayrshire Strokeplay Championship at Prestwick St Nicholas in April and concludes in mid September at the same course with the Arrol Cup.

Included in the counting events this year is the new 36 hole scratch event at Loudoun Gowf Club, the Gowf Cup, which is scheduled for Sunday 8th July and replaces the Loudoun Open in the list of Doc Thom counting events.

A copy of the Doc Thom schedule is available to download via the link on the left of this page, under the 'Mens info' heading.

The full list of counting events for the 2012 Doc Thom Ayrshire Order Of Merit is :-

THE DOC THOM SALVER – AYRSHIRE ORDER OF MERIT 2012 COUNTING EVENTS
DAY	DATE	MONTH	EVENT	VENUE

Sun	22	April	AYRSHIRE STROKEPLAY	PRESTWICK ST NICHOLAS

Mon-Thur	07 - 10	May	AYRSHIRE MATCHPLAY	WESTERN GAILES
Sun	20	May	THE HILLHOUSE CUP	ROYAL TROON

Fri – Sun	01 – 03	June	SCOTTISH STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP	KILMARNOCK BARASSIE
Sun	03	June	BELLEISLE CUP	AYR BELLEISLE
Sat	09	June	AYR SEAFIELD OPEN	AYR SEAFIELD
Sat	09	June	BALLOCHMYLE OPEN	BALLOCHMYLE
Mon – Sat	18 – 23	June	THE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP	ROYAL TROON
Sat	16	June	THE McGILCHRIST CUP	ARDEER

Sun	8	July	THE GOWF CUP	LOUDOUN GOWF
Sat	14	July	BRUNSTON CASTLE OPEN	BRUNSTON CASTLE
Mon – Sat	30 - 04	July/August	SCOTTISH AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP	ROYAL DORNOCH

Sun	19	August	VIKING KRUS	LARGS KELBURN
Sun	26	August	WELBECK LINKS	TROON MUNICIPAL

Sat	15	September	ARROL CUP	PRESTWICK ST. NICHOLAS

JUNIOR FIXTURES - 2012 Junior fixture list and Order Of Merit schedule published

2012-01-24T22:38:00.002Z

David Wilson receiving the Junior Order Of Merit Trophy
from AGA President David Miller

The list of junior fixtures in Ayrshire has been published. The fixture list includes club, county and national events as well as those events which will count towards the Ayrshire Junior Order Of Merit, won in 2011 by Scottish Boys Champion David Wilson (Troon Welbeck).

The number of counting events for the Ayrshire Junior Order Of Merit this year number 21, beginning with the Scottish Boys Championship at Murcar Links in April and conculding with the British Boys Championship in August.

A copy of the fixture list is available to download via the link on the left of this page, under the 'Juniors Info' heading.

The full list of fixtures is :-

THE AYRSHIRE JUNIOR ORDER OF MERIT 2012 COUNTING EVENTS AND OTHER JUNIOR FIXTURES
** Junior Order Of Merit counting event
DAY	DATE	MONTH	EVENT	VENUE
Sat-Sun	31 - 01	March/April	SGU JUNIOR TOUR EVENT 1	Gullane No. 2

Mon-Sat	09-14	April	** SCOTTISH BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP	Murcar Links
Sun	15	April	AYRSHIRE BOYS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP	Ayr Dalmillingl

Sat-Sun	26-27	May	SGU JUNIOR TOUR EVENT 2	The Roxburghe
Sun	20	May	AYRSHIRE U18 Vs RENFREWSHIRE U18	Ardeer

Sun	10	June	SGU BOYS AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP	Cowglen
Sat-Sun	16-17	June	SGU JUNIOR TOUR EVENT 3	Rowallan Castle
Sun	17	June	AYRSHIRE U18 Vs STIRLINGSHIRE U18	Skelmorlie

Sun	01	July	**BYRNE HOWARD JUNIOR OPEN	Royal Troon (Portland)
Mon	02	July	** POLLOCK TROPHY	Kilmarnock (Barassie)
Tue	03	July	** PRESTWICK BOYS OPEN	Prestwick St. Cuthbert
Thur-Fri	03 - 04	July	SCOTTISH BOYS UNDER 14 STROKEPLAY	Buchanan Castle
Thur	5	July	** LARGS JUNIOR OPEN	Largs
Sun	29	July	AYRSHIRE U18 Vs LANARKSHIRE U18	Bothwell Castle
Tues	10	July	** ARDEER JUNIOR OPEN	Ardeer
Wed-Fri	11 – 13	July	SCOTTISH BOYS UNDER 16 STROKEPLAY	Strathaven
Fri	13	July	** TROON WELBECK JUNIOR OPEN	Troon Darley
Mon	16	July	** LOUDOUN BOYS OPEN	Loudoun
Tue	17	July	** HARRIS BOYS OPEN	West Kilbride
Thur	19	July	** ANNANHILL BOYS OPEN	Annanhill
Tue-Thu	24 - 26	July	** SCOTTISH BOYS STROKEPLAY	Cardross
Thur	26	July	** CAPRINGTON BOYS OPEN	Caprington
Mon	30	July	** PRESTWICK ST. NICHOLAS JUNIOR OPEN	Prestwick St. Nicholas

Thu	02	August	** AYRSHIRE BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP	Largs
Sun	05	August	**KILBIRNIE PLACE JUNIOR OPEN	Kilbirnie Place
Tue	07	August	**SOUTH AYRSHIRE JUNIOR OPEN	Troon Municipal Courses
Tue-Thu	07 - 09	August	BOYS HOME INTERNATIONALS	County Louth
Tue-Thu	07 - 09	August	** AYRSHIRE BOYS MATCHPLAY	Prestwick
Wed	08	August	** NORTH AYRSHIRE BOYS OPEN	Irvine Ravenspark
Thur	09	August	** AYR BELLEISLE JUNIOR OPEN	Ayr Belleisle
Mon	13	August	** BALLOCHMYLE JUNIOR OPEN	Ballochmyle
Mon-Sat	14 - 19	August	** BRITISH BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP	Notts/Coxmoor
Sun	19	August	AYRSHIRE U18 Vs DUMBARTONSHIRE U18	Kilbirnie Place

Sun	2	September	AJGL WALLACE THORNTON FINAL	Prestwick St Cuthbert
Sun	2	September	AJGL UNDER 16 TROPHY FINAL	Prestwick St Cuthbert
Sun	9	September	AYRSHIRE U18 Vs GLASGOW U18	Bishopbriggs
Sun	09	September	AJGL CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS FINAL	Prestwick St Cuthbert
Sun	09	September	AJGL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL	Prestwick St Cuthbert

Mon	5	November	AJGL ANNUAL DINNER	Prestwick St Cuthbert

CLUB COACHING GRANTS - Ayrshire Golf Association continue scheme in 2012

2012-01-24T22:30:00.000Z

The Ayrshire Golf Association have confirmed that the Club Coaching Grant scheme for member clubs will be continued in 2012.

