WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY LEAGUES - Mixed fortunes for Ayrshire against Lanarkshire in week 3

The two Ayrshire teams had mixed fortunes in week 3 of the 2026 West of Scotland Inter County Leagues on Sunday 4th October against Lanarkshire with the A team losing at home and the Youths recording an away win.

The A team hosted the Lanarkshire side at Royal Troon in a late venue change, and the breezy conditions were testing for both teams. In a very close contest it was the visitors who prevailed with a 4.5 - 3.5 victory over their hosts.

Match details (Ayrshire names first) :-

Harvey Broadfoot (Royal Troon) lost to James Steven (Kirkhill) by 2 holes  

Calum Nairn (Prestwick St Cuthbert) lost to Greg Andrews (East Kilbride) by 4&3

Craig Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert) lost to Kieran McVicar (East Kilbride) by 2&1

Scott Brown (Prestwick St Cuthbert) beat Euan Bogle (Lanark) by 1 hole

Louis Alberts (Troon St Meddans) halved with Mark O'Donnell (Hamilton)

Andy Gibson (Caprington) beat David Farr (Hamilton) by 3&2

Alan McLean (Largs) lost to Cammy Meldrum (East Kilbride) by 8&6

Steven Stamper (Turnberry) beat Gordon yates (lanakr) by 2 holes

AYRSHIRE A   3.5    LANARKSHIRE A   4.5

In the other two matches played in week 3, Renfrewshire had a 4.5 - 3.5 home win over Dumbartonshire at East renfrewshire Gc, while Glasgow had a 5.5 - 2.5 home win over Stirlingshire at Cathkin Braes GC.

Present positions in the West of Scotland A Team league are:-

In the corresponding Youths League match at Kirkhill, the Ayrshire team faced the defending league champions and came away with a fine 5.5 - 2.5 win to make it two wins from two in the matches played so far.

Match details (Lanarkshire names first) :- 

Lewis Russell (Drumpellier) lost to Jamie Hay (Ayr Belleisle) by 4&3

Gabriel Burns (Bothwell Castle) lost to Gregor Hay (Ayr Belleisle) ny 4&3

Ben Sproule (Kirkhill) lost to Mason Chisholm (Irvine) by 5&3

Zak McInnes (Lanark) lost to Findlay Andrew (Turnberry) by 2&1

Ben Paterson (Bellshill) halved with Ryan Steven (Ayr Belleisle)

Harry McLachlan (Lanark) beat beat Jake hendry (West Kilbride) by 2&1

Charlie Barnstaple (Lanark) lost to lost to Sam Crozier (West Kilbride) by 2&1

Leo McCallion (Drumpellier) beat Rob Yorston (Loudoun) by 5&3

LANARKSHIRE YOUTHS   2.5    AYRSHIRE YOUTHS   5.5

The other two fixtures in the Youths League saw Dumbartonshire beat Renfrewshire at home, by 4.5 - 3.5 at Vale of Leven GC while Stirlingshire beat Glasgow by 5.5 - 2.5 in their home fixture at Falkirk GC

Present positions in the West of Scotland Inter County Youths League are:-

In the week four fixtures, on Sunday 11th October, Ayrshire face Renfrewshire, with the A Team at home at Irvine GC while the Youths Team travel to Kilmacolm GC for their match.  

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR ORDER OF MERIT - Finlay Watt storms to 2026 title.

Finlay Watt (West Kilbride) stormed to the 2026 Ayrshire Junior Order of Merit title, scoring points in eleven of the twenty seven counting event to secure the title.

The runner up in both the Ayrshire Boys Strokeplay and Ayrshire Boys matchplay Championships, as well as the West of Scotland Boys Matchplay, Finlay added wins at Loudoun, Royal Troon, The West of Scotland Junior Strokeplay, Ballochmyle and the Tom Lehman Trophy competition at Troon Links to finish over 300 points ahead of the field.

Ayrshire Boy's Matchplay Champion Mason Chisholm (Irvine) finished in second place in the Order of Merit while Gregor Hay (Ayr Belleisle) secured third place.

Final placings in the 2026 Ayrshire Junior Order of Merit are:-

 

AYRSHIRE MEN'S ORDER OF MERIT - Alan McLean tops Order of Merit table to win the Doc Thom Salver

Alan McLean (Largs) is the 2026 winner of the Doc Thom Salver after finishing top of the Ayrshire Men's Order of Merit table this season.

Alan, who won the Ayrshire Men's Strokeplay Championship title in April at West Kilbride, led the order of merit chase for the whole season, scoring points in ten of the twenty five counting events. He rounded off the season with an eighth place finish in the penultimate counting event, The Arrol Cup at Prestwick St Nicholas.

Steven Stamper (Turnberry), the 2016 Doc Thom Salver winner, secured full points in the final qualifying event, The Girvan Classic, to secure second place in the order of merit, ahead of Matt Allen (Western Gailes) who was third.

