AYRSHIRE COACHING - new development squad sessions introduced

The first of the new Development Squad coaching sessions took place at Prestwick Golf Club on Sunday the 25th of february, as The Ayrshire Golf Association expands it's coaching provision for promising young golfers in the county.

As well as delivering the coaching programme to the main Ayrshire coaching squad, county coaches David Fleming and Richard Gordon will have an overview of the development squad coaching, which will be delivered by assistant professionals Alan Todd (Prestwick GC) and Lee Hughes (Ayr Belleisle) and will involve the best prospects among the younger boys and girls in the county.

Several coaching sessions are planned as the 2024 season approaches, with the next scheduled session being on Sunday the 10th of March.

PAUL MOULTRIE FUNDRAISING FOR PROSTATE CANCER UK - Ayrshire golfer training for London marathon

Well known Ayrshire golfer Paul Moultrie is in training to run the London Marathon this year, and for his efforts hopes to raise thousands of pounds for Prostate Cancer UK.

In 2022 Scottish Seniors Golfing Society society members donated nearly £1500 to the charity through two online Pilates classes gifted by Paul, founder of Troon-based Mind Body Golf consultancy. Around 50,000 men in the UK are annually diagnosed with prostate cancer. One in six men during their lifetime will contract the disease.

This April’s London Marathon will be especially poignant for Paul because last year he was diagnosed with the condition himself and he is currently undergoing treatment.

The Royal Troon golfer and senior men’s Scottish internationalist said: ‘As somebody who works hard to stay fit and healthy, it came as a shock when I was told I had prostate cancer. However, once I got over that initial jolt, I quickly realised this was just another challenge that I and thousands of men like me have to face up to, and I am determined to beat it. When I asked Prostate Cancer UK for their blessing to raise funds for the charity by running the London Marathon, I had to laugh when they told me I had all the necessary credentials, including having the disease myself! Fortunately my cancer has been caught early so my prospects of full recovery are good, but I think it’s important to raise as much awareness as possible about prostate cancer because too many men leave it too late before being medically checked.’

Paul, 59, who plays off a handicap of plus 2, is a former Ayrshire Champion of Champions title holder and has regularly finished near the top of the Scottish Seniors Order of Merit table since he joined the Scottish Seniors Golfing Society in 2015. As a senior, he has equalled the course record at three different courses.

Paul, who is seeking sponsors for his marathon attempt, said: ‘It would be great to have the support of local Ayrshire golfers and scottish Senior Golfing Society members whose friendship and camaraderie I have greatly enjoyed over the past few years. Prostate cancer is becoming increasingly common, especially among men in the age group that spans the society. I would be hugely grateful for any support in raising much-needed funds to help in the fight against prostate cancer.’

You can sponsor Paul by donating through his JustGiving page, via the link below

PAUL MOULTRIE'S LONDON MARATHON FUNDRAISER FOR PROSTATE CANCER UK

2024 AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION FIXTURES - full fixture list now available and published

The 2024 Ayrshire Golf Association fixture list is now available and published, with several new competitions included this year, and events being held throughout the county.

This year sees the introduction of the Ayrshire Women's Matchplay Championship in July at Rowallan Castle, which will feature the players returning the eight best scratch scores in the 2024 Ayrshire Women's Strokeplay and Handicap Strokeplay Championship which will be held at Prestwick Golf Club in June.

Also new this year will be the Ayrshire Girls' Strokeplay Championship, which will take place in August at Annanhill golf course, on the same day as the Ayrshire Boys' Championship.

The Ayrshire men's matchplay Championship will also take place at Rowallan Castle, in May, following on from the Strokeplay Championship which will be held this year in April at Largs.

