AYRSHIRE MEN'S TEAM - Prestwick St Cuthbert triumph in latest pre season match

An Ayrshire men's select team took on the Scratch League Division 1 title holders Prestwick St Cuthbert on Sunday the 22nd of March in the latest pre season match before the 2026 campaign.

Playing over the Prestwick St Cuthbert course, the Ayrshire select faced a strong host club team which included several regular members of the Ayrshire A team.

In a competitive and enjoyable match, it was the host club who emerged victorious with a 6-2 victory in the match.

Match details (Ayrshire select first):-

John Haggarty (Loudoun) lost to Calum Nairn  by 1 hole

Greg Jarvie (Loudoun) lost to Steven Gillies by 3&1

Blair Morton (Royal Troon) beat Scott Brown by 4&2

John Shanks (Irvine) lost to Stuart Robin by 5&4

Jamie Hay (Ayr Belleisle) lost to Graeme Gimson by 4&2 

Mark Watt  (Prestwick St Cuthbert) lost to Joe McSorely by 8&7

Steven Stamper (Turnberry) lost to Adam Sweeney by 5&3 

Sandy Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat Scott Hannah by 3&2

Prestwick St Cuthbert 6 Ayrshire Select 2 

The Ayrshire squad have another pre season fixture on the 12th of April at Largs, against a team of local golf professionals, before the competitive season begins with the first Scottish Men's Area Team Championship match of the season away to lanarkshire at Kirkhill on Sunday the 3rd of May.

COACHING - Ayrshire elite and development squads conclude coaching programme

The Ayrshire elite and development coaching squads completed their pre season coaching programme at Prestwick Golf Club on Sunday the 22nd of March, in preparation for the forthcoming competitive season starting next month.

The Elite Squad with under 18 team co-manager Paul Kennedy
and coaching professionals David Fleming & Richard Gordon

The Association would like to thank the coaching professionals Richard Gordon, David Fleming, Allan Todd and Lee Hughes, as well as Paul Moultrie of Mind Body Golf and fitness coach Brian Milligan of  Base Line in Dundonald for their continued imput and dedication to The Association's coaching delivery, and also to Prestwick Golf Club and its members for thier unwavering support of the coaching programme and other events each year.

The Development Squad with coaching professionals Allan Todd & Lee Hughes

The enthusiasm and commitment of the members of both squads during the 2026 programme was excellent and The Association hope that the players will benefit from their involvement as the 2026 season progresses.

The young Ayrshire squad members will face their first test of the year on Sunday the 12th of April when a combined Under 16, Under 18 and Youth squad will travel to Wigtonshire County Golf Club to play the South of Scotland team in the annual match for The President's Trophy, hoping to retain the trophy for a third successive time following thier 2024 victory at the same venue, the match having not taken place in 2025.

2026 AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION YEARBOOK - 23rd successive edition now available

The 2026 Ayrshire Golf Association Yearbook has been published and distributed to member clubs recently.

The 40 page booklet, the 23rd successive edition of the yearbook, contains an introduction by Area President Barry O'Rourke, reviews of the work of The Association and the 2025 events as well as contact information for member clubs, historical records, and the 2026 Ayrshire Golf Association fixture list.

The cover photograph features a vintage photograph of a mixed golf match on the twelfth green on the links of Prestwick Golf Club, Ayrshire's oldest existing club, who along with Prestwick St Nicholas Golf Club celebrate their 175th anniversary in 2026.

An on-line version of the yearbook can be accessed by clicking on the front cover picture of the yearbook on the left of this page.

The Association is grateful to the publishers, Ayrshire media Services, and all the advertisers who have supported the yearbook, allowing free distribution of the booklet to member clubs.

Link to the 2026 Ayrshire Golf Association Yearbook

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION ANNUAL DINNER - 2025 winners honoured at Carlton Hotel.

The 2025 Ayrshire Golf Association trophy winners from the 2025 season were honoured recently at the Annual Dinner & Presentation of Prizes, held at The Carlton Hotel in Prestwick.

The event was chaired by President Barry O'Rourke, who opened by introducing the top table guests, including Scottish Golf President Lynne Terry who addressed the company, before AGA Executive members Jimmy McGhee said grace and the assembled company enjoyed an excellent meal.

Former sprint champion George McNeill was the guest speaker who entertained the company with his presentation and toasted The Ayrshire Golf Association, before President O'Rourke summarised the previous and forthcoming seasons in Ayrshire.

A prize draw during the evening raised the sum of £960 for The Association's partner charity, Hillhouse, before the culmination of the evening with the presentation of prizes and trophies won in the 2025 season. 

The evening concluded with a vote of thanks by Ayrshire Golf Association Vice President William Fleming.

The principal prizewinners were:-

Scotish Senior Internationalist
Robert Jenkins

Scottish Senior Internationalist 
Paul Moultrie

West of Scotland Club team Champions
Largs GC

Ayrshire Club Champions
Royal Troon GC
Team member
Blair Morton
accepting trophy 

Gary Bryden Memorial Salver
Prestwick St Cuthbert GC
Team & Club Captain
Steven Gillies

Presidents Putter
Irvine Ravesnaprk GC

Team Captain Scott Singleton 

Ayrshire Womens Handicap League
Largs GC
Team Member Jane Ashdown

Ayrshire Men's Handicap League
Moorpark GC

Scratch League Division 3
Troon St Meddans GC
team captain Louis Alberts

Scratch League Division 2
Caprington GC
Club Captain Robbie Gibson

Scratch League Division 1
Prestwick St Cuthbert GC
Club and team Captain
Steven Gillies

Senior Men's Matchplay Champion
Stephen King

Men's Strokeplay Champion
Harvey Broadfoot

Women's Matchplay Champion
Debbie Watt

Women's Champion of Champions
Orla Moran

Men's Champion of Champions
Harvey Broadfoot

Doc Thom Order of Merit - 3rd
Scott Brown

Doc Thom Order of Merit Runner Up
Harvey Broadfoot

Doc Thom Salver
Order of Merit Winner
John Shanks

Scratch League Division 1 

and

Gary Bryden Memorial Salver

Winners

Prestwick St Cuthbert GC

AYRSHIRE JUG - Forty one pairings bid for mixed greensomes title

The Ayrshire mixed greensomes knockout comeptition for The Ayrshire Jug sees forty one pairings bidding for the 2026 title.

The draw was made recently and circulated to competitors.

If any competitor has not received the draw and contact details they should contact the Area Secretary by email at

ayrshire.golf@btinternet.com

The draw for the opening rounds is:-

 

AYRSHIRE MEN'S FOURBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - Forty four clubs represented in 2026 line up

Forty four club pairings will contest the 2026 Ayrshire Men's Fourball Champoionship with nthe draw being circulated to competitors recently.

Should any competitor have not received the draw and information, they shoukld contact the Area Secretary by email at 

ayrshire.golf@btinternet.com

The draw for the opening rounds is:-

AYRSHIRE MEN'S CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS TROPHY - Forty one players bid for 2026 title

The 2026 Ayrshire Men's Champion of Champions Trophy competition will feature forty one of the best players in Ayrshire, who will be bidding for a place in the final of the competition at Royal Troon in August.

Any competitor who has not yet received the draw and contact details should email the Area Secretary at

ayrshire.golf@btinternet.com 

The draw for the opening rounds is:-

GARY BRYDEN MEMORIAL SALVER - 22 clubs bid for scratch club team knockout competition title

Twenty two member clubs will play in the 2026 scratch club team knockout competition for The Gary Bryden Memorial Salver.

Should any club representative not have received the draw and contact information they should contact the Area Secretary by email at

ayrshire.golf@btinternet.com

The draw for the opening rounds is :-

AYRSHIRE WOMEN'S HANDICAP LEAGUE - Eight clubs bid for 2026 crown

Eight member clubs will contest the 2026 Ayrshire Women's Handicap League Championship throught the season, bidding for a place in the final match in early September.

Two sections will again operate, with teams playing each other home and away.

The winners and runners up in each section will play off in semi final ties for a place in the final.

The two qualifying sections are :-

PRESIDENTS PUTTER - Thirty Six Clubs bid for handicap club team knockout trophy

Thirty six member clubs will contrst the 2026 handicap club team knockout competition for the President's Putter, with the draw for the opening rounds being made recently.