The full finishing positions in the Ayrshire Men's Order Of Merit for the 2026 season is :-   

WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY LEAGUES - Week 2 washout for Ayrshire

With the exception of the A team match between Dumbartonshire and Glasgow at Cardross GC, all the fixtures in the West of Scotland A and Youths leagues were abandoned on Sunday 27th September due to waterlogged greens at the various venues, following heavy rain throughout the morning.

The Ayrshire A team started their match against Stirlingshire at Falkirk Tryst GC, as did the Youths team in the corresponding fixture at Troon Darley, but conditions dictated an abandonment before either match had even reached the turn.

The matches are due to be rescheduled to week 6 on Sunday the 25th of October.

In the one fixture to survive the weather Dumbartonshire shared the spoils with Glasgow in a 4-4 draw.

Next week Ayrshire face Lanarkshire, with the A team at home at Rowallan Castle GC and the Youths team paying a visit to Kirkhill GC.

  

AYRSHIRE SENIOR MEN'S MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP - Paul Moultrie takes 2026 title after final replay

Paul Moultrie (Royal Troon) is the 2026 Ayrshire Senior Men's Matchplay Champion after beating Tom Loy (Irvine) in the replayed final, which took place at Royal Troon GC on Fruday 25th September.

2026 Ayrshire Senior Men's Matchplay Champion
Paul Moultrie (Royal Troon)

The opening half of the match saw Tom plagued by finding several bunkers, while Paul produced a master class of driving in difficult condition, with a strong breeze sweeping across the course from the sea, missing no fairways from the tee with his driver in the opening nine holes.

A second shot to eight feet at the first p[rompeted a conceded birdie three to Paul after Tom found a bunker with his second, and failed to get up and down.

Both players had chances to win the second, which was ultimately halved, and a further conceded birdie to Paul, after Tom had found a bunker from the tee, saw Paul go two up after three.

Further greenside bunker trouble at the fourth saw Tom go three down when paul holed a long putt for a birdie four, and only a three putt from the front of the green at the fifth by paul prevented him going further ahead in the match.

When the sixth was halved in par fives paul remained three up and his lead was extended to four at the seventh with a regulation par four when Tom made bogey after finding yet another bunker on the hole.

The famous par three eighth hole, The Postage Stamp lived up to its reputation as 120 yards of absolute chaos in the match when both players found the greenside right bunker from the tee.

playing first paul overhit his bunker shot from a difficult lie and saw his second disappear into 'The Coffin' bunker opposite, but playing from an equally difficult lie Tom saw his second fly thirty yards over the back of the green into heavy rough. A third which finished beyond the greenside bunker he had originally played from left Tom chipping onto the green in four and leaving a holable putt for a five. With two shots for the hole, paul played a supeb bunker shott from 'The Coffin' to within tweve inches from the hole for a winning bogey four to go five up in the match

2026 Senior Men's' Matchplay Finalists
Paul Moultrie & Tom Loy
With AGA Vice President William Fleming

Things got worse for Tom at the closing hole of the outward nine when he saw Paul's second shot finish within a foot of the hole for a winning birdie three, to take a six hole lead into the inward nine holes.

The tenth and eleventh were halved which left Paul with a six hole lead with seven to play, but as in the first final where Tom fought back from two down with two to play to half the tie at the last, Tom refused to capitulate easily, taking the twelfth and thirteenth holes to reduce the defecit to four down with five to play.

At the fourteenth both players found the green from the tee and the hole was halved in par three to leave Paul dormie four. Both players found the green in two at the fifteenth and despite a great effort Tom's birdie putt just slipped past the hole leaving him with a par four, and importantly giving Paul the opportunity to secure the championship with two putts from forty feet. Paul grasped the chance, rolling his birdie putt to within a few inches of the hole which prompted a concession of the championship by Tom, with Paul recording a 4&3 win in the match.

Overall the standard of play from both finalist was very good in testing conditions, with Paul recording figures of one over par when the match concluded at the fifteenth.

At the conclusion of the final Ayrshire Golf Association Vice President William Fleming (Ballochmyle) presented vouchers to both players and handed over the Iain Harvey Trophy and commemorative medal to the 2026 Ayrshire Senior Men's Matchplay Champion Paul Moultrie  

SCOTTISH SENIOR MEN'S ORDER OF MERIT - Robert Jenkins lands 2026 title ahead of clubmate Paul Moultrie

Robert Jenkins (Royal Troon) rounded off an excellent year by securing the 2026 Scottish Senior Men's Order of Merit title for the first time recently, finishing just ahead of clubmate and fellow senior internationalist Paul Moultrie, who won the title in 2024.

An early season win in the SSGS Spring Meeting at Kilmarnock Barassie was followed by a sixth place finish at the East of Scotland Senior Championship at Leven, before rounds of 68, 73, and 75 earned Robert a ninth place finish in the European Senior's Championshoip in Cyprus in June.

