SCOTTISH JUNIOR CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS - Four Ayrshire players in end of season event

Four young Ayrshire golfers are in the field for the 2009 Scottish Junior Champion Of Champions competition, being held at The Dukes Course, St. Andrews on Sunday 1st November.

Scottish Boys Internationalist and Boys Strokeplay title holder Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) is in the The 57 strong field, which includes both boys and girls.

Jack McDonald & Colin Robinson

Also in the field for the championship are the Ayrshire Boys Champion Colin Robinson (Largs), the Ayrshire Boys Matchplay Champion David Wilson (Troon Welbeck) and the winner of the ALCGA St. Nicholas Trophy Rachel Irvine (Largs).














David Wilson & Rachel Irvine

EUROPEAN MENS CLUB TROPHY - Prestwick finish 12th out of 24 in Turkey

Prestwick Golf Club, Scotland's representatives in the 2009 European Mens Club Trophy competition played at the Klassis Golf & Country Club in Turkey this week, finished in 12th place out of the 24 competing nationas after the three round competition finished on Saturday.

In round 3, Jonathan King provided the best Prestwick score for the second successive day with a one over par 74, to which Allan Thomson and James Bunch both added 76's.

This gave Prestwick an overall total for the championship of two over par 440, leaving them 25 shots adrift of the winners, from the host club, representing Turkey, on 415 (23 under par).

Final team totals were :-

415 - Klassis G & CC (Turkey)
415 - Murhof (Austria)
416 - GC St. Leon-Rot e.V. (Germany)
418 - Ormesson (France II)
424 - Stavanger (Norway)
427 - Vilamoura (Portugal)
431 - Workington (England)
431 - C.G. Son Servera (Spain)
435 - Saint Nom La Breteche (France I)
437 - G.K.G. (Iceland)
438 - Royal Golf Club Marianske Lazne (Czech Republic)
440 - Prestwick (Scotland)
443 - Golf Club Prise d'Eau (Netherlands)
446 - Antwerp International Golf & CC (Belgium)
452 - Marriot St. Pierre (Wales)
455 - Golf Club Ta'le (Slovakia)
455 - Galway GC (Ireland)
457 - Aalborg Golf Kub (Denmark)
458 - Bossey Golf Club (Switzerland)
458 - Espoon Golfseura EGS (Finland)
464 - GC Arboretum (Slovenia)
465 - Krakow Valley Golf & CC (Poland)
470 - Golf Club Grand Ducal (Luxembourg)
514 - Golf & Country Club Novi & Resort (Croatia)

WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY LEAGUES - Youths remain undefeated after week 3

The Ayrshire youths side remain undefeated in this years West Of Scotland Inter County Leagues after a 5 - 5 draw against a strong Renfrewshire side on Saturday at Caprington.

Match results were :-

Scott Clark (Ayr Belleisle) lost to Andrew McLachlan (Bonnyington) by 3 & 2
Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) lost to Michael Campbell (Renfrew) by 3 & 1
David Currie (Royal Troon) halved with Darryn Grant (Renfrew)
Mark Smith (Troon Welbeck) beat Johnny Caldwell (Greenock) by 2 holes
Andrew Wright (Kilmarnock Barassie) halved with Danny Muir (Cochrane Castle)
David Wilson (Troon Welbeck) beat Graham Forbes (Greenock) by 6 & 4
Rory Acheson (Largs Routenburn) lost to Alex Ferguson (Paisley) by 3 & 2
Colin Robinson (Largs) beat Jack Bradley (Paisley) by 6 & 5
Jamie Acheson (Largs Routenburn) beat Alistair Lauder (Paisley) by 2 & 1
Craig McLaughlin (Largs) lost to Allan Johnstone (Bonnyington) by 2 & 1

AYRSHIRE YOUTHS 5 RENFREWSHIRE YOUTHS 5

In the corresponding A team match at East renfrewshire, Ayrshire lost to the current Area Team Champions by 7 - 3, with the highlight for Ayrshire being a win by George Robertson over former Amateur Champion Craig Watson.

Match results were :-

George Robertson (Irvine Ravenspark) beat Craig Watson by 4 & 3
Graham Gimson (Prestwick St. Cuthbert) lost to Michael Daly by 5 & 4
Euan Brown (Kilmarnock Barassie) lost to Colin Thomson by 5 & 3
John Cairney (Irvine Ravenspark) lost to Scott McGrenshaw by 5 & 3
Scott Brown (Turnberry) halved with Steven Higgins
John Shanks (Irvine) lost to Nicky Gold by 2 & 1
Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) beat Gary Price by 3 & 2
Steven Spence (Irvine) lost to William McMillan by one hole
Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle) lost to David McFarlane by 5 & 3
Gareth Lamb (Irvine) halved with David Miller

AYRSHIRE 3 RENFREWSHIRE 7

Next Saturday, 31st October, the A team entertain Stirlingshire at Prestwick St. Nicholas whilst the youths travel to Falkirk in the corresponding youths match.