To assist clubs to deliver coaching to their junior members, grants of up to £150 are being made available.

Application forms have been distributed to relevant clubs and a copy of the form is also available to download from the link on the left of this page under the 'Juniors Info' heading.

Funding for the scheme is limited and clubs intending to apply are encouraged to do so at an early stage to avoid disappointment as all monies will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

SCOTTISH GOLF UNION AGM - Tom caig appointed interim chairman

2012-01-23T19:18:00.000Z

Interim Chairman Tom Craig & new President Maurice Shields

(SGU MEDIA RELEASE)

The Scottish Golf Union, following its Annual General Meeting, on Sunday 22 January, has appointed Tom Craig CA as new Interim Chairman of the Board after Douglas Connon MBE did not seek a second three-year term due to health reasons.

At the AGM, Maurice Shields was also confirmed as the 50^th SGU President and Iain Harvey was appointed as the new Vice-President. Stephen Docherty succeeds John Fraser as Non-Executive Director (Performance), with Ian Howarth the new Junior Vice-President.

Following agreement from the 16 Area Associations at the annual gathering held at Tulliallan Police College, Tom has been tasked with taking the SGU forward, with the primary focus on achieving amalgamation with the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association (SLGA).

Should the amalgamation goal be achieved, Tom, vastly experienced in management and finance, will then stand down and pass the chairmanship to the new chairman appointed under the combined body processes. However, if at any time it becomes apparent that amalgamation is not going to be fulfilled, he will step down and the SGU will undertake its process to seek a new Chairman.

Tom is Chairman of Craig Corporate, which provides private and public companies with business management, corporate finance, company turnaround and taxation services. Tom founded Craig Corporate, which has offices in Glasgow and London, in 1985. He is also Co-chairman of @sipp plc, a SIPP trustee and administration company, and Houston Bottling & Co-Pack, a provider of bottling and packing services to the whisky industry. He is also a director of Accord hospice in his home town of Paisley.

He is a member at Western Gailes Golf Club, where he has previously served on the committee, and at Erskine Golf Club, where he has served as Finance Convener and Captain.

Tom said: “It is a great honour to be elected as Chairman of the SGU. It is a fine organisation with very capable, committed and enthusiastic staff. Everyone I have met in the SGU – staff, directors, Council members, Area Association officials and so on – share one thing in common: they are all hugely committed to golf in Scotland, and desperately keen for its success and prosperity. Every golfer in Scotland owes a debt of gratitude to those involved in the SGU, particularly to the army of volunteers who work very often unseen and without thought of any personal reward save the success of our sport.

“During this past year there have been some unfortunate difficulties associated with amalgamating the gents’ and ladies’ governing bodies of Scottish amateur golf. My priority as Chairman will be to work with our new President, Maurice Shields, to achieve a basis of amalgamation with the SLGA which is recognised as right for the SGU and for the greater good of amateur golf in Scotland.”

Maurice Shields, a retired PE teacher, is a popular figure on the national championship amateur circuit. He has served on several SGU committees, including development and child protection, and has been a Scotland Team Manager at both Boys’ and Men’s levels. A member of Windyhill Golf Club since 1963, he has been an executive member of the Dumbartonshire Golf Union for a number of years, acting as Area President between 2008 and 2010.

The SGU would like to collectively extend its thanks to Douglas Connon, who took over from Alistair Low as Chairman in January 2009. During his time, Douglas has helped raise the profile, reputation and finances of the SGU and we wish him a speedy recovery from the illness he has endured this past year.

AYRSHIRE MATCHPLAY COMPETITIONS - Entries for 2012 events close next week

2012-01-23T00:21:00.000Z

Entries for three of the premier Ayrshire Golf Association events in 2012 must be in the habnds of The Secretary by Tuesday 31st January at the latest.

The Scratch (Summer) Leagues are contested throughout the summer with teams representing competing clubs playing in five leagues.

Entries received for 2012, as of 22nd January, are :-

New Cumnock
Tam O'Shanter
Girvan
Brunston Castle
Prestwick St Cuthbert
Ayr Belleisle
Largs
Ballochmyle
Troon Welbeck
Kilmarnock (Barassie)
Troon St Meddans
West Kilbride
Irvine Ravenspark
Crosshouse
Maybole
Moorpark
Doon Valley
Prestwick St Nicholas
Loudoun

Of last years participants, entries are still awaited from

Irvine
Ardeer
Caprington
Kilbirnie Place
Turnberry
Ayr Dalmilling
and
Rowallan Castle

38 entries have been received, as of 22nd January, for the Champion Of Champions competition, which is open to the club champions or championship runners up of competing clubs, who play on a scratch basis throughout the summer in a bis for a place in the semi finals and final at Royal Troon in September. Entries received to date are :-
Nicol Auld (Whiting Bay)
Fraser McCall (Troon Portland)
Derek Bryson (New Cumnock)
Nicholas Tindall (Tam O Shanter)
Gary Bryden (Turnberry Staff)
Scott McCahill (Brunston Castle)
Robert Steele (Prestwick St Cuthbert)
Gordon Boyle (Ayr Belleisle)
Andrew Cunning Jnr (Muirkirk)
William Wilson (Ballochmyle)
Steven Dunn (Ayr Seafield)
Brian Gray (Beith)
Iain McDonald (Largs)
Stuart White (Girvan)Scott Brown (Holder)
Barrie McDonnell (Fenwick)
Euan Brown (Kilmarnock Barassie)
Ian Fraser (Troon St Meddans)
Andrew Carroll (Drongan)
Ricky Tait (Chase)
Craig Robertson (Abbotsford)
David Kinnell (Saxone)
Peter Bond (Irvine Ravenspark)
Steven Jackson (Wallacetown)
Gary Jordan (Crosshouse)
Brian Robertson (Auchenharvie 88)
Stephen Murray (Troon Welbeck)
Kenneth Campbell (Ayr Carrick)
Malcolm McKay (Maybole)
Alan Mulholland (Moorpark)
Euan Findlay (Alton)
Jim Shearer (West Kilbride)
James Graham (Doon Valley)
Jim Anderson (Skelmorlie)
Alan Poole (Prestwick St Nicholas)
Scott Gilchrist (Loudoun)
Derek Yates (Braehead)
Michael Smyth (Royal Troon)

With 48 competitors in last years event, a number of participant clubs in 2011 have not submitted a representative so far for this seasons event.

35 couples have been entered so far in the Ayrshire Fourball Championship, up to and including entries received by 22nd January.