In a season of consistent performances, June also saw Robert finish fifth in the Scottish Senior Men's Open at Bruntsfield Links, which was followed by a sixteenth place in the Central Scotland Senior's Championship at Renfrew and a twelfth place at the South of Scotland Senior Championship at Stranraer. 

A third place finish in the West of Scotland Senior Championship at Erskine  and a seventh place in the  North of Scotland Senior Championship at Moray Old saw robert still leading the title chase ahead of Royal Troon clubmate and fellow senior internationalist Paul Moultrie, but when Paul won the SSGS Autumn Meeting at Ballater and Robert could only secure a seventeenth place finish, both players went into the final counting event, the Scottish Senior Matchplay Championship at Glasgow Golf Club's Killermont course, level on points in the order of merit title chase.

Both players qualified from the series of round robin ties, but while Paul Moultire lost out in the quarter-finals, Robert went a round further, and although he lost out in the semi finals he had crucially secured additional order of merit points over Paul Moultrie which was enough to confirm Robert Jenkins as the 2026 Scottish Senior Men's Order of Merit title winner.

In another notable Ayrshire performance, Kilmarnock Barassie’s Mark Gallagher scored SSGS Order of Merit points in four successive tournaments to claim the Handicap order of Merit title.

SENIOR HOME INTERNATIONALS - Scotland finish in 3rd place at Royal St Davids

Scotland finished in third place behind England and ireland in the Senior Home Internationals matches that took place at Royal St Davids GC in Wales from 15th to 17th September.

Paul Moutrie (Royal Troon) was the only Ayrshire representative in the combined men's and women's team, and played in all six ties, three foursomes and three singles, during the week where he secured two pints from six, with one win, two halved matches, and three narrow defeats.

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION A.G.M. - Initial notice sent to club secretaries

The initial notice for the 2026 Ayrshire Golf Association A.G.M. has been emailed to member club secretaries in recent days.

The 2026 Annual General Meeting of the Ayrshire Golf Association will be held in

Loudoun Gowf Club, Newmilns Road, Galston, KA4 8PA, 

on Tuesday the 27^th of  October 2026 at 7.30pm.

The provisional agenda for the AGM is :-

1. Apologies
2. Minutes of AGM of 28.10.2025
3. Matters Arising
4. Presidents report – to be forwarded in due course
5. Financial report – to be forwarded in due course
6. Ayrshire Junior League / Coaching Report – to be forwarded in due course
7. Election of President
8. Election of Vice President
9. Election of Secretary/Treasurer
10. Election of General Committee
11. Area Subscriptions
12. AOCB 

In accordance with the constitution, there will be five executive places available for three years at the AGM. Five of our current executive members due to demit office have indicated that they are happy to stand for re-election. There is also likely to be one additional vacancy for a one or two year period available on the Executive committee.

Clubs are invited encourage members interested in serving on the Ayrshire Golf Association Executive to contact the Secretary or Executive members for more information and if appropriate seek nomination for the vacant posts.

Under the constitution, Nominees must be a member of a club affiliated to The Ayrshire Golf Association and be proposed and seconded by members of affiliated clubs also.

The work of The Association Executive is varied and encompasses, amongst other things, Competitions, handicapping, team administration at all age groups, rules and working with the National body and local agencies in the promotion of golf in the county.

All matters for the AGM, any proposals from member clubs and nominations for above positions and Executive posts require to be in the hands of The Secretary, in writing, by Friday the 2nd of October 2026 at the latest.  

The final Agenda of the meeting, various reports, previous AGM minutes, annual balance sheet and budget proposals will be forwarded to clubs in the two weeks prior to the AGM and at this time clubs will be requested to advise if they will be represented at the AGM, and by whom if possible. All documentation will be forwarded by email in due course.

WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY LEAGUES - Ayrshire open 2026 tiotle bids with two wins over Glasgow

The Ayrshire A and Youths teams succesfully opened their bids for their respective West of Scotland Inter County League titles on Sunday 20th September, both teams recording wins of the Glasgow Golf Union teams in their respective leagues.

The Ayrshire A team were at home at Ballochmyle GC and in a very tight match edged out their visitors by 4.5 - 3.5.

Match details (Ayrshire names first):-

Harvey Broadfoot (Royal Troon) beat Blair Dalgleish (Ralston) by 4&2

Steven Stamper (Turnberry) halved with Brendan McKenna (Pollok)

Alan McLean (Largs) lost to James McKechnie (Glasgow) by 3&1

Blair Morton (Royal Troon) beat Reece Coyle (Ralston) by 5&4

Andy Gibson (Caprington) lost to Gordon Sangster (Cathkin Braes) by 3&2

Gavin Chesney (Largs) lost to John Lawrie (Glasgow) by 1 hole

Adam Sweeney (Prestwick St Cuthbert) beat Raymond Donnelly (Cathkin Braes) by 5&3

Scott Brown (Prestwick St Cuthbert) beat Douglas McIntosh (Cathkin Braes) by 6&4

AYRSHIRE A 4.5   GLASGOW A  3.5

In the other matches played on the opening weekend, Renfrewshire had a 4.5-3.5 home win over Stirlingshire at Cochrane castle while Lanarkshire had a 5-3 win on their visit to play Dumbartonshire at Kirkintilloch.