EUROPEAN CLUB TROPHY - Prestwick lying 10th after round 2

With one round to play, the Prestwick Golf Club team of James Bunch, Jonathan King and Allan Thomson - pictured right - are lying in 10th place in the 2009 European Mens Club Trophy competition , which is being played from 22nd to 24th October at the Klassis Golf & Country Club in Istanbul, Turkey.

Prestwick qualified to represent Scotland in the 24 nation event, by virtue of winning the Scottish Club Championship last month at Prestwick St. Nicholas.

With two scores from three counting each day, over the par 73 course, Prestwick lay in joint fourth spot after the first round, Allan Thomson (70) and Jonathan King ((71) providing the counting scores, with James Bunch (75) completing the Prestwick scores.

On day two, scoring was notably higher across the field and the Prestwick scores of Jonathan King (72), Allan Thomson (77) and James Bunch (80) saw the Scottish representatives drop down the field with a team total of 290 (-2).

With the final round to be played on Saturday, the leading team scores are :-

275 (-17) - Ormesson (France II)

277 (-15) - Murhof (Austria)

280 (-12) - Klassis G & CC (Turkey)

282 (-10) - Stavanger (Norway)

283 (- 9) - Vilamoura (Portugal)

284 (- 8) - GC St. Leon-Rot e.V. (Germany)

287 (- 5) - C.G. Son Servera (Spain)

289 (- 3) - Workington (England)

289 (- 3) - Royal Golf Club Marianske Lazne (Czech Republic)

290 (- 2) - Prestwick (Scotland)

294 (+ 2) - Saint Nom La Breteche (France I)

EUROPEAN SENIORS TOUR - Drummond third in Spain

Ross Drummond from Prestwick produced his best finish of the season in the final regular tour event of the year, the Benahavis Senior Masters at La Quinta Golf & Country Club, Marbella, Spain at the weekend.

Drummond finished on 208, six under par, for three rounds to finish only one shot behind the tournament winner, Carl Mason (England).

Leading scores :-

Carl Mason (England) 206 (-7) - 66, 72, 68
Gordon Brand Jnr. (Scotland) 206 (-7) - 71, 67, 68
Ross Drummond (Scotland) 207 (-6) - 67, 69, 71

Andrew Murray (England) 208 (-5) - 68, 71, 69

Des Smyth (Ireland) 208 (-5) - 70, 72, 66

Drummond will finish the season by taking part in the OKI Castellon Senior Tour Championship at the Club de Campo del Mediterráneo, Castellón, Spain from 06 Nov - 08 Nov 2009.

AYRSHIRE SENIORS LEAGUE - Ravenspark win 2009 competition

Irvine Ravenspark are the 2009 Ayrshire Seniors League winners after the final was played at the weekend at Kilbirnie Place.

In the final, Ravenspark faced the home side Kilbirnie but ran out winners by 3 - 2 in a closely contested match which was only decided on the 18th green of the last match on the course.

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION - Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of The Ayrshire Golf Association will be held in Caprington Golf Club, Ayr Road, Kilmarnock on Wednesday October 28th 2008 at 7.30pm.

As per the Constitution each club is allowed two representatives, only one of whom may vote.

The agenda and relevant documents have been e-mailed to most clubs this weekend and others will be posted to clubs who have not provided e-mail addresses on Monday 19th October.

WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY LEAGUES - Youths make it two in a row as A team lose

The Ayrshire Youth side made it two wins from two in the West Of Scotland Inter County League on Saturday 17th October when they defeated the Glasgow Youths side by 8 - 2 at Ayr Belleisle.

Ayrshire only lost one of the ten ties, with two others being halved, on thier way to victory.

Match results were (Ayrshire names first) :-

Scott Clark (Ayr Belleisle) beat Craig Haugh (Cathkin Braes) by 3 & 2
Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat Martin Shaw (Haggs Castle) by 2 & 1
Craig McLaughlin (Largs) lost to Fraser McNeill (Cathkin Braes) by 2 & 1
David Currie (Royal Troon) halved with Kenneth Mclean (Cowglen)
Andrew Wright (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat Jamie Thomson (Cawder) by one hole
Marc Smith (Troon Welbeck) beat Blair Cooper (Haggs Castle) by 5 & 4
David Wilson (Troon Welbeck) beat Scott McGraddie (Cathcart Castle) by 6 & 5
Malcolm Pennycott (Brodick) beat John Grant (Ralston) by 2 & 1
Rory Achison (Largs Routenburn) halved with Steven Machin (Cowglen)
Stuart Henderson (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat Barry Straw (Cathkin Braes) by 4 & 3

AYRSHIRE YOUTHS 8 GLASGOW YOUTHS 2

In the corrsponding A Team match at Cowglen, Ayrshire went down to their hosts by 6 - 4 in a very tight match.