Played on a handicap basis throughout the season, the entries received by 14 January are :-

Allan Johnston & Craig Devlin (Glacier)
David & Iain Macdonald (Largs)
Robert Marshall & Philip Rooney (Beith)
James McComiskey & Adam Cairns (Troon Portland)
Derek & Robert Bryson (New Cumnock)
John Cavens & Christopher McGhee (Tam O Shanter)
George & David McCulloch (Brunston Castle)
Johnny & Craig Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert)
Andrew Brown & John McBean (Ayr Belleisle)
Andrew Cunning Jnr & John Renwick (Muirkirk)
John Batchelor & Gavin Strang (Ballochmyle)
Alan McDougall & Shaun Granger (Ayr Seafield)
Michael Holland & Stephen Holland (Troon Welbeck)
Colin Thom & William Wilson (Kilmarnock Barassie)
A Cherry & E McFadden (Troon St Meddans)
Andrew Turnbull & David Cook (Fenwick)
John Frame & Stephen McPike (Drongan)
Alan Muir & Brian Stewart (Chase)
Chalmers Thomson & William Telford (Abbotsford)
Michael O'Brien & Ronnie Allison (Saxone)
Willie Morgan & Willie Morgan Jnr. (Irvine Ravenspark)
Graeme Reid & Alec Reid (Wallacetown)
Colin Berry & Derek Young (Crosshouse)
David Hamilton & George Vogan (Auchenharvie 88)
David Paterson & Brian McTaggart (Ayr Carrick)
John Urie & Gary Steele (Maybole)
Mick McGowan & Gerry Reid (Alton)
Alan Mulholland & James McGill (Moorpark)
Peter Gossman & Bryan Gossman (West Kilbride)
James Graham & Marc Wallace (Doon Valley)
Kevin Brock & Russell Whittaker (Prestwick St Nicholas)
Thomas McGill & Jimmy Lynch (Malletsheugh)
Jim Anderson & Paul Church (Skelmorlie)
Graeme Gebbie & John Houston (Loudoun)
Derek Yates & Tom Boyd (Braehead)

43 clubs entered the event last year, so again some of the participants from 2011 still need to submit their entry for the 2012 event.

Any club still wishing to enter any of the three competitions should forward completed entry forms to the Ayrshire Golf Association Secretary, along with the relevant fees, as soon as possible.
The Secretary's of all member clubs were circulated with the entry forms, via email, on 1st November 2011.

Should any club require a further copy of the relevant entry form, this can be obtained by contacting the AGA Secretary at ayrshiregolf@fsmail.net

TROON ST MEDDANS GC - New junior convener appointed

2012-01-20T10:22:00.000Z

Kenny Milliken has been appointed as the new junior convener at Troon St Meddans Golf Club.

The club, founder members of the Ayrshire Junior Golf League in 1968 and the first League Champions in 1969 have a long history of junior development within their junior section but, due to internal issues, the junior team dropped out of the Ayrshire Junior Golf League last year, a competition they had competed in every years since its formation.

Wit the appointement of kenny Milliken, himself a former junior member and a competitor in the Ayrshire Junior Golf League, the club hope to spark a revival in the fortunes of the junior section and ultimately make a return to Ayrshire Junior Golf League competition.

The following information has been received from the Troon St Meddans club :-

TROON ST MEDDANS GOLF CLUB
We are delighted to confirm that a new convener has been appointed and we have a full fixture list for the coming season. The first competition of the year will be held on sat 4th february from 11.30 am where we will welcome members new and old. Applications will be taken every saturday in the lounge at the clubhouse before the competition. At all other times forms are available from the starters box at troon municipal clubhouse or can be downloaded from troonstmeddansgolfclub.com/forum

The junior fees have been set at £25 for this season

For any other information contact kenny at juniorsecretary@troonstmeddans.com

SCOTTISH GOLF AWARDS DINNER - Tickets now available

2012-01-17T16:10:00.000Z

(From the www.scottishgolf.org website)

Michael Stewart
with his South African Amateur Championship Trophy

The countdown to this year’s Annodata Scottish Golf Awards has officially begun after Catriona Matthew and Michael Stewart were reunited with the Solheim Cup and Walker Cup trophies at today’s launch.

A celebration of Scottish Golf’s achievements over the past 12 months, the prestigious event takes place on Friday 23 March, returning to the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow, with all proceeds from the Awards going towards the development of young golfers in Scotland.

Open to all golf fans, the glittering evening of champagne and champions will bring together players from all spectrums of the game, from the top Tour professionals past and present to those involved in the grass roots of the game.

The Annodata Scottish Golf Awards will be hosted by respected BBC golf commentator Andrew Cotter, the anchorman for coverage of The Masters and The Open Championship in 2011.

Tickets for the event cost £75 per person or £700 for a table of 10. It offers a great night out for groups of golfing friends or companies and organisations looking to entertain key clients and customers.

Scotland’s leading male and female amateurs from 2011 will be presented with their Awards, while the work of clubs at community level will be recognised with the RBS Junior Club and Volunteer of the Year Awards. There will be a new recipient of the SGU and SLGA ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’, won last year by former Open Champion Paul Lawrie and victorious Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie.

Catriona Matthew, Scotland’s leading female professional, enjoyed a fantastic year in 2011, winning on the LPGA Tour and the Aberdeen Ladies Scottish Open on home soil, as well as playing a pivotal role in Europe’s famous Solheim Cup win, while Michael Stewart helped Great Britain and Ireland to victory in the Walker Cup alongside James Byrne, in addition to winning the South African Amateur Championship and reaching the final of The Amateur Championship.

Clutching the Solheim Cup, Matthew said: “The 2012 Scottish Golf Awards will be a great event with lots to look back on and celebrate from last year.

“It was a great year with Scots winning on the PGA, Nationwide, European, LPGA and Ladies European Tours - quite a feat when you think about it.

Notably, there were also the amazing performances of both The Solheim Cup and Walker Cup teams.”

Stewart, the 2011 Scottish Amateur Golfer of the Year, holding the Walker Cup, added: “I’m sure anyone who buys a ticket will have a great night on Friday 23 March.

“It’s always great to be honoured at these events and it’s nice that these awards reflect the achievements of all levels of the Scottish game. It’s good for the young amateurs and volunteers to also be mingling with the top pros.”

A new award for 2012 is the overall ‘Player of the Year’ category, with the likes of Matthew, Stewart, Open de Andalucia winner Paul Lawrie, two-time Scottish Amateur champion David Law, European Tour rookie Scott Jamieson and Scottish Women’s Amateur champion Louise Kenney all in the running. An on-line vote for golf fans, via the Scottish Golf Union website at www.scottishgolf.org, will determine the winner, with all voters entered into a free prize draw to win a free pair of tickets for the event.

Tickets for the evening can be purchased on-line via the Scottish Golf Shop at www.scottishgolf.org or by calling the Ticket Hotline on 01334 466477.