If any club representative has not received contact information they should email the Area Secretary at

ayrshire.golf@btinternet.com

The draw for the opening rounds is:-

AYRSHIRE WOMEN'S CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS TROPHY - Line up for 2026 competition.

The draw for the 2026 Ayrshire Women's Champion of Champions trophy competition has been circulated to competitors.

Twelve champions will contest the 2026 event, bidding for a place in the final at Royal Troon in August.

If any competitors have not received contact information they should email the Area Secretary at

ayrshire.golf@btinternet.com

The draw for the opening rounds is:-

AYRSHIRE MEN'S HANDICAP LEAGUE - Draw made for 2026 championship.

The draw has been made for the 2026 Ayrshire Men's Handicap League Championship, with information to be circulated to club representatives soon.

This year thirty five member clubs entered the event, with three qualifying sections of five teams and five qualifying sections of four teams being competed, with the winners of each section progressing to the quarter finals.

Defending champions Moorpark have been drawn in Section 2 with Prestwick St Cuthbert, Louodun, Irvine Ravenspark, and Beith.

If any club representatives have not received further information by friday 13th of March they should contact the tournament administrator, Mike Hazlewood by email at 

handicap23@ayrshire-golf.com

The full draw for the qualifying sections, quarter finals, and semi finals, are reproduced below.

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION STROKEPLAY EVENTS - Entries open for 2026 competitions as on line entries are introduced

Entries are now open for the five Ayrshire Golf Association individual strokeplay events scheduled for the 2026 season.

As well as entering using the traditional 'hard copy' paper entry forms and traditional payment methods, this season competitors will be able to enter and pay for the competitions on line via the Scottish Golf App.

ENTER VIA THE SCOTTISH GOLF APP

How to enter on the Scottish Golf App

Go to the Events tab. 

Change the club to Ayrshire Golf Association on the drop down menu and select ‘OPEN’ on the right hands side. 

Chose your competition then click on the basket on the top right-hand side. 

Then select your preferred zone and continue to payment.

Copies of the championship posters also have summary guidance on how to enter on line, while a more detailed guidance document is available via the appropriate link on the left of the Ayrshire Golf Association web log page. 

Copies of the traditional format entry form can also be downloaded via the appropriate links on the web page, and should also be available through club secretaries, with cvopies of the entrey forms and posters having been emailed to all member club secretarties on the 28th of February.

The Ayrshire Mens Strokeplay takes place over 36 holes at West Kilbride Golf Club on Sunday the 26th of April 

The Ayrshire Womens Strokeplay takes place over 18 holes at Annanhill GC on Sunday the 7th of June 

The Ayrshire Senior Mens Championship will be played at Prestwick St Cuthbert GC on Tuesday the 7th of July 

The Ayrshire Boys Championship takes place over 36 holes at Routenburn GC in Largs on Thursday the 6th of August 

The Ayrshire Girls Championship takes place over 18 holes at Routenburn GC in Largs on Thursday the 6th of August

2026 AYRSHIRE JUNIOR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP - Entries now open for season opener at prestwick St Cuthbert GC

Entry forms for the 2026 Ayrshire Junior Team Championship have been emailed to Club Secretaries on 28th February.

This years championship will be held at Prestwick St Cuthbert GC on Sunday the 19th of April, the traditional opener to the Ayrshire Golf Association strokeplay competition season.

Any Club Secretary who has not received the entry form and needs a copy should contact the Area Secretary by email at 

ayrshire.golf@btinternet.com

CLUB COACHING GRANTS - Applications for 2026 funding now open

Applications for the Ayrshire Golf Association Club Coaching Grants for 2026 are now open.

The application and payment process is very similar to last year with approved applications leading to direct payment to the nominated coach once the agreed coaching programme is confirmed as concluded and the required feedback information is received from the nominated coaching professional.

In a change to previous arrangements,

APPLICATIONS WILL ONLY BE OPEN FROM 1ST MARCH TO 30TH APRIL 2026

Funds have been allocated to support clubs in delivering grass roots coaching 'in house' and the level of each individual club financial grant will be determined after the closing date, based on the number of applications received for the funding.

Information has been emailed to club secretaries on the 28th of February, and the application club is also available for downloading via the approipriate link on the Ayrshire Golf Association web page.