The full published list of fixtures is:-

THE AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION FIXTURE LIST 2024                          

* Doc Thom Ayrshire Order of Merit Counting Event                        

** Woman’s & Girls’ events                       

*** Ayrshire Junior Order of Merit Event                              

           

FEBRUARY

23rd                       Annual Dinner and Presentation      Carlton Hotel, Prestwick

MARCH

APRIL                   

2nd – 5th             Scottish Golf Under 16 Quadrangular Champs.    Ayr Belleisle

10th - 13th          *** Scottish Boys Open Strokeplay                       Irvine

10th - 12th          **Scottish Girls Open Strokeplay                         Powfoot

14th                       Ayrshire Vs South of Scotland     Wigtownshire County

19th – 21st               ** Helen Holm Scottish Open Strokeplay         Royal Troon

21st                        Ayrshire Junior Team Championship                 Kilbirnie Place

28th                       * Ayrshire Strokeplay Championship                Largs

                               

MAY                     

5th                         Area Team Championship V Argyll & Bute          Away

6th – 9th              * Ayrshire Men's Matchplay Championship           Rowallan Castle

19th                       * Hillhouse Cup                                                    Royal Troon

19th                       * West of Scotland Strokeplay                             Douglas Park

24th – 26th         ** Scottish Women's Championship                      Nairn Dunbar

25th                       * St Cuthbert Open                             Prestwick St Cuthbert

26th                       * West Kilbride Men’s Open                              West Kilbride

TBC                        Ayrshire U18 Vs Lanarkshire U18                    Kirkhill

31st – 2/6            * Scottish Men’s Open Strokeplay                      Muirfield

                               

JUNE                    

1st                          * Ayr Seafield Open                                                  Ayr Seafield

2nd                        **Ayrshire Women’s Strokeplay Championship       Prestwick

2nd                        * Belleisle Cup                                                           Ayr Belleisle

8th                         *** Golf South Ayrshire Junior Open Strokeplay     Ayr Seafield

8th                        * Blue Monster Scratch Open                    Rowallan Castle

9th                         Area Team Championship V Glasgow                     Home

15th                       * The McGilchrist Cup                                             Ardeer

17th – 22nd        * The Amateur Championship                 Ballyliffin, Ireland

19th – 21st          Scottish Senior Men’s Championship                    Moray

23rd                       Ayrshire U18 Vs Dumbartonshire                       Ayr Belleisle

24th – 29th         **Woman’s Amateur Championship        Portmarnock, Ireland

24th – 26th         **Ayrshire Women’s Matchplay Championship    Rowallan Castle

26th – 28th         **Scottish Senior Women’s Championship           Old Ranfurly

27th                       ***Largs Junior Open                                         Largs

30th                         * The Gowf Cup                                                   Loudoun 

JULY                     

5th                         *** Troon Welbeck Junior Open                        Troon Welbeck

7th                         Ayrshire Club Championship                               Caprington

7th                         ***West of Scotland Junior Strokeplay              Wishaw

8th                         *** Loudoun Junior Open                                  Loudoun

9th                         Ayrshire Senior Men’s Championship                Girvan

9th-11th              Scottish Boys’ Under 16 Championship               Murrayshall

9th-11th              **Scottish Girls’ Under 16 Championship           Muckhart

14th                       Area Team Championship V Clackmannanshire    Home

15th – 16th         *** West of Scotland Boys Matchplay                 Wishaw

17th – 19th         **Scottish Girls Championship                             Forfar

17th – 21st         *** Scottish Boys Championship                          Scotscraig

18th – 21st         THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP                          Royal Troon

25th                       *** Harris Junior Open & Girls Open                West Kilbride

27th                       * Stevenson Trophy                                              Girvan

28th                       Ayrshire U18 Vs Glasgow U18                             Ralston

29th                       *** Kilmarnock Barassie Junior Open   Kilmarnock Barassie       

30th – 3/8           * Scottish Amateur Championship                         St Andrews

 

AUGUST                             

1st                          *** Ayrshire Boys Strokeplay Championship       Annanhill

1st                          **Ayrshire Girls’ Strokeplay Championship         Annanhill

2nd                        Champion of Champions Semi Finals                    Royal Troon

4th                         * Viking Krus                                                         Largs

5th - 8th               *** Ayrshire Boys Matchplay                                Prestwick

6th-8th                Girls’ & Boys’ Home Internationals                       Conwy, Wales

7th-9th                Women’s & Men’s Home Internationals                Murcar, Scotland

8th                         *** Ayr Belleisle Junior Open                              Ayr Seafield

9th                         Men’s Champion of Champions Final                  Royal Troon

9th                         Senior Men’s Matchplay Championship Final      Royal Troon

9th                         Women’s Champion of Champions Final              Royal Troon

11th                       *** Byrne Howard Trophy                                    Royal Troon

TBC                        AJGL Under 16 Knockout Final                           TBC