A new name will be sponsoring the event this year, with Annodata acquiring last year’s event sponsors Xerox Office Solutions. Annodata is one of Europe’s largest independent vendors for print, document, data and communication technologies and is the SGU’s official office equipment supplier, providing services to many golf clubs across Scotland.

The Annodata Scottish Golf Awards ticket package includes:

*Champagne and whisky reception
*Delicious 4-course meal
*Presentation of 10 Awards
*On stage interviews with leading players
*Fantastic golfing prizes up for grabs in our raffle
*Dream golfing packages in the silent auction
*Video review of the golfing year
*Money raised goes towards junior golf development

For more information on Annodata please visit www.annodata.co.uk

GLENMUIR WINTER SERIES - Fleming & Redford win Turnberry card play off

2012-01-16T17:11:00.000Z

(From Cal Carson Golf Agency - 01224 869782)

Prestwick's David Fleming and Guy Redford (Dundonald Links) won the first competition of the new Tartan Tour season - the Glenmuir Winter Series better-ball over Turnberry Hotel's Kintyre course today (Monday) - after a card play-off against two other pairs who also returned four-under-par 68s.

Fleming and Redford won the top prize of £700 by having the best inward half.

The course was frost free but the conditions were bitterly cold.

Joint runners up , each pair winning £425, were the Dundonald Links partnership of Iain Colquhoun and David Ross Nicol, and Tom Eckford (Ranfurly Castle) and Stuart Kerr (Strathaven).

Heather MacRae (Gleneagles), the only girl in the field of 20 pairs, partnered Chris Kelly (Cawder) to a share of fourth place on three-under 69. Also on that mark were Tom Buchanan (Duddingston) and Peter Kerr (Hayston) as well as David Patrick (Elie Sports Club) and Gareth Wright (West Linton). Each pair earned £150.

GLENMUIR BETTER-BALL WINTER SERIES

Kintyre course, Turnberry Hotel

LEADING SCORES

Par 72

68 - David Fleming (Prestwick) and Guy Redford (Dundonald Links) (£700), Iain Colquhoun (Dundonald Links) and David Ross Nicol (Dundonald Links) (£425), Tom Eckford (Ranfurly Castle) and Stuart Kerr (Strathaven) (£425).

69 - Chris Kelly (Cawder) and Heather MacRae (Gleneagles), Tom Buchanan (Duddingston) and Peter Kerr (Hayston), David Patrick (Elie SC) and Gareth Wright (West Linton) (£150 each pair).
70 - Stephen Gray (Hayston) and Anbdrew Marshall (Houston GR), Ronan Rafferty (Roxburghe) and Stephen McAllister (Renaissance), Anthony Mackrell (Playsport Golf) and Scott Catlin (Greenburn).
71 - Christopher Russell (Dunbar) and James Erskine (Portpatrick Dunskey), Stuart Syme (Dumfries & Co) and David Broadfoot (Dumfries & Co).
72 - Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs DR) and Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), Iain McNab (unatt) and David Addison (Kilmarnock Barassie), Daniel Wood (Hirsel) and Stuart Pardoe (Stuart Pardoe Golf).
73 - Keith Baxter (Buchanan Castle) and Alastair McLean (Duddingston), Ricky Hall (Turnberry) and Michael Sweenie (Turnberry).
74 - Ken Campbell (Machrihanish) and Neil Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh).
78 - Brian Gibson (Carrick on Loch Lomond) and Graeme Matthews (Carrick on Loch Lomond), Christopher Drabbie (Archerfield Links) and Andrew Meikle (Archerfield Links).
81 - David Snodgrass (Hilton Park) and Andrew McIntyre (Ranfurly Castle).

AYRSHIRE MATCHPLAY COMPETITIONS - two weeks until closing date for 2012 championships

2012-01-14T23:03:00.001Z

There is only two weeks to go until the closing date for enties into three of the premier Ayrshire Golf Association events in 2012.

The closing date for all three events is 31st January.

The Scratch (Summer) Leagues are contested throughout the summer with teams representing competing clubs playing in five leagues.

Entries received for 2012, as of 14th January, are :-

Troon Welbeck
Kilmarnock (Barassie)
Troon St Meddans
West Kilbride
Irvine Ravenspark
Crosshouse
Maybole
Moorpark
Doon Valley
Prestwick St Nicholas
Loudoun

24 entries have been received, as of 14th January, for the Champion Of Champions competition, which is open to the club champions or championship runners up of competing clubs, who play on a scratch basis throughout the summer in a bis for a place in the semi finals and final at Royal Troon in September. Entries received to date are :-

Scott Brown (Holder)
Barrie McDonnell (Fenwick)
Euan Brown (Kilmarnock Barassie)
Ian Fraser (Troon St Meddans)
Andrew Carroll (Drongan)
Ricky Tait (Chase)
Craig Robertson (Abbotsford)
David Kinnell (Saxone)
Peter Bond (Irvine Ravenspark)
Steven Jackson (Wallacetown)
Gary Jordan (Crosshouse)
Brian Robertson (Auchenharvie 88)
Stephen Murray (Troon Welbeck)
Kenneth Campbell (Ayr Carrick)
Malcolm McKay (Maybole)
Alan Mulholland (Moorpark)
Euan Findlay (Alton)
Jim Shearer (West Kilbride)
James Graham (Doon Valley)
Jim Anderson (Skelmorlie)
Alan Poole (Prestwick St Nicholas)
Scott Gilchrist (Loudoun)
Derek Yates (Braehead)
Michael Smyth (Royal Troon)

23 couples have been entered so far in the Ayrshire Fourball Championship.

Played on a handicap basis throughout the season, the entries received by 14 January are :-

Michael Holland & Stephen Holland (Troon Welbeck)
Colin Thom & William Wilson (Kilmarnock Barassie)
A Cherry & E McFadden (Troon St Meddans)
Andrew Turnbull & David Cook (Fenwick)
John Frame & Stephen McPike (Drongan)
Alan Muir & Brian Stewart (Chase)
Chalmers Thomson & William Telford (Abbotsford)
Michael O'Brien & Ronnie Allison (Saxone)
Willie Morgan & Willie Morgan Jnr. (Irvine Ravenspark)
Graeme Reid & Alec Reid (Wallacetown)
Colin Berry & Derek Young (Crosshouse)
David Hamilton & George Vogan (Auchenharvie 88)
David Paterson & Brian McTaggart (Ayr Carrick)
John Urie & Gary Steele (Maybole)
Mick McGowan & Gerry Reid (Alton)
Alan Mulholland & James McGill (Moorpark)
Peter Gossman & Bryan Gossman (West Kilbride)
James Graham & Marc Wallace (Doon Valley)
Kevin Brock & Russell Whittaker (Prestwick St Nicholas)
Thomas McGill & Jimmy Lynch (Malletsheugh)
Jim Anderson & Paul Church (Skelmorlie)
Graeme Gebbie & John Houston (Loudoun)
Derek Yates & Tom Boyd (Braehead)

Any club still wishing to enter any of the three competitions should forward completed entry forms to the Ayrshire Golf Association Secretary, along with the relevant fees, as soon as possible.