Next Sunday, 27th September, the Ayrshire A team travel to play Stirlingshire at Falkirk Tryst GC.

The Ayrshire Youths team travelled to play Glasgow at Dougalston GC and started the match with a 2-0 lead after the home side could only field six players.

The remaining six ties were shared 3-3 giving Ayrshire an overall win in the match.

Match details (Glasgow names first):- 

Alex Neil (Sandyhills) lost to Jamie Hay (Ayr Belleisle) by 5&4

Corry Paine (Cathkin Braes) beat jake Hendry (West Kilbride) by 8&6

Charlie Hamilton (Ralston) beat Jack Lammie (Royal Troon) by 2&1

Andy Corrigan (Haggs Castle) lost to Ryan Steven (Ayr Belleisle) by 2 holes

Lewis Reynolds (Glasgow) halved with Jamie Robertson (Loudoun)

Jamie Wallace (Sandyhills) halved with Sam Crozier (West Kilbride)

Adam Cunningham (Kilmarnock Barassie) w/o

Connor Hunter (Prestwick St Nicholas) w/o

GLASGOW YOUTHS  3   AYRSHIRE YOUTHS  5

In the other matches played on Sunday 2oth september, Renfrewshire had a 6-2 away win over Strlingshire at Grangemouth while lanakrshire had a 5-3 home win over Dumbartonshire at Wishaw).

Next week, on Sunday 27th September, the Ayrshire Youth team are at home to Stirlingshire at Troon Darley golf course.

SCOTTISH BOY'S AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP - Ayrshire finish in ninth place at Lochmaben

Ayrshire finished in ninth place of the fifteen Area Associations that took part in the 2026 Scottish Boy's Area Team Championship, which took place at Lochmaben GC on Sunday the 13th of September. 

Ten Ayrshire team of Finlay Watt (West Kilbride), Gregor Hay (Ayr Belleisle), Harris Vennard (Ayr Belleisle) and Mason Chisholm (Irvine) were in joint seventh place on 153 after the morning foursomes, fifteen shots adrift of leaders, and eventual championshoip winners, Lothians.

With the best three from four scores counting in the Afternoon Ayrshire finished with 228 in the singles for a team total of 381 and ninth place overall.

EUROPEAN SENIOR MEN'S TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP - Royal Troon duo help Scotland to fifth place in France

The Royal Troon duo of Robert Jenkins & Paul Moultrie helped Scotland to fifth place in the recent European Senior Men's Team Championship, played at Bordeaux in france from 3rd to 5th September 2026.

The Scotland team negotiated the 36 hole strokeplay qualifying with a 26 over par total to finish as third qualifiers, four behind leaders, and eventual championship winners France, and one behind Finland in second spot.

In the matchplay quarter finals Scotland lost out to Denmark by 4-1. with two of the opening three ties finishing at the 18th or beyond, and the final two ties being halved.

Paul Moultrie lost the lead tie at the 19th while Robert jenkins lost his tie by 3&2

In the fifth and sixth place play off against Ireland, Scotland recorded a 3-2 won to take fifth place overall in the event. In the play off paul Moutrie won his tie at thre 22nd hole while Robert Jenkins lost his tie by a single hole.

WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY UNDER 18 BOYS LEAGUE - Ayrshire finish campaign with win over Dumbartonshire at Irvine

The Ayrshire Boy's Under 18 team finished their 2026 Weest of Scotland League campaign with a victory over Dumbartonshire at Irvine on Sunday the 6th of September.

Despite the league title being out of reach in 2026, the Ayrshire team recorded a fine 6.5-1.5 win in the match to secure third place in the table.

Match details (Ayrshire names first):-

Ryan Steven (Ayr Belleisle) halved with Luis Farquhar (Douglas Park)

Ollie Fleming (Troon Welbeck) beat Connor MacCrone (Helensburgh) by 1 hole

Adam Cunningham (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat Lewis Boyd (Lenzie) by 8&7

Tommy Lawrence (Prestwick St Cuthbert) lost to Lewis McGlinchey (Clober) by 2 holes

Ollie Kane (Royal Troon) beat Luke McCall (Douglas park) by 4&3

Mason Chisholm (Irvine) beat Sam Murdoch (Clober) by 5&4

James McNeillie (West Kilbride) beat Connor MacKay (Milngavie) by 3&1

Jack Lammie (Royal Troon) beat Ishan Rohtag (Bearsden) by 3&1

AYRSHIRE  6.5  DUMBARTONSHIRE  1.5

Ayrshire finished behind Renfrewshire and defending champions Lanarkshire, whoo secured their third successive trophy win on Sunday with a 7-1 win over Stirlingashire at Colville Park in their final fixture of the season.