TBC                        AJGL Wallace Thornton Trophy Final                 TBC

12th-13th           Scottish Under 14 Championship                              Dunfermline

12th                         *** Turnberry Junior Open      Turnberry, King Robert the Bruce

12th                       *** Ballochmyle Junior Open                                Ballochmyle

13th                       *** Prestwick Junior Open           Prestwick St Cuthbert

13th - 18th          **Girls Amateur Championship      Alwoodley & Moortown

13th - 18th          *** Boys Amateur Championship  Alwoodley & Moortown

17th                       * Troon St Meddans Open                                    Troon Municipal

18th                       * Mainholm Cup                                                  Ayr Dalmilling

18th                       Ayrshire U 18 Vs Renfrewshire U18                   Ayr Belleisle

24th                       * Ballochmyle Rosebowl                                     Ballochmyle

25th                       *** Tom Lehman Junior Open                            Troon Municipal

TBC                        AJGL Champion of Champions Final                TBC

TBC                        AJGL Junior League Championship Final        TBC

30th – 1/9           ** Scottish Women’s County Finals                      Eyemouth

                               

SEPTEMBER

1st                          Ayrshire Finals Day                                              Ballochmyle

1st                          Ayrshire U18 vs Stirlingshire U18                      Irvine

7^th                           *Troon Welbeck Open                                         Troon Lochgreen

7th – 8th              Scottish Men’s Area Team Championship Finals    Hilton Park

8th                         *** Prestwick St Nicholas Junior Open  Prestwick St Nicholas

15th                       Scottish Boys Area Team Championship              Duff House Royal

15th                       Ayrshire A Vs Renfrewshire A           Prestwick St Cuthbert

15th                       Ayrshire Youths Vs Renfrewshire Youths             Fereneze

17th                       Scottish Senior Men’s Area Team Champs.          Monifieth

17th-19th           Women’s & Men’s Senior Home Internationals  Castlerock, Northern Ireland

20th                      Scottish Mixed Championship                               Crail

21st                        * Arrol Cup                                       Prestwick St Nicholas

22nd                      Ayrshire A Vs Dumbartonshire A       Clydebank & District

22nd                      Ayrshire Youths Vs Dumbartonshire Youths        Loudoun

23rd                       ***Irvine Junior Open                                         Irvine

29th                       Ayrshire A Vs Glasgow A                                    West Kilbride

29th                       Ayrshire Youths Vs Glasgow Youths                   Cowglen

29th                      Scottish Junior Team Championship                    Panmure

                               

OCTOBER                            

6th                         Ayrshire A Vs Stirlingshire                                  Away

6th                         Ayrshire Youths Vs Stirlingshire Youths            Troon Portland

13th                       Ayrshire A Vs Lanarkshire A                             Ayr Seafield

13th                       Ayrshire Youths Vs Lanarkshire Youths            East Kilbride

                               

NOVEMBER                       

4th                         Ayrshire Junior Golf League Dinner                           TBC

 

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION EXTENDED COMPETITIONS - Draws and details circulated to competitors and club representatives

The draws and contact details for several Ayrshire Golf Association extended competition in 2024 have been circulated to all competitors and club representatives by email on Sunday 3rd March.

The competitions for which details have been sent out are

The Ayrshire Men's Champion of Champions Trophy

The Ayrshire Women's Champion of Champions Trophy

The Ayrshire Fourball Championship 

The Gary Bryden Memorial Salver

The President's Putter

The Ayrshire Scratch Leagues

The Ayrshire Men's Handicap League Championship

The Ayrshire Women's Handicap League Championship

Should any competitor or club representative not have received expected details for any of the comeptitions, they should email the Area Secretary at 

ayrshire.golf@btinternet.com

THE AYRSHIRE JUG - Entry deadline extended until Sunday 10th of March

The entry deadline for the Ayrshire mixed greensomes knockout competition, for The Ayrshire Jug, has been extended by a week, until next Sunday, the 10th of March.

Entry is open to pairings of one male and one female member who are both members of clubs affiliated to The Ayrshire Golf Association. The players do not need to be members of the same club.