The Secretary's of all member clubs were circulated with the entry forms, via email, on 1st November 2011.

Should any club require a further copy of the relevant entry form, this can be obtained by contacting the AGA Secretary at ayrshiregolf@fsmail.net

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION DINNER - Tickets for St Nicholas event now available

2012-01-14T22:31:00.001Z

After a succesful evening last year, the Ayrshire Golf Association Annual Dinner & Presentation of Trophies returns to Prestwick St Ncholas Golf Club in 2012, taking place on Friday 24 February.

In 2011, Ayrshire celebrated two national champions and a representative in the succesful Walker Cup side.

Sandy Jones

Guest speaker at this years dinner will be Chief Executive Officer of P.G.A. Europe, Sandy Jones.

Posters and information has been distributed by email to clubs. Tickets, priced at £17.50 each, are available from the Ayrshire Golf Association Secretary on a first come first served basis.

THE AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL DINNER

PRESENTATION OF TROPHIES

PRESTWICK ST NICHOLAS GOLF CLUB

FRIDAY 24^TH FEBRUARY 2012

6.30 P.M. FOR 7.00 P.M.

GUEST SPEAKER

SANDY JONES

CEO of P.G.A. EUROPE

TICKETS PRICED AT

£17.50 EACH

ARE AVAILABLE FROM

THE AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION SECRETARY

ALASDAIR J. MALCOLM

17 AUCHINCRUIVE AVENUE

PRESTWICK

KA9 2DT

Tel. 01292 477657

Email – ayrshiregolf@fsmail.net

TROON MUNICIPAL CLUBHOUSE - Is this the future for Harling Drive site?

2012-01-14T00:05:00.001Z

Is this the views of the past and future of the Troon Municipal Golf Clubhouse in Harling Drive ?

The illustrative images below have just been published on the Troon St Meddans Golf Club website, following a meeting of clubs who use the Harling Drive complex and the three public courses attached to it, on 10th January.

Troon Welbeck, who administer their own club rooms and lounge bar facilities within the clubhouse building have already expressed grave concerns in local press over the plans, but the St Meddans site reports that, with the exception of the Troon Welbeck representative present, representatives of other clubs who use the facilities who attended the meeting on 10th January were supportive of the plans

One club member writes on the website:-

"The meeting on the 10th Jan was mostly supportive. All clubs who are associated with the building was present, I personally asked the group the following questions.

Excluding the Welbeck, because listening to the comments from its representatives tonight it is clear they have issues, which by the way they have failed to share with the group tonight, Is there any other club that has any concerns with the redevelopment?

To which the room went silent.

In order not to misrepresent any clubs let me ask the same question but slightly different,
Excluding the Welbeck, because from the comments from its representatives tonight, do all the other clubs support the redevelopment?

To which all representatives present nodded in agreement, (excluding the Welbeck)

There was one objection, one gentlemen who was a member of Welbeck and Merchants of Troon asked what will happen to the Welbeck,

As you can see the Welbeck have concerns which they don't wish to disclose to this group, I think this is not going to be resolved tonight which is why I asked the question excluding the Welbeck, From a Merchants of Troon point do you have any concerns, to which the answer was NO.

XQ Regenerations have also shared some indicative plans with us. Please remember that they are all subject to surveys and Engineering reports on the building, the plan or rooms sizes could change, but it gives you an insight into what they are hopping to achieve".

The company, reported to have been set up with the sole aim of managing the project and running the building for an undetermined number of years, is XQ Regeneration who were represented at the meeting on 10th January.

What is clear is that there has been, and will no doubt be much more, discussion over the proposed development of the clubhouse site. Councillors and council officials will probably welcome any comments, both for and against the proposed redevelopment.

If any reader would like to make constructive comment or points on the issue, for publication on our site, this can be done by clicking on the word 'comment' on the foot of this post, which will open a new window where you can leave your thoughts on the subject.

SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP - Turnberry return for premier event

2012-01-10T10:24:00.000Z

(From the PGA European Tour)

Golf’s iconic names will take on one of the game’s most revered links courses when The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex returns to Turnberry from July 26-29, and fans can now book their place to see more history in the making on the picturesque Ayrshire coast.
Discounted advance tickets are now on sale for the 26th Senior Open Championship at a historic venue that is universally popular with leading senior players from both sides of the Atlantic.

Scotland’s Sam Torrance, the victorious 2002 European Ryder Cup Captain, will be hoping to lead the home challenge on Turnberry’s Ailsa Course, which he ranks as one of his favourite golfing venues.

“I was at Turnberry a few weeks ago and it looked absolutely magnificent,” enthused Torrance. “I’m really looking forward to The Senior Open there. Aesthetically it is one of the most beautiful looking courses in the world, in one of the most beautiful parts of the world, and it is a great golf course.”

“The Senior Open is always special, no matter where it is played, but it is extra special when it is played in Scotland. I’m from that area – I was born about an-hour-and-a-half from Turnberry – so it will be special.”

Tom Lehman, the leading player on the US Champions Tour in 2011, believes Turnberry would be the perfect venue to add a Senior Open Championship victory to The Open Championship he won at Royal Lytham and St. Annes in 1996.

“Turnberry is an amazing place,” said the 2006 United States Ryder Cup Captain. “It is a tremendous golf course and a beautiful spot in the world. The views from the top of the hill and the hotel looking over Ailsa Craig are exceptional. Winning The Senior Open is on my wish list.”

Carl Mason, the most prolific winner in Senior Tour history, has bitter-sweet memories of Turnberry, having agonisingly let the 2003 Senior Open Championship slip through his grasp.

Mason had a two shot lead playing the final hole on his Senior Open debut, but a closing double bogey allowed Tom Watson to take the Championship into a play-off, which the American won on the second extra hole 26 years after winning The Open Championship at the same venue in the famous ‘Duel in the Sun’ with Jack Nicklaus.

“Turnberry is one of the leading links courses, a set-up that everyone enjoys, and it is very fair,” said Mason. “It is also in a beautiful spot. The Senior Open is an event we all want to try and win and I’m sure we will all look forward to playing Turnberry.”

Barry Lane, winner of the past two Scottish Senior Opens and runner-up in the 2011 Senior Tour Order of Merit, added: “Turnberry is a wonderful venue. For us, as seniors, to play Turnberry is fantastic. We play some great courses anyway but to play a course that is on the Open rota is a real privilege.”

It will be the seventh time that Turnberry’s Ailsa Course has hosted The Senior Open Championship, the most of any venue, surpassing the six editions played at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.

Turnberry hosted the inaugural Senior Open in 1987, when Englishman Neil Coles captured the trophy, with Gary Player capturing the title in 1988 and 1990 and Bob Charles lifting the trophy in 1989.