With just the fixture between renfrewshire and Glasgow at Erskiine to be completed, which is scheduled to be played on 30th September, present positions in the West of Scotland Inter County Boys league are:-

  

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION FINALS DAY - Six finals decided at Ardeer

Ardeer Golf Club hosted the 2026 Ayrshire Golf Association Finals day on Sunday the 6th of September, with six finals being played and the destination of trophies decided on the day.

Despite the heavy rain encountered throughout the week, GT Groundcare Ltd. presented the course in great condition for the finals.

The first final out was the scratch club team knockout competition for The Gary Bryden Memorial Salver which featured West Kilbride and Royal Troon.

Royal Troon & West Kilbride teams

Craig Stevenson and Harvey Broadfoot contested the opening singles and it was Harvey who raced to an 8&6 victory to put the first point on the board for Royal Troon.

In the third tie of the match, the foursomes pairing of Jake Hendry and Lyle Vogwell from West Kilbride faced the pairing of Blair Morton and Euan Brown of Royal Troon, and again the tie was dominated by the Royal Troon pairing who stormed to an 8&6 win to ensure the trophy would be returning to Royal Troon for the first time since their successive wins in 2018 and 2019

The second singles was between Chris Lawson and David Currie was a closer affair, with a half match ultimately being agreed once the results of the other two ties were known, which left the overall match score as Royal Troon 2.5 West Kilbride 0.5. 

The Royal Troon team with Team Captain John Rushbury & AGA Vice President William Fleming

As with all the winners on the day, the trophiy was handed over to the winning team by Ayrshire Golf Association Vice President William Fleming (Ballochmyle GC.

The second final on the course was the Ayrshire Men's Handicap League Championship final between Drongan and Tam O Shanter

Tam O Shanter and Drongan teams

In an even contest the Dronan team received shots in the first two ties, gave shots in the last two ties, with the middle two ties having no shots exchanged.

The match itself proved equally as close. In the early ties it was tam O Shanter who raced to a 3-0 lead, Nick Tindall (3) edging out Daniel Carroll (7) by a single hole while Alan Smeeton (5) and Connor Sinclair (11) both recorded 3&1 wins over Andrew Carroll (7) and David Stark (11) respectively.

The Drongan fightback started with Robert Colquhoun (16) in the anchor tie who recorded a crucial 7&5 win over Gordon Thomson (23), and when David Hannah (15) beat Jim McCorkell (17) by 2&1 the destination of the trophy lay with the final tie on the course between Drongan's Derek watt and Grant Sinclair of Tam O Shanter. In a grandstand finish the tie wrent to the last green with Derek gaining the point for Drongan to ensure a 3-3 draw in the match. As a result of the tie, the destination of the trophy and 2026 title was decided on a countback over the individual tie scores, which saw Drongan emerge as champions with a 16-9 countback advantage.

The winning Drongan team

The third final to be played was the Ayrshire Women's Handicap League Championship between the title holders Largs and first time finalist Loudoun.

The Loudoun and Largs teams

The lower handicapped Loudoun team were giving shots in all four ties in the match, but it was Audrey Thompson (5) in the second tie against Jean Ashdown (18) that put the first point on the board for Louodun with a 4&3 win.

In the lead tie Kelly McNee (3) added a second point for Loudoun with a 2 hole win over Jean Capes (16) and the title win was ensured for Loudoun when Aileen Anderson (14) staged a remarkable comeback from six down at the turn to secure a half match with Grace Malone (21) in the penultimate tie on the course.

The final tie between Irene Hodge (26) of Largs and Mhairi MacNamee (24) of Loudoun also resulted in honours een on the final green giving Louodun the 2026 Women's handicap League Championship title with a 3-1 win overall.

The winning Loudoun team with AGA Vice President William Fleming 
and Team manager Liz Keohone

The fourth final was the handicap club team knockout competition for The President's Putter which featured the teams from Tam O Shanter and Troon Portland.

The Tam O Shanter and Troon Portland teams

The Troon Portland team gave shots in all three ties and it was the foursomes pairing of Peter Clark & George McDonald (13) who put the first point on the board for Troon Portland with a 5&4 win over ian Wiseman & Craig Dunlop (18).

The two singles ties were very closely fought affairs but ultimately it was Stuart Wilson (8) who delivered the winning point for Troon Portland with a single hole victory over Neil Leverton (16) in the lead tie.

The other singles tie also concluded on the final green with Tom Neilson (17) of Tam O Shanter sharing the spoils with Donald McIntyre (13) of Troon Portland to give an overall match winning score for Troon Portland of 2.5 - 0.5.