Entry is £10 per couple and the entry form should be available through club secretaries. It can also be downloade via the link on te left of this page, under the 'Entry Forms' heading, or can be obtained by contacting the Area Secretary, Alasdair Malcolm, by email at ayrshire.golf@btinternet.com

You can also access the entry form via the link below

Ayrshire mixed greensomes knockout competition entry form

2024 YEARBOOK LAUNCHED AT ANNUAL DINNER

The 2024 Ayrshire Golf Association yearbook was launched at the recent annual dinner of The Ayrshire Golf Association, with copies due to be distributed to member club in the next few weeks.

The 21st annual yearbook, produced again by Ayrshire Media services in Troon, has a welcome address by President Andrew Gilligan along with details of the competitions and winners in 2023, club contact details, fixtures for 2024 and historical records of The Association.

An on line version of the yearbook can aso be viewed by clicking on the link on the left of the Ayrshire Golf Association web page.

The Ayrshire Golf Association would like to thank the sponsors who have supported the yearbook this year, allowing the continued publication of this worthwhile record of The Association's work and the achievements of golfers in the county.

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION ANNUAL DINNER - 2023 winners honoured at Carlton Hotel

The successful teams and individuals in Ayrshire Golf Association events in 2023 were honoured on Friday the 23rd of february at the annual dinner and presentation of trophies oif The Ayrshire Golf Association, held in the Carlton Hotel in Prestwick.

Chaired by AGA President Andrew Gilligan, the event attracted a good crowd, who enjoyed and excellent three course meal in fine surroundings.

The evening culminated in the presentation of trophies and awards for the season.

The awards began with an appreciation to Past President John Rutherford for his services to course rating in Ayrshire since the inception of the scheme, from which he retired in 2023.

Presentations were also made to Robert Jenkins and paul Moultrie, in recognition of their selection to represent scotland Senior team in 2023. 

The boys and youths team who won the President's trophy in the annual fixture with the South of Scotland were honoured, as were the youth squad players who won the West of Scotland Inter County Youths league for the first time in 10 years in 2023, many of whom were present to receive their commemorative medals. 

The annual trophies were awareded to the various recipients, culminating in the presentation of the Doc Thom Salver and Ayrshire Order of merit title to Blair Morton of Royal Troon.

The evening concluded with a vote of thanks given by Ayrshire Golf Association Vice President Barry O'Rourke.

Service award to John Rutherford

Royal Troon Vice Captain
Graeme Johnston
accepts Robert Jenkins' award

Paul Moultrie's 
international award

Fraser Innes with the 
West of Scotland Club Team Trophy
won by Largs

Paul Kennedy accepting the 
President's Trophy on behalf of
the Ayrshire Boys/Youths team

The winning West of Scotland Youth League squad

Robert Wilson & William Fleming
with the West of Scotland Youth League trophy

Fourball winners
Les Knox & Wullie Young
(Auchenharvie 88)

Sandy Walker
with the Club  Championship Trophy
won by Kilmarnock Barassie

Loudoun Gowf Club
Captain David Johnstone
with the Gary Bryden Memorial Salver

President's Putter winners
Auchenharvie 88

Caprington Vice Captain Robbie Gibson
with the Ayrshire Women's Handicap League trophy

Men's Handicap League winners
Auchenharvie 88

Troon St Meddans Captain Alistair Tweedie
With the Scratch League Division 3 trophy

Prestwick St Cuthbert Captain Mark Watt
with the Scratch League Division 2 trophy

Steve McKnight accepts the
Scratch league Division 1 trophy 
on behalf of Royal Troon

Senior men's Strokeplay winner
James McIntyre (Redburn)

Senior men's Matchplay winner
Brian Fisher (Largs)

Women's handicap Strokeplay winner
Orla Moran (Irvine)

Louodun's Liz Keohone
accepts the Ayrshire Women's Strokeplay trophy
on behalf of clubmate Audrey Thompson

Men's Strokeplay Champion
Colin Goudie (Ayr Belleisle)

Men's Matchplay Champion
Kevin Thomas (Prestwick St Cuthbert)

Debbie Watt (Ayr Belleisle Ladies)
with the Women's Champion of Champions Trophy

Men's Champion of Champions winner
Craig hamilton (Ballochmyle)

Men's Order of Merit runner up
Harvey Broadfoot (Royal Troon)

Doc Thom Salver and Order of Merit winner
Blair Morton (Royal Troon)