American Loren Roberts took the title on the Senior Open’s last visit to Turnberry in 2006, four years after Watson’s play-off victory over Mason.

Turnberry has also hosted The Open Championship on four occasions, including in 2009, when Watson lost in a play-off to Stewart Cink at the age of 59.

With the US Senior Open moving from its traditional slot in the last week of July to a new date of July 12-15, The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex will now be the final Senior Major of 2012, as well as the only professional Major Championship in Scotland this year, and fans can now reserve their tickets to be there.

Discounted advance tickets for The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex can now be purchased online, with season passes now available at £60 and any one day tickets at £18. They can be booked online at www.europeantourtickets.com, where other discounts and offers can also be found.
American Russ Cochran won The 2011 Senior Open Championship at Walton Heath, England, holding off the challenge of former Open Champion Mark Calcavecchia, three-time Senior Open Champion Watson and 2010 United States Ryder Cup Captain Corey Pavin.

MID AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP OF SCOTLAND - New event scheduled for Dundonald

2012-01-10T10:14:00.000Z

A new Mid Amateur (over 35) event is scheduled to take place in Ayrshire this year.

(Press release from the organisers)

Wyncanton Marketing Services Ltd (Whitstable, Kent. UK) are pleased to announce that the schedule for the Mid Amateur Golf Tour for 2012 is now complete and the events that will count towards the final result are as follows:

Chart Hills (March 29)
The Players Club (April 20)
Dundonald Links (May 4)
Royal St David's (June 7-8)
Old Fold Manor (June 1)
Saunton West (July 6-8)
Notts Golf Club (July 8)
Slaley Hall (July 27)
Hankley Common (August 10)
Tiverton
Royal Cinque Ports (tba)
Sunningdale New (August 31)
Berkhamsted (September 5)
Porters Park (September 17)
Liphook (September 22)
Hindhead (Septembere 26)
South Herts (tba)

The tour will run from the first event at Chart Hills at the end of March through to September with most of the events being held over 36 holes with the exception of Royal St David's and Saunton, which are both 54-hole events. There will be numerous prizes at each event with expected prize funds of over £1,000 rising to £1,500 for the Royal St David's event.

The events are open to all male golfers over the age of 35 who are in possession of an active handicap of 12 or less.

“Following on from the success of our first events in 2011 and the launch of the dedicated website at http://www.midamgolf.co.uk/, we felt it time to give the players something to aim for and add a bit of spice to all of the events throughout 2012.” said Jason Morris, Golf Director of Wyncanton Marketing Services.

“Mid-Amateur events are becoming increasingly popular with some events attracting in excess of 66 players all with handicaps of 2 or less. We have also added some new events to the schedule that cater for the other golfers who get balloted out of some of the more established events.

“Our events allow players the opportunity of competing against the best Mid-Amateurs in the country whilst having the opportunity of playing for some great prizes and meeting some new friends.

"We are receiving entrants from all over the United Kingdom and this is a really exciting time for us with the new website, events and tour attracting visitors from all over the world. We are also planning an overseas, 72-hole tournament for next year so watch this space!”

Anyone who would like to register their interest to play in this event is asked to visit www.midamgolf.co.uk and email their details to the Tournament Secretary.

For more information relating to this release and details of all Mid-Amateur Golf's events, please visit www.midamgolf.co.uk or contact Jason Morris on 07972 167706 or Email midamateurgolf@gmail.com

THE MID AMATEUR STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP OF SCOTLAND

In association with www.midamgolf.co.uk and Wyncanton Marketing Services Ltd. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A SGU EVENT.

TO BE HELD AT DUNDONALD LINKS GOLF CLUB
FRIDAY 20th April 2012
36 HOLES STROKE PLAY EVENT OPEN TO ALL MALE AMATEUR GOLFERS OVER 35 YEARS OF AGE ON 20th April 2012
This event is part of the Mid Amateur Golf Order of Merit for 2012
£1,250 PRIZE FUND*
SCRATCH EVENT
1ST PLACE £350
2ND PLACE £225
3RD PLACE £125
4TH PLACE £100
5TH PLACE £50

AM & PM SCRATCH £25
Lowest 36 hole score (gross) by player over 50 years of age £50
HANDICAP EVENT
1st PLACE £125
2nd PLACE £75
3rd PLACE £50

AM & PM HANDICAP £25
ENTRY FEE £95
Includes Coffee and bacon rolls and light lunch
(Entry fee by means of post-dated cheque to 2 April 2012, PayPal or bank transfer)
ENTRIES FOR THIS EVENT WILL BE ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS.
HANDICAP LIMIT FOR THIS EVENT IS 12
CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES IS 2nd APRIL 2012
www.midamgolf.co.uk
*PRIZE FUND BASED ON 72 PLAYERS
PLEASE CHECK OUT THE WEB SITE FOR ADDITIONAL MID AMATEUR EVENTS AT ROYALS ST DAVIDS, SLALEY HALL, CHART HILLS AND THE PLAYERS CLUB.

The entry form and consditions of competition for this event are available to download via the link on the left of this page under the Mens Info heading.

GLOBAL GOLF - European position for James Bunch

2012-01-04T00:32:00.000Z

(From the scottishgolfview.com website)

GLOBAL GOLF NEWS RELEASE
WINTER PARK, Florida – Global Golf Post – the first designed-for-digital golf publication in the world – is pleased to announce the addition of Prestwick Golf Club member James Bunch as General Manager, European Edition.
“We are thrilled to have this talented professional join our growing team,” says James Nugent, President/CEO Global Golf Post. “This is another step forward for our rapidly growing business.”
Bunch, pictured, will be responsible for the development of the European Edition of Global Golf Post. He brings over 11 years of experience in the UK golf industry; most recently he was responsible for staging the 2011 Solheim Cup.
Bunch is a native of St Andrews and played college golf at North Carolina State University where he received a Bachelors of Arts degree in Public and Interpersonal Communications. +James Bunch, a St Andrews New GC member, won the 1993 Scottish boys' open amateur stroke-play championship at Powfoot GC.
About Global Golf Post
Global Golf Post is the first digital weekly golf news publication in the world that offers the passionate golf enthusiast an extraordinary online experience that can be accessed across all major devices. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Winter Park, Florida, The Post is delivered overnight on Sunday to a global and passionate golf audience.
To find out how to have this free subscription digital news publication sent to you, log on to its website http://www.globalgolfpost.com/

AYRSHIRE MATCHPLAY COMPETITIONS - Closing date for entries approaches

2012-01-01T20:26:00.000Z

The closing date for entries into the Ayrshire matchplay competitions is fast approaching.

Entries for the AYRSHIRE CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS, AYRSHIRE FOURBALL and AYRSHIRE SCRATCH (SUMMER) LEAGUES must be in the hands of the Secretary by 31st January 2012.

As of todays date, 1st January, entries have been received so far from the following clubs:-

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

Auchenharvie
Troon Welbeck
Ayr Carrick
Maybole
Moorpark
Alton
West Kilbride
Doon Valley
Skelmorlie
Prestwick St Nicholas
Loudoun
Braehead
Royal Troon
Scott Brown (Holder)

AYRSHIRE FOURBALL

Auchenharvie
Ayr Carrick
Maybole
Alton
Moorpark
West Kilbride
Don Valley
Prestwick St Nicholas
Malletsheugh
Skelmorlie
Loudoun
Braehead

AYRSHIRE SCRATCH (SUMMER) LEAGUES

Maybole
Moorpark
Doon Valley
Prestwick St Nicholas
Loudoun

Entry forms were emailed to all Club Secretaries on 1st November 2011. Should any club require a further copy of the entry forms, contact should be made with the Area Secretary at ayrshiregolf@fsmail.net as soon as possible.

THE WAY THEY WERE - Cammie Gibson & the 'missing' cap

2011-12-21T01:06:00.004Z

From the scottishgolfview.com website

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com

W C (Cammie), one of the most successful of Ayrshire's golfing sons, died in 1995 but Scottishgolfview.com and Ayrshire Golf Association secretary Alasdair Malcolm are of the same mind in that it's not too late for the Scottish Golf Union handbook to get Cammie's Scotland international appearances listed correctly (no criticism of the present staff intended).

Cammie played in the Men's Home Internationals of 1950 at Royal St David's GC, Harlech in Wales, after he beat David Blair, Scottish boy champion in 1935 and Walker Cup player of 1955 and 1961, by 2 and 1 in the final of the Scottish amateur championship at a course Cammy knew very well - Prestwick.

He also played in the following year's (1951) Home Internationals at Royal Lytham, where Scotland and Ireland shared the title, but, for some unexplained reason, every other member of the Scotland team that year is credited with a cap for 1951 in the SGU handbook - but not Cammie Gibson.

That was the second bit of bad luck in Cammie's golfing career.

He reached the semi-finals of the Scottish amateur championship in 1939 and was selected to play in the home internationals at Royal Lytham - but they were cancelled, alongwith every other major sporting event, when World War II was declared by Britain on Germany in September 1939.

Alongwith many fine golfers, and other sportsmen, Cammie Gibson "lost" the next six years when he would have been at his golfing peak and who knows what he might have achieved in the golfing world in the 1940s in normal circumstances.

Cammie Gibson is pictured below in his playing days.

Alasdair Malcolm writes:
"Cammie's home club was Prestwick St Cuthbert when he won the Scottish in 1950. He was made an honorary member of St Cuthbert in 1939 after his bronze medal performance in the same event.
"He also became a member of Prestwick St Nicholas, playing his golf there in later years.
"Interestingly, when he won the Scottish at Prestwick in 1950, Prestwick Town Council had an exact copy of the championship trophy in miniature made for him. This stands about eight inches high and is on permanent loan to St Cuthbert, along with his championship medals.
"I took a photograph of the miniature copy, next to its 'big brother,' the last time the Scottish Amateur was at Prestwick (Alasdair Malcolm also took a picture of Cammie with the miniature and that's it at the top of this article).
"You may be interested to know that Cammie's brother was a well known professional in America, who played in the US Open and Masters tournaments and was a playing contemporary of the likes of Sam Snead and Tony Penna.
"Andy Gibson began his career on the other side of the Atlantic as professional at Baltimore County GC but he moved on to The Country Club, Maryland where he was pro for over 25 years.
"Cammie passed away in 1995 and brother Andy died only a few months later."

"A picture from 1994 when Cammie Gibson presented his golfing medals on permanent loan to Prestwick St Cuthbert, writes Alasdair Malcolm.
"The frame of medals include his Scottish Amateur championship bronze (1939) and gold (1950) medals and a medal from the 10th Boys International in 1932 between Scotland and England which was played at Royal Lytham St Annes.
"Interesting to note that the 1939 Scottish Amateur Championship was apparently the first one that Cammie entered, where he won bronze, and his next appearance in the championship was 1950 when he won gold.
"His next appearance was in 1951 at St Andrews, as defending champion, when he went all the way to the quarter finals before losing out to WD (Dick) Smith, a Prestwick member who famously played in the Walker Cup against a young Jack Nicklaus. I am not aware of Cammie taking part in the Scottish Amateur again after this, so not a bad record for three entries - quarter-finalist, semi-finalist and champion!
"As to the question why the Scottish Golf Union handbook's 1951 omission of his cap that year was not taken up, I have no idea. Whether it is just an oversight or whether there were other factors I am not sure.
"Did the matches go ahead on the scheduled dates or were they postponed and he wasn't available for the rearanged fixture? (Editor: The fact that a team picture, below, was taken suggests that Cammy Gibson was there and played). Perhaps if one of the Home nations has detailed records we may be able to shed some light on this eventually."

SCOTLAND'S 1950 HOME INTERNATIONALS TEAM

Back row (left to right): JR McKay, KW Walker, CD Lawrie, FWG Deighton, RR Jack, GW Mackie, R Wight, A Sinclair junior.
Front row (l to r): AT Kyle, J Cameron Conn (SGU president), WS McLeod, GB Peters (non-playing team captain), WC Gibson, WM Berrie (SGU honorary secretary), JB Stevenson.

SCOTLAND'S 1951 HOME INTERNATIONALS TEAM

Back row standing (left to right): RC MacGregor, WS McLeod, JR McKay, SB Williamson, HM Dickson (SGU president), WM Berrie (SGU honorary secretary).
Middle row seated (l to r): WC Gibson, JC Wilson, JM Dykes, RD Brand (non-playing team captain), AT Kyle, DA Blair, D Cameron.
Front seated (l to r): RR Jack, JB Stevenson.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Many famous names from Scotland's golfing past in both pictures which were given to Alasdair Malcolm by Cammie Gibson - Reid Jack, Morty Dykes, Eddie Hamilton, David Blair, Sandy Sinclair, to name just the ones that I know best.
One thing that strikes me about both pictures is the mature age of the players who represented Scotland in those days, when the European Tour, not to mention the Tour School was still some years away.
I would guess the teams' average age would have been at least 30, maybe 35 compared with a Scotland team these days when the average age would be around 20 or 21.

FOOTNOTE

In the 1970 edition of the Scottish Golf Union yearbook, Cammie is listed as playing against Ireland in 1950 & 1951.
A trawl through all the players listed on both photos and the caps attributed to them in the 1970 yearbook revealed that the same 10 players appear to have played in all three home international matches in 1950, whilst in 1951 eight appear to have played in all three matches.

Of the others, Cammie and J B Stevenson (another Ayrshire man from Troon St Meddans) played only against Ireland whilst Jimmy McKay (Prestwick St Nicholas) and R.C. McGregor both played against England & Wales.

In summary, it would appear that over the years, Cammie's 1951 cap against Ireland appears to have dropped off the radar. Hopefully this information will be sufficient to have the SGU Yearbook corrected for future years. - Alasdair J Malcolm

FLASHBACK !!! - Ayrshire's West Of Scotland Under 18 League winning team of 1996

2011-12-20T01:06:00.031Z

A blast for the past which came to light a few days ago. The scene is Beith Golf Club in September 1996 where the Ayrshire Under 18 team have just won their final match of the series to take the West Inter County League Wishart Trophy for the first time.

How many of the players and officials can you name ?.

There are at least four serving or one time professional golfers in the photo (Clue - It's not the three with the blazers at either side !!), as well as three players who went on to win senior County titles.

Another photo of the team from the same year, with one change of team member on this occassion

Can you name them all this time

If anyone can name all the players and officials and wants to send their list to ayrshiregolf@fsmail.net we will publish the name of the sender of the first all correct list, along with the names of course.

UPDATE

Ian Fraser (Troon St Meddans) was able to name some of the players and officials in the photos.

Ian wrote:-

"What a fantastic article in scottishgolf view about C.Gibson of St. Cuthbert. its so warming to know an ayrshire legend is finally recognised in the history books.

Also in those old pictures was the great JB Stevenson of Troon. What an incredible player he was!

He was our towns Bobby Jones. I think I'm right in saying he was a finalist in the amateur, representing scotland for many years and locally winning the Hillhouse Cup a staggering 10 times!( amongst many others things). (NOTE :- JB Stevenson was a Scottish internationalist in various years from 1932 through to 1951, bronze medalist in the Scottish Amateur in 1931 at Prestwick and quarter finalist in the Amateur Championship at Troon in 1938).

When you hear Professor Sir James Armour and Stewart Wilson saying he was their hero, you know he must have been something else!

It was also nice to see the Ayrshire boys team of the late 90s on the Ayrshire site. I can't name them all but definitely recognised Ronnie Potts, Dave Smith, big Scotty Cairns,Tommy Mac, Stevie Wallace and last but not least Neil Lockie.

Neil is a good friend of my mine. In case your not aware he is currently the head professional at Jonathans Landing GC in Jupiter, FLA.

I was out there in April and played the Fazio with him. Neil, of course is the great nephew of the great JB Stevenson ".

But the first person to name all the players and officials in the two photos of the Ayrshire Boys team was
STEPHEN McBLAIN
of Prestwick St Cuthbert GC.
Stephen correctly listed the names as :-
Photo 1 Left to Right

Dave Smith, Scott Cairns, Neil Lockie, Steven Wallace, Scott Sheridan, Ian Robertson, Gary Holland, John Doolan, Tommy McInally, Ronnie Potts and Alasdair Malcolm

Photo 2 Left to Right

Morgan Hall, David Connolly, Neil Lockie, Tommy McInally, John Doolan, Ian Robertson, Scott Sheridan, Garry Holland, Steven Wallace and Dave Smith

Well done Stephen - keep an eye out throughout the forthcoming year for other old photos, if we can dig some out, to test your memory.

MERRY CHRISTMAS - Some Xmas fun and best wishes from the Association

2011-12-17T20:25:00.001Z

A little Christmas fun, sending best wishes to all our member clubs and golfers throughout Ayrshire this Christmas

(click on the link to view)

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/0Ay7KnXK7gg4ZEBV?cmpid=fb_nc

SCOTTISH GOLF UNION - Chairman to stand down at AGM

2011-12-14T19:21:00.000Z

Douglas Connon

The Board of the Scottish Golf Union Ltd regrets to announce that due to health reasons Douglas Connon will not be putting his name forward for a second term in the position of Chairman of the Board at the AGM on 22 January 2012.

Douglas took over from Alistair Low as Chairman in January 2009 and will continue in his role until the AGM, but has decided not to be considered for another three-year term.

Douglas’ priorities have changed as a result of the serious illness he has endured this past year and the need to focus on getting back to full health and business life.

Hamish Grey, CEO of the Scottish Golf Union, said:

“On behalf of all associated with the Scottish Golf Union, it is with great sadness we received this news. Douglas has helped raise the profile, reputation and finances of the Scottish Golf Union".

“I would personally like to thank Douglas for the support he has given to the Board over these past three years. We wish him a speedy recovery.”

The Board will review the Scottish Golf Union’s position post the January AGM in due course.

Further comment will made be made from the Scottish Golf Union regarding this issue at the AGM.

AYRSHIRE GOLF ACADEMY - venture gets into the swing over the winter months

2011-12-07T23:42:00.000Z

The Ayrshire Golf Academy, which has recently been introduced as part of the Ayrshire Golf Association coaching programme, is getting into the swing of things as the winter months begin.

The first two sessions for a selected group of junior golfers have already taken place, on 6th November and 4th December, at the SportScotland National Centre at Inverclyde in Largs.

Over the winter months the Academy programme will cover various spects of the game including coaching, skill levels, nutrition, fitness and psychological aspects of the sport in an effort to maximise the potential of the players selected to take part in the programme this year.

Participants in the scheme range from ages 13 to 17 and were invited to take part after being selected on a strict handicap basis within certain age parameters.

All the players selected possess at least a single figure handicap, ranging from 9 to +1, whilst 13 of the 20 participants hold a category 1 handicap.

The full list of players included in the Ayrshire Academy programme this winter is :-

JACK THOMAS (Irvine)
DAVID WILSON (Troon Welbeck)
EUAN WALKER (Kilmarnock Barassie)
CALLUM BEVERIDGE (Troon Welbeck)
CALLUM GORRIE (Kilmarnock Barassie)
BLAIR GAVIN (Kilmarnock Barassie)
STUART EASTON (Irvine)
EUAN HENDERSON (Kilmanrock Barassie)
JACK McCLUSKEY (Ayr Belleisle)
LOUIS MURRAY (Troon Welbeck)
MURRAY McCRONE (Troon Welbeck)
CONNOR McKAY (Loudoun)
ROSS McDONALD (Irvine)
CAMPBELL MURRAY (Troon Welbeck)
KIERAN TUMILTY (West Kilbride)
SHAUN HEDGER (West Kilbride)
SEAN COOK (Annanhill)
DARREN McCUTCHEON (Troon Welbeck)
DARRYL LYNCH (Ayr Belleisle)
JORDAN FRASER (Ayr Belleisle)

Reserves
JORDAN SWEENEY (Ayr Belleisle)
CRAIG REID (Irvine Ravenspark)

In addition to the Ayrshire Academy programme, The Association are currently undertaking a review of all aspects of County coaching with the intention of producing a new strategy document in the near future.