The winning Troon Portland team with AGA Vice President William Fleming

The penultimate final played on the day was the mixed greensomes knockoyut final for The Ayrshire Jug, between Graham and Alyson Hatton of Skelmorlie and Catherine & Alasdair Malcolm from Ayr Belleisle Ladies and Golf South Ayrshire.

Catherine & Alasdair Malcolm and Graham & Alyson Hutton

Catherine and Alasdair were giving four shots in the match but took the early initiative, racing to a six hole lead at the turn before Graham and Alyson staged a comeback in the inward half, winning both the holes they had shots at and further reducing the defecit to three down with four to play with a winning par four at the fourteenth.

Despite the spirited fightback from their opponents, Catherine and Alasdir did enough to win the fifteenth hole for a 4&3 victory in the match to take the Ayrshire Jug trophy for 2026.

2026 Ayrshire Jug winners Catherine & Alasdair Malcolm
(Ayr Belleisle Ladies / Golf South Ayrshire)

The final match to be completed on the day was the Ayrshire Men's Fourball Championship final between Ian Cameron (13) and Gary Munro (15) of Skelmorlie and Morris Steveley (17) & Derek Harrigan (13) of Largs

The Men's Fourball finalists from Largs and Skelmorlie

Ultimately it was Morris and Derek who came out on top in the final with a 6&5 victory to take the trophy back to Largs GC for only the second time in the 44 yrear history of the event, following the last win by a pairing from the club in 2016.

The Fourball winning team frrom Largs GC

The Ayrshire Golf Association would like to extend sincere thanks to Ardeer Golf Club and GT Groundcare Ltd. for their support in hosting Finals day in 2026 and looking alter all the competitorsand officials, and extend congratulations to all the finalists on reaching the finals, and to all the trophy winners on their successes.

 

JOHN S. EASEY - Former Ayr Belleisle professional passes away

The golfing community in Ayrshire and beyond were saddened to learn of the passing, at the end of August, of former Ayr Belleisle professional golfer John S. Easey, at the grand old age of 95.

John moved from Hessle Golf Club in the East Riding of Yorkshire to take over the professional shop at Ayr Belleisle in 1971, a facility that he ran with dedication as the popular club professional for a period of 20 years, before retiring in 1991.

John was the epitome of a true, traditional, club professional. Despite being an acomplished player, his own competitive play undoubtedly took second place in his priorities to catering for the needs of the members of local clubs who played out of the municipal courses at Ayr Belleisle, where he offered everything from club purchase, construction, and repair to lessons and other golf related goods and services.

After the passing of  former Prestwick St Nicholas  professional Willie McDonald in 1987, John was almost certainly the last of the true club makers in Ayrshire, taking time to fashion woods in his small workshop and selling these and bespoke sets of irons from his adjacent shop at Belleisle.

John was also an enthusiastic teacher, with many fine local golfers given a solid grounding in the game through his tutorage. He also mentored many young assistant professionals who assisted him in the shop, several of whom went on to enjoy long careers as professionals in the game, and took the time to pass on his undoubted practical and professional skills both in club making and shop administration.

He was also a regular supporter of local golf events and competition, often donating prizes in support of clubs and organisers of other golf events.

John was a very respected man in golf, both locally and further afield and was undoubtedly one of life's true gentlemen, sociable and always keen to chat about all aspects of the game he loved and made a good career of.

Pre deceased by both his wife and son, John continued to live in the family home in Ayr in retirement and although his sight failed badly in recent years he remained mentally sharp and  still took every opportunity to get out and about and keep up to speed on golfing matters, especially at the courses where he spent a long and distinguished career.

John's memory will be held affectionately and long among those who knew him, and the golfing community in Ayrshire is certainly the poorer for his passing.

The Ayrshire Golf Association extend sincere condolences to John's family and friends at this sad time.  

John's funeral will be held on Wednesday 16th September at 1.15pm at Masonhill Crematorium, Ayr.

AYRSHIRE SCRATCH LEAGUES - Final positions in division 1

Ayrshire Scratch league was concluded recently, with the final two fixtures being played.

A 4-2 home win over irvine in their final home fixture did not prevent Largs from dropping to Division 2 in 2027.

Although relegation was also confirmed for Irvine, they recorded their first win of the season away to Caprington with a 3.5-2.5 win in their penultimate fixture.

Final placings in Scratch League Division 2 were:- 

 

AYRSHIRE JUNIOR CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS - Findlay Andrew takes 2026 title

The 2025 Ayrshire Boy's Strokeplay Champion Findlay Andrew (Turnberry) is the 2026 Ayrshire Junior Champion of Champions Trophy winner.

In the final, played at Loudoun Gowf Club on Saturday 29th August, Findlay defeated clubmate Gregor Hay (Turnberry) in a very close match by 2 holes. 