Match results were (Ayrshire names first):-

George Robertson (Irvine Ravenspark) halved with John Lawrie
Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) lost to Steven Machin by 6 & 5
Scott Brown (Turnberry) halved with Ben Sloan
John Cairney (Irvine Ravenspark) lost to Chris Wedgeworth by one hole
Euan Brown (Kilmarnock Barassie) lost to Frank Drum by one hole
Tommy McInally (Loudoun) beat Roy Alexander by one hole
Graeme Gimson (Prestwick St. Cuthbert) beat Graeme Cox by 2 & 1
Gareth Lamb (Irvine) lost to John McDonald by 3 & 2
Darren Mallinson (Irvine Ravenspark) beat Ricky Gray by 3 & 2
Stephen Spence (Irvine) lost to Gus Lamont by 4 & 2


GLASGOW 6 AYRSHIRE 4

Next Saturday, the A Team travel to face newly crowned Area Team champions Renfrewshire at The East Renfrewshire Golf Club whilst the Ayrshire Youth team play at home in the corresponding match at Caprington.

THE SCOTTISH DISABILITY GOLF PARTNERSHIP

Jim Gales MBE writes :-

As relatively new members of the SGU, we are aware that many golf clubs and associations know of the existence of the SDGP and our work throughout Scotland.

However, there are always some individuals within Scottish clubs and associations who may not have heard about us and we would be grateful if you could pass on the attached information to your members?

We operate throughout Scotland and offer golf and golf training to anyone of any age or ability, who has a recognised disability, serious health issue or mobility problem.

My own contact details are listed below and more information is available from our website at http://www.sdgp.co.uk/

Thank you.

Jim Gales MBE
Chairman
Scottish Disability Golf Partnership
38 Crawley Crescent Springfield
Cupar
Fife
Scotland
KY15 5SF
Tel: +44 (0) 1334 650 963

An information leaflet on the Partnership advises :-

SDGP offers golfing opportunities and training for anyone in Scotland with sensory loss, amputees, learning difficulties and anyone with other, lesser known conditions, serious health issues or disabilities.

We organise regular competitions and training with PGA Professionals, as well as fun golf events for members wishing to play 9 or 18 hole golf games. We also recently held an inaugural three-day Open Golf Championship, attended by over thirty players from seven countries.

SDGP annual membership is FREE to under-21’s and is only £15 otherwise, and on production of three score cards, played on a good standard golf course; we are able to calculate a golf
handicap for any new members.

More Information about the SDGP is available by calling 07950 003 885 or from our new website

http://www.sdgp.co.uk/

The SDGP is the driving force behind disabled golfers in Scotland and is supported through administration by VONEF Ltd.

A link to the SDGP website is also available under the 'Golf Links' heading on the left of this page.

SCOTTISH GOLF UNION - Great winter golf at Scotland's Open Venues

The Scottish Golf Union is offering you the opportunity of following in the footsteps of legends this winter with fantastic preferential green fees at three of Scotland’s most famous courses, including two in Ayrshire.

Special offer tee-times are now available at Muirfield, Royal Troon and Prestwick exclusively for members of SGU affiliated golf clubs, with proceeds from all sales being invested into Scottish junior golf.

A limited number of tee-times at each Open Championship venue are up for sale, at £280 per four-ball, just £70 per person, representing significant savings against the standard green fee rates.

Tee times available from From November 2009 to end of March 2010 are :-

Muirfield - Tuesdays and Thursdays - 9.30am tee-time

Royal Troon - Tuesdays - 10am tee-time

Prestwick - Mondays - 12noon tee-time

To book one of the special offer tee-times at one of these famous venues, please call the Scottish Golf Union on 01334 466477.

The number of tee-times are limited so the SGU would urge you to book early to avoid disappointment.

Tee-times are sold on a first come, first served basis and payment in full is required within one week of booking.

Each member of your four-ball must be a member of an SGU affiliated golf club and handicap certificates will be required.

See http://www.scottishgolf.org/ for further terms and conditions

SCOTTISH LADIES GOLF - 3 Ayrshire girls named in development squads

Three Ayrshire girls are in the winter training programme squads recently announced by the Scottish ladies Golf Association.

Connie Jaffray and Mhairi McKay, both from West Kilbride, are in the Scottish Golf Academy Progamme squad whilst Emma hale (Troon Bentinck) is included in the District Development Education Programme.

The full squads are :-

NATIONAL PERFORMANCE SQUAD
Carly Booth (Comrie), Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Laura Murray (Alford), Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), Jane Turner (Craigielaw), Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle)

NATIONAL PERFORMANCE SQUAD B
Lesley Atkins (Minto), Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw), Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Gillian Monteith (Portpatrick Dunskey), Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies), Rachael Watton (Mortonhall), Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth)

SCOTTISH GOLF ACADEMY PROGRAMME
Ailsa Bain (Peebles), Alison Goodwin (Glenbervie), Connie Jaffrey (West Kilbride), Tara Mactaggart (Minto), Hannah McCook (Abernethy), Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe), Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride), Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies), Jill Meldrum (Dullatur), Samantha Munro (Aberdour), Rachel Polson (Peterculter), Linsey Stevenson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies), Eleanor Tunn (Reay), Eilidh Watson (Muckhart), Lauren Whyte (St Regulus), Clara Young (North Berwick)

DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION PROGRAMME
Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne), Rosie Everett (Kilspindie), Jorden Ferrie (Kilsyth), Emma Greenlees (Dumfries & Galloway), Emma Hale (Troon Bentinck Ladies), Shannen McGuire (Canmore), Hannah Robb (Strathmore), Nicola Roberston (Dunblane), Tegan Seivwright (Deeside), Catherine Small (Craigielaw), Rachel Walker (Crichton), Tiffiny Wood (Glenbervie)

SCOTTISH LADIES CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS - Ayrshire champion fifth in natonal event

Ayrshire Ladies' Champion Lesley Hendry (Largs Routenburn) - pictured right - was fifth in the SLGA Champion Of Champions Tournament on Sunday 11th October at Glasgow Gailes.

In very windy conditions, on the course she won the Ayrshire title on earlier in the year to qualify to represent the county in the Champions event, Hendry returned a creditable 83 which left her just three shots adrift of the winner Kylie Walker (Buchanan castle), the Dumbarton & Argyll title-holder.

Leading scores :-

80 - Kylie Walker (Dumbarton & Argyll)

81 - Ailsa Summers (Angus) (bih), Cara Gruber (Northern Counties), Claire Hargan (Midlothian)

83 - Lesley Hendry (Ayrshire)
84 - Lesley Atkins (Borders), Sara Mathieson (Aberdeenshire)

85 - Claire MacDonald (East of Scotland), Gillian Monteith (Galloway)

WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY LEAGUES - Ayrshire open with winning double over Dumbartonshire

Ayrshire opened their bid for the 2009 West Of Scotland Inter County League titles on Saturday 10th October with wins at both senior and youth levels over Dumbartonshire.

The A team were at home in their match, played at prestwick St. Cuthbert, and edged out their visitors by 5.5 - 4.5.

Match results were (Ayrshire names first):-

Scott Brown (Turnberry) lost to Paul Bett by 3 & 2
George Robertson (Irvine Ravenspark) beat Kevin Smith by 3 & 2
Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) lost to Andrew Campbell by 2 & 1
John Cairney (Irvine Ravenspark) beat Grant Minnes by 5 & 4
Euan Brown (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat William campbell by 3 7 2
Tommy McInally (Loudoun) halved with Ryan McKenzie
Darren Mallinson (Irvine Ravenspark) lost to Craig Checkley by 5 & 4
Graeme Gimson (Prestwick St. Cuthbert) beat Bob Borrows by 5 & 4
Gareth Lamb (Irvine) lost to David Wyllie by one hole
Jamie Mackay (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat Paul Semple by 3 & 2

AYRSHIRE 5.5 DUMBARTONSHIRE 4.5

In the corresponding youth match, played at Dullatur, the Ayrshire side got off to a good start with a 6.5 - 3.5 win over their hosts.

Match results were (Ayrshire names first):-

Scott Clark (Ayr Belleisle) beat Gary Meechan by 4 & 2
Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat John Henry by one hole
Colin Robinson (Largs) beat Scott Moore by 4 & 3
Craig McLaughlin (Largs) beat Cameron Tortolono by 4 & 3
Mark Smith (Troon Welbeck) halved with Angus Carrick
Andrew Wright (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat Michael Geovanetti by 2 & 1
David Wilson (Troon Welbeck) beat Daniel Muir by 2 & 1
Rory Acheson (Largs Routenburn) lost to Scott Thistleton by 3 & 2
Jamie Acheson (Largs Routenburn) lost to Chris McKeown by two holes
Stewart Henderson (Kilmarnock Barassie) lost to Lee Milligan by 4 & 3

DUMBARTONSHIRE YOUTHS 3.5 AYRSHIRE YOUTHS 6.5

This Saturday, 17th October, Ayrshire take on Glasgow with the senior team travelling to Cowglen whilst the youth team are at home at Ayr Belleisle.

AYR DALMILLING - Clