OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP FOUNDER HONOURED - Fairlie commemorated at his former Symington home

Coodham House

The recent presentation of a commemorative plaque, to be erected at the newly refurbished Coodham House near Symington, was recorded by local television channel URTV Ayrshire.

The plaque will commemmorate the former owner of Coodham Estate, James Ogilvie Fairlie, who was instrumental in the formation of Prestwick Golf Club in 1851.

Fairlie persuaded his preferred caddie and frequent golfing partner, the legendary Tom Morris, to come over from St Andrews with his wife and family and lay out the original 12 hole course at Prestwick, which was the first in a distinguished list of courses he designed.

James Ogilvie Fairlie

Morris stayed in Prestwick for 14 years and during this time his mentor, Fairlie, was instrumental in instituting the competition which would develop into the greatest of all golf championships, The Open Championship, which was first played over the 12 hole course at Prestwick on 17th October 1860.

Coodham house lies at the edge of Symington village in South Ayrshire, set within a 90 acre Estate.

The A-listed exterior of Coodham House has now been restored to its former glory, whilst the interior has been entirely re-constructed to form six luxury apartments and three unique designer houses.

Coodham House is a golfers dream, located a short drive away from the a host of  famous West Of Scotland golf courses, including the Open Championship venues of Prestwick, Royal Troon and Turnberry.

To view the short clip on the presentation of the plaque, click on the link below.

http://ayrshire.urtv.co.uk/stories/857-coodham-house

MICHAEL STEWART TO TURN PROFESSIONAL IN DECEMBER

Ayrshire's most succesful amateur golfer in recent years, Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck), will turn professional in December, writes Jock McVicar

In the Scottish daily Express, the esteemed golf writer reports :-

Michael Stewart is turning professional, despite failing in the first stage of the European Q School last week.

Stewart 21, is taking advantage of an exemption into the South African Open in December, and will make his move into the pro ranks immediately afterwards.

The young man from Troon is set to sign up with Chubby Chandler's ISM group, who look after the affairs of US Open champion Rory McIlroy and Open champion Darren Clarke.

Stewart said: "I made up my mind just before the Q School that I was going to turn professional.

Mentally, I was a wee bit tired after the Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen, but, in a way, not getting through,woke me up. I am joining a great group of players and the other great thing is that with ISM I will be able to focus completely on my golf.

"I don't think the step up is that different, but I know I am going to have to play well.

"I believe I am good enough. It's just a case of sorting things out mentally."

SCOTLAND UNDER 16 Vs ENGLAND UNDER 16 - Two barassie boys selected for international duty

The annual Under 16 Scotland Vs England international takes place at Dundonald GC on Sunday 2nd October and features two Kilmarnock (Barassie) boys.

Euan Walker, a constant in the under 16 side over the last couple of years is selected again and is joined by clubmate Callum Gorrie, who gains his first recognition at international level.

The full Scotland team is :-

Ewan Scott ( St Andrews)

Bradley Neil ( Blairgowrie)
Euan Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie)
Ben Kinsley (St Andrews)
Calum Hill (Tantallan)
Ewen Ferguson ( Bearsden)
Alexander Wilson (Gullane)
Robert MacIntyre (Glencuritten)
Callum Gorrie (Kilmarnock Barassie)
Connor Syme (Dumfries & County)

WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY LEAGUES - A Team win whist Youths crash to worst ever defeat

In the second weekend of the 2011 West Of Scotland Inter County League matches there were vastly contrasting fortunes for the two Ayrshire teams against their Stirlingshire counterparts on Sunday 25th September.

In the A Team fixture at Irvine GC Ayrshire ran out comfortable winners against their visitors with a final match score of 7.5 - 2.5.

Ayrshire matchplay champion Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) led by example in the first tie with a 4 & 3 victory, and the winning ways were repeated throughout many of the remaining nine games, including that of Gordon Boyle (Ayr Dalmilling) who had a 2 & 1 victory in his first match for the county.

Match details (Ayrshire names first) :-

Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) beat Ryan campbell (Falkirk) by 4 & 3
Steven McEwan (Caprington) beat David Buchanan (Falkirk Tryst) by 3 & 2
Stephen Murray (Troon Welbeck) beat Colin Mundie (Falkirk) by 7 & 5
George Robertson (Irvine Ravenspark) halved with Stuart Haddow (Falkirk)
Colin Gray (Irvine) beat Jamie Auchenvole (Glenbervie) by 4 & 3
Chris Bone (Loudoun) lost to Mark Cox (Falkirk) by 3 & 2
Darren Mallinson (Irvine Ravenspark) beat Derek Fish (Glenbervie) by 3 & 2
Gordon Boyle (Ayr Dalmilling) beat Lindsay Blair (Grangemouth) by 2 & 1
John Haggarty (Loudoun) beat George McNairey (Falkirk Tryst) by 4 & 3
Graeme Gimson (Prestwick St Cuthbert) lost to Mark Findlay (Grangemouth) by 2 & 1

AYRSHIRE     7.5    STIRLINGSHIRE    2.5

In the corrsponding Youths match at Dunblane New GC, Ayrshire got off to the worst possible start when Malcolm Pennycott had to call off whilst en route to the match due to a family emergency, and Fraser lawrie simply failed to appear to play the match.

Having had to concede these two ties, Ayrshire were under pressure from the off and although the first four ties played were tight throughout with three of them going up the last, Stirlingshire won all four to ensure a win in the match.

Worse was to come for Ayrshire when all the other ties went to Stirlingshire, with varying winning margins to complete the whitewash and inflict on the Ayrshire Youth side their worst ever defeat in the competition.

Match details (Stirlingshire players first):-

Liam Haldane (Stirling) W/O Malcolm Pennycott (Whiting bay) Scr.

Andrew Grant (Dunblane) beat Callum Beveridge (Troon Welbeck) by 1 hole

Greg Nicoll (Glenbervie) beat Craig Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert) by 1 hole

Blair Carnegie (Dunblane) beat Callum Gorrie (Kilmarnock Barassie) by 2 & 1
John McPherson (Glenbervie) beat Greg Vernon (Annanhill) by 1 hole
Cameron Buist (Dunblane) beat Andrew Wright (Kilmarnock Barassie) by 2 & 1

Stuart Irving (Falkirk) beat Ben Gibson (Troon Welbeck) by 4 & 2

Scott Barr (Falkirk) beat Stephen Hill (Prestwick St Cuthbert) by 3 & 1
Darren Conway (Kilsyth) W/O Fraser Lawrie (Largs) Failed to appear
Callum Bissett (Glenbervie) beat Greg Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert) by 7 & 6

STIRLINGSHIRE 10   AYRSHIRE  0

Next Sunday, 2nd October, the Ayrshire team travel to meet Lanarkshire at Colville park whilst the Youths team play host to Lanarkshire Youths at Loudoun.

AYRSHIRE SCRATCH LEAGUES - Kilmarnock (Barassie lose grip on title as five league championship winners are confirmed

The five league championship winners in the new look Ayrshire Scratch leagues have now been confirmed after the latest series of matches, with Troon Welbeck pipping defending champions Kilmarnock (Barassie) to the Division 1 title after a dramatic last day match betwen the Barassie team and their visitors, Loudoun.

In DIVISION 1, Kilmarnock (Barassie), having conceded their penultimate match to Ayr Belleisle, needed to avoid defeat at the hands of Loudoun in their final match of the campaign. In a dramatic finish to the League Championship, Loudoun held a 3 - 2 advantage with one match remaining on course, which finished all square to give Loudoun a 3.5 - 2.5 win and hand the title to Troon Welbeck on points difference over the individual games, after they topped the table along with Kilmarnock (Barassie) on 26 points.

With all matches now concluded, Troon Welbeck take the title whilst Ayr Belleisle will drop down to Division 2 for the 2012 campaign. The final standings in Division 1 are:-

	Played	For	Against	Points
Troon Welbeck	10	35	25	26
Kilmarnock Barassie	10	31.5	28.5	26
Loudoun	10	32	28	24
Irvine	10	35	25	20
Irvine Ravenspark	10	26	34	16
Ayr Belleisle	10	20.5	39.5	8

In DIVISION 2, Ballochmyle, who added to their silverware with the Scottish Club Championship Trophy this week, were runaway League Champions whilst local rivals new Cumnock secured their Division 2 status for 2012with home wins by 4 - 2 over Ardeer and 5 - 1 over West Kilbride in their final two matches of the campaign.

With three matches still remaining, Ardeer need to win at least one of their remaining fixtures to secure Division 2 status in 2012, at the expense of Kilbirnie Place who presently lie at the foot of the table. Present positions in Division 2 are :-

	Played	For	Against	Points
Ballochmyle	10	38	22	30
New Cumnock	10	27	33	18
Caprington	9	25	29	18
West Kilbride	8	24.5	23.5	16
Ardeer	7	19.5	22.5	14
Kilbirnie Place	8	22	26	8

Outstanding results :-

Ardeer Vs Kilbirnie Place
Kilbirnie Place Vs West Kilbride
Ardeer Vs West Kilbride
Ardeer Vs Caprington

In DIVISION 3, Prestwick St Cuthbert are crowned champions. Needing a win from their remaining two matches, against Tam O Shanter at home and Largs away, the St Cuthbert team were awarded walkovers by both opponents, giving them the title and promotion to Division 2 next season.

With all results now posted, the final placings in Division 3 are :-

	Played	For	Against	Points
Prestwick St Cuthbert	6	23.5	12.5	20
Troon St Meddans	6	18.5	17.5	14
Largs	6	17	19	8
Tam 'O' Shanter	6	13	23	6

In DIVISION 4, Prestwick St Nicholas secured the league title, and Division 3 status next season, with a final match 3.5 - 2.5 win at Moorpark on Saturday 24th September, to edge out Turnberry from top spot.

With only one match outstanding, the present positions in Division 4 are :-

	Played	For	Against	Points
Prestwick St Nicholas	8	29	19	24
Turnberry	8	30.5	17.5	20
Ayr Dalmilling	8	27.5	20.5	20
Maybole	7	14.5	27.5	10
Moorpark	7	12.5	29.5	2

Outstanding Fixtures :-

Moorpark Vs Maybole

In DIVISION 5, Girvan will be promoted to Division 4 next season, having won the division with room to spare. With one match outstanding in the division, Rowallan Castle could still secure second place with a win over the new League Champions. Present positions in Division 5 are :-

	Played	For	Against	Points
Girvan	7	33.5	9.5	26
Doon Valley	8	22.5	25.5	14
Crosshouse	8	21	27	13
Rowallan Castle	7	17	25	13
Brunston Castle	8	21	27	10

Outstanding results :-

Rowallan Castle Vs Girvan