AYRSHIRE SCRATCH LEAGUES - Ballochmyle secure promotion in final fixture win

Ballochmyle have secured promotion to Ayrshire Scratch league Division 2 for 2027 following victory in their final Division 3 fixture on Sunday 30th August.

ballochmyle entertained the newly crowned Division 3 champions Troon St Meddans in the final fixture of the league season knowing that a draw or a win would see them overtake prestwick St Nicholas for the second promotion spot.

AGA Vice president William Fleming got the home side off to the best start with a 2&1 victory over Jason Butler while Alan Watson added a second point for Ballochmyle with a 4&3 win over Blair Fleming. 

Louis Alberts reduced the defecit for St Meddans with a 3&2 win over Lee Kirkland and the match score was levelled at 2-2 when Nick Gold beat Declan Chalmers by 3&2.

In the anchor tie Dougie McMaster ensured the vital third point for the home side with a 4&2 win over Kevin Thomas, which ensured at least a draw and more importantly the promotion spot for Ballochmyle, and Jay Kyle ensured an overall 4-2 win for Ballochmyle with a single hole victory over Colin wallace in the last tie on the course.

Final positions in Scratch league Division 3 were:-

SENIOR EUROPEAN TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS - Ayrshire duo in Scotland team

Ayrshire interest in the Scotland teams contesting the Senior European Team Championships this week, from 1st to 5th September, lies with Royal Troon Duo Robert Jenkins and Paul Moultrie.

The Senior Men's European Team Championship is at Cabot Bordeaux in France where the Scotland team will contest the championship with 15 other European nations, and are seeking to repeat their 2016 success in the event.

The senior men’s team is:- 

Allan Cameron (Royal Dornoch), Ronnie Clark (Erskine), Mark Halliday (Royal Aberdeen), Bryan Innes (Murcar Golf Links) Robert Jenkins (Royal Troon) and Paul Moultrie (Royal Troon).

Ayrshire have no representatives in the corresponding Senior Women's European Team Championship being held at the same time at the BlackseaRama Resort in Bulgaria.

The senior women’s team is:-

Alison Davidson (Stirling), Louise Fraser (Kingsknowe), Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire), Jillian Lough (Eyemouth), Karen Marshall (Baberton) and Elaine Moffat (St Regulus).

The two reserves making up the eight-man squad are Steven Armstrong (Turnhouse) and Derek Paton (Dunnikier Park).

SCOTTISH SENIOR MEN'S AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP - Ayrshire team for Blairgowrie announced

The Ayrshire senior men's team that will contest the 2026 Scottish Senior Men's Area Team Championship at Blairgowrie (Landsdowne) on Tuesday the 6th of October has been announced.

Scottish Senior Men's internationals Paul Moultrie (Royal Troon) and Robert Jenkins (Royal Troon), who were both in the Ayrshire team who won the event in 2024, will be joined in the team by Tom Loy (Irvine), John McKean (Prestwick), John Rushbury (Royal Troon) and Stuart Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie).

The team score will comprise the best five scratch rounds from six, with the sixth score being taken into account in the event of a tie.

SCOTTISH BOY'S AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP - Ayrshire team for Lochmaben announced

The Ayrshire Golf Association team to contest the 2026 scottish Boy's Area Team Championship at Lochmaben GC on Sunday the 13th of September has been announced.

2026 Scottish Boy's Area Team Championship 
Ayrshire Team
Finlay Watt, Gregor Hay, Harris Vennard, Mason Chisholm

Finlay Watt (West Kilbride) and Harris Vennard (Ayr Belleisle) retain their places from the team that contested the 2025 competition, and are joined this year by Gregor Hay (Ayr Belleisle) and Mason Chisholm (Irvine).

The teams play two foursomes in the morning, with both scores counting, and four singles in the afternoon, with three from the four scores counting towards the team score.

WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY UNDER 18 LEAGUE - Young Ayrshire side lose to Lanarkshire at Carwath

A young Ayrshire side lost out to defending champions Lanarkshire in their latest West of Scotland Inter County Under 18 Boys League match on Sunday 30th August 2026.

The match was originally scheduled to take place at Crow Wood GC, but a course closure due to heavy overnight rain meant that the match was moved to Carnwath GC.

Match details (Lanarkshire names first):-

Ramsay Purdon (East Kilbride) halved with Connor Hunter (Prestwick St Nicholas) 

Matthew Kelly (Kirkhill) beat Ollie Fleming (Troon Welbeck) by 4&2

Aaron McCormack (East Kilbride) beat Ryan Steven (Ayr Belleisle) by 5&4

Oliver McCormack (East Kilbride) beat Dylan Gillespie (irvine) by 5&3

Jack barnes (Drumpellier) beat Zak Mccallum (Loudoun) by 5&3

Mitchell taylor (Strathaven) beat Jack lammie (Royal Troon) by 3&2

Diarmuid Slavin (Drumpellier) halved with Tommy Lawrence (Prestwick St Cuthbert)

Tyler Sneddon (Strathaven) beat James McNeillie (West Kilbride) by 1 hole

LANARKSHIRE 7  AYRSHIRE  1

In the other match played on Sunday 30th August, Stirlingshire had a 5-1 home win over Glasgow at Dunblane new GC.

