ALL THE LATEST NEWS ON AMATEUR GOLF IN AYRSHIRE

Monday, February 26, 2007

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION - County team take on clubs in warm up matches

Ayrshire will take on club sides over the next four Sundays in friendly matches, in preparation for the coming season.

The scheduled matches are

Sunday 25th February - West Kilbride Vs. Ayrshire
Sunday 4th March - Prestwick St. Nicholas Vs. Ayrshire
Sunday 11th March - Loudoun Vs. Ayrshire
Sunday 18th March - Irvine Ravenspark Vs. Ayrshire

On Sunday 25th March, Ayrshire travel to meet the South Of Scotland in their annual match which has become the traditional competitive opening fixture the season fr both counties

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION - Cairney takes top award at annual dinner

The 25th Annual Dinner of the Ayrshire Golf Association was held at Irvine Ravenspark Golf Club on Friday 23rd February 2007, with the newly refurbished Ravenspark clubhouse filled to capacity to honour the winners of the County competitions during the 2006 season.

Top Table guests at the dinner, hosted by County President Ricky Magee (Caprington) included
Scottish Golf Union President David Moir
Stirlingshire President Campbell Chalmers
Lanarkshire President Harvey Tocher
Glasgow Golf Union President Gus Lamont
Dumbartonshire President Bob Provan
Renfrewshire Vice President Billy Gilmour
host club Captain Eddie Lawless
Ayrshire Vice President Alasdair Malcolm (Prestwick St. Cuthbert)
and guest speakers
'Buller' Reid
and
John Htet Khin

After an excellent meal, Scottish Golf Union President David Moir was called upon to present the trophies and awards for the 2006 season.

The top award of the year, the Doc Thom Salver for the Ayrshire Order Of Merit, was won by John Cairney of Irvine Ravenspark who fittingly took the trophy to Ravenspark in their Centenary year, being the first player from the club to win the title since it was innaugurated in 1973.

Other prizewinners presented with their awards at the dinner were :-

Fourball Champions - Derek Brown & Ian Yates (Ayr Belleisle)
Club Champions - Irvine Golf Club
Scratch Summer League - Ballochmyle Golf Club
Ayrshire Boys Champion - John Shanks (Ardeer)
Ayrshire Matchplay Champion - Tommy McInally (Loudoun)
Champion Of Champions Trophy - Brian Moore (Largs)

Strokeplay Champion Steven McEwan (Kilmarnock Barassie)
was unable to attend the dinner


John Cairney (Irvine Ravenspark) receives the Doc Thom Salver
from SGU President David Moir

To mark the Centenary of the Irvine Ravenspark Golf Club, Ayrshire President Ricky Magee presented an suitably engraved salver to Ravenspark Captain Eddie Lawless on behalf of The Association.

President Ricky Magee also made special presentations to Past Presidents Morgan Hall and Robin Baker, in appreciation of their service to The Ayrshire Golf Association over a number of years.



Ricky Magee presents the Centenary gift
to Irvine Ravenspark Captain Eddie Lawless
The resentation of trophies concluded, the company settled down to listen to the two guset speakers, 'Buller' Reid and John Htet Khin, who, both masters of their art, entertained the assembled company with many jokes and stories.

The evening concluded with a vote of thanks. proposed by Ayrshire Golf Association Vice President, Alasdair Malcolm (Prestwick St. Cuthbert)

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION - Award winners at the annual dinner




Ayrshire Boys Champion, John Shanks of Ardeer, with Scottish Golf Union President David Moir












Brian Moore of Largs receives the Champion Of Champions Trophy











Past President Morgan Hall (West Kilbride) receives a special award from President Ricky Magee, in appreciation of his service to The Ayrshire Golf Association










Past President Robin Baker (Troon Portland) also received a special award from Ricky Magee, in recognition of his service to the Association

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION - More photos of 2006 competition winners at the annual dinner





2006 Fourball winners, Derek Brown & Ian Yates of Ayr Belleisle, with Scottish Golf Union President David Moir










Jim Irvine, Captain of Irvine Golf Club, accepts the Club Champions trophy on behalf of the club.












Team Captain James McMurdo with the Scratch Summer League silverware won by Ballochmyle











Tommy McInally of Loudoun
with the Ayrshire Matchplay trophy

Sunday, February 25, 2007

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION - Summer League draw

The draw for the 2007 Ayrshire Golf Association Summer Scratch League was made at the Annual Dinner of The Assocaition on Friday 23 February, by Competitions Convenor, Sandy Provan, assisted by SGU President David Moir.

16 clubs are taking part in the 2007 competition, with Ballochmyle defending the title they have won in three of the four previous years.

The teams will play in four qualifying leagues throughout the summer months, with the winners of each league progressing top the semi finals.

Local rivals Ayr Belleisle and Tam O Shanter have been drawn together in League 1, along with Loudoun and Troon Welbeck.

Last seasons runners up, Irvine (Bogside) will contest League 2, alongside Kilmarnock (Barassie) and the two 2006 beaten semi finalists, Caprington and West Kilbride.

Defending Champions Ballochmyle were drawn in League 3, and will aim to overcome Kilbirnie, Moorpark and Ardeer in their bid to retain the title.

League 4 brings together Irvine ravenspark, Troon St. Meddans, Turnberry and New Cumnock.

The four sections as drawn are :-

League 1 - Troon Welbeck, Loudoun, Tam O Shanter, Ayr Belleisle
League 2 - Caprington, Kilmarnock (Barassie), West Kilbride, Irvine (Bogside)
League 3 - Kilbirnie Place, Ballochmyle, Moorpark, Ardeer
League 4 - Irvine Ravenspark, Turnberry, New Cumnock, Troon St. Meddans

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION - 2007 Yearbook launched at annual dinner

The 2007 Ayrshire Golf Association Yearbook was launched at the annual dinner of The Association on Friday 23rd February 2007, at Irvine Ravenspark Golf Club.

The 36 page yearbook, published by D & M Journals of Edinburgh, features Centenary club Irvine Ravenspark on the front cover, and includes an address from President Ricky Magee, a review of 2006 competitions and details of County officials, as well as a club directory and listings of previous county championship winners.

The yearbook will be distributed free to clubs throughout the county, over the next few weeks.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

SCOTTISH BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP - closing date for entries fast approaching

The closing date for entries to the 2007 Scottsih Boys Championship is rapidly approaching.

The championship will be held from 9th to 14th April at Dunbar, and will feature a field of 256 players, including the best junior golfers in Scotland.

The closing date for entries is


8th MARCH 2007
Entry forms can be downloaded from the Scottish Golf Union website at


(or click on the link on the left of this page)
simply click on the "next championships" link on the home page to access the downloadable entry form for the championship.

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE - Draws made for 2007 competitions

The draws for the 2007 Ayrshire Junior Golf League competitions were made at the League Executive meeting on Tuesday 6th February 2007.

Membership was confirmed as 18 clubs this year, with Ayr Dalmilling rejoining The League after a 3 year absence, whilst Beith, members since 1988, have withdrawn due to lack of juniors.

In the LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP, defending champions Ballochmyle face a number of local derbies after being drawn with Caprington, New Cumnock, Annanhill & Irvine Ravenspark in Section A.

West Kilbride face a number of long trips in section B, where they face Ayr Dalmilling, Prestwick St. Nicholas, Kilmarnock Barassie & Troon St. Meddans

In Section C, Ardeer, champions in 2004 & 2005, face the challenges of Prestwick St. Cuthbert, Loudoun & Troon Welbeck, whilst Ayr Belleisle face three trips to the north of the county in Section D, being drawn to play Largs, Kilbirnie Place and Largs Routenburn.

The matches in the 4 league sections will be played on a home and away basis from May to July, with the winners of the 4 sections progressing to the semi finals in August.

The four sections are :-



LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

SECTION A

Ballochmyle
Caprington
New. Cumnock
Annanhill
Irvine Ravenspark


SECTION B

Troon St. Meddans
Ayr Dalmilling
Prestwick St. Nicholas
Kilmarnock (Barassie)
West Kilbride


SECTION C

Prestwick St. Cuthbert
Loudoun
Troon Welbeck
Ardeer

SECTION D

Kilbirnie Place
Largs
Ayr Belleisle
Largs Routenburn
------
In the UNDER 16 KNOCKOUT TROPHY, defending champions Kilmarnock (Barassie) face a preliminary round tie at home to Irvine Ravenspark, with the winner at home to Kilbrnie Place in round 1. The full draw is :-
UNDER 16 KNOCKOUT TROPHY

Preliminaries
(To Be Played By 6th May 2007)

Kilmarnock Barassie
V
Irvine Ravenspark

Prestwick St. Cuthbert
V
Prestwick St. Nicholas

Round 1
(To Be Played By 3RD June 2007)

Ayr Belleisle
V
Caprington

New Cumnock
V
Prestwick St. Cuthbert / Prestwick St. Nicholas

Ardeer
V
Annanhill

Ballochmyle
V
West Kilbride

Largs Routenburn
V
Troon Welbeck

Loudoun Gowf
V
Troon St. Meddans

Kilmarnock Barassie / Irvine Ravenspark
V
Kilbirnie

Largs
V
Ayr Dalmilling
-----
19 players will contest the CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS TROPHY, with the nominated club representatives being joined by the Ayrshire Boys Champion, John Shanks (Ardeer) and the Boys Matchplay Champion, Kyle Smith (Kilmarnock Barassie)
Competitors names will be published at a later date. The draw for the competition is :-
CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS TROPHY

Preliminaries
(To Be Played By 6TH May 2007)

Largs Routenburn
V
Ayrshire Boy's Strokeplay Champion

Ayr Belleisle
V
Troon Welbeck

Ardeer
V
Loudoun Gowf

Round 1
(To Be Played By 3RD June 2007)

Kilbirnie
V
Largs Routenburn / Ayrshire Boy's Strokeplay Champion

Caprington
V
New Cumnock

Irvine Ravenspark
V
Largs

Ayrshire Boy's Matchplay Champion
V
Ardeer / Loudoun Gowf

Annanhill
V
Ballochmyle

Ayr Belleisle / Troon Welbeck
V
Kilmarnock Barassie

Troon St. Meddans
V
Prestwick St. Nicholas

Prestwick St. Cuthbert
V
West Kilbride
-----
The Executive were also advised that George Young (Caprington) will be the Vice Chairman of The League for the 2007 season.

Monday, February 05, 2007

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION - Under 14 Talent ID Day postponed

The Ayrshire Golf Association Under 14 Talent ID Day, scheduled for Sunday 18th February has been postponed and rescheduled to

SUNDAY 15th APRIL 2007
Any club junior convenors who would still like to nominate any of their juniors, under 14 years of age on 1st January 2007, to take part in the Talent ID Day should contact the Ayrshire Golf Association President, Ricky Magee, or coaching convenor, Milton Murray.

There is no handicap limit for nominees, with the exercise geared towards identifying players with potential, for inclusion in future A.G.A. coaching programmes.