The previous weekend Renfrewshire beat Dumbartonshire 6.5-1.5 at Windyhill to maintain their title hopes.

The present positions in the West of Scotland Inter County Under 18 league are:-

The Ayrshire team conclude their matches in this year's competitin with a home fixture against Dumbartonshire on Sunday the 6th of September at Irvine GC.

GOLF SOUTH AYRSHIRE GOLF CLUB OPEN - Entries now being taken for Doc Thom Ayrshire Order of Merit and Ayrshire Junior Order of Merit counting event

Entries are now open for the Golf South Ayrshire GC Open.

The competition takes place at Ayr Belleisle Golf Course on 

Saturday 12 September 2026.

Join golfers from across the region for a fantastic day of competition, great prizes, and outstanding course conditions. Secure your place today.

Competition is open to all Male, Female and Junior Golfers with a valid WHS Handicap.

This is also a Doc Thom Order of Merit  and Ayrshire Junoor Order of merit counting event.

Entry Fee is: Adult £20 - Junior £10

Register here:

GOLF SOUTH AYRSHIRE GOLF CLUB OPEN - Entry link

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION FINALS DAY - Line up for Ardeer GC confirmed

The line up for the six Ayrshire Golf Association competition finals to be played on Finals Day at Ardeer GC on Sunday 6th September has been confirmed.

Matches will commence at 11.00 am with the Gary Bryden Memorial Salver final, and will conclude with the Ayrshire Men's Fourball Championship final.

The confirmed line up, with tee times, is:

11.00 to 11.20 - GARY BRYDEN MEMORIAL SALVER (3 ties) 

West Kilbride Vs Royal Troon

11.30 to 12.20 - AYRSHIRE MEN'S HANDICAP LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP (6 ties)

Drongan Vs Tam O Shanter

12.30 to 13.00 - AYRSHIRE WOMEN'S HANDICAP LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHUIP (4 ties)

Largs Vs. Loudoun

13.10 to 13.30 - PRESIDENT'S PUTTER (3 ties)

Tam O Shanter vs. Troon Portland

13.40 - AYRSHIRE JUG (1 tie)

Graham & Alyson Hutton (Skelmorlie) Vs Catherine & Alasdair Malcolm (Ayr Belleisle Ladies/Golf South Ayrshire)

13.50 - AYRSHIRE MEN'S FOURBALL CHAMPIONSHIP (1 tie)

Skelmorlie (Ian Cameron & Gary Munro) Vs Largs (Morris Steveley & Derek Harrigan)

AYRSHIRE WOMEN'S HANDICAP LEAGUE - Largs through to meet Loudoun in final.

Defending champions Largs are through to the final of the 2026 Ayrshire Women's Handicap League Championship, where they will meet Loudoun.

In their semi final played on Thursday 27th August, Largs entertained Caprington and won their place in the final with a 2.5-1.5 victory.

The final will be held during Finals Day on Sunday 6th September at Ardeer GC.

 

AYRSHIRE SCRATCH LEAGUE - Dramatic finish to Division 2 as Turnberry avoid relegation and Loudoun are crowned champions.

In a dramatic finish to the Ayrshire Scratch League Division 2 competition, Turnberry avoided relegation while Loudoun were crowned league champions.

The final fixture of the section on Thursday 27th August saw Royal Troon hosting Turnberry. Royal Troon needed a win or a draw to take the league championship title ahead of Loudoun, while Turnberry needed a win in the match to avoid relegation at the expense of West Kilbride.

Steven Stamper put Turnberry ahead with a 2&1 win over Harvey Broadfoot in the lead tie before Blair Morton levelled the match score at 1-1 with a 3&2 win over Gregor Mackintosh.

Turnberry's survival hopes were boosted when Findlay Andrew and Quintin Dunlop had wins by 2&1 and 1 hole over Keith Hamilton & Stewart Russell respectively, to put their side 3-1 up in the match, with two ties still on the course.

John Rushbury kept Royal Troon's title hopes alive with a two hole win over Grant McIvor which left both the title destination and the last relegation place hanging in the ballance with just the anchor tie between Euan Brown and david Robertson still on the course.

In a tense finish the final tie was shared which gave Turnberry a 3.5-2.5 victory in the match, which confirmed their place in division 2 in 2027 at the expense of West Kilbride who will be relegated along with Kilmarnock Barassie, while their narrow defeat left Royal Troon in second place in the table and confirmed Louodun Gowf Club as 2026 Division 2 champions.

The final placings in Scratch league Division 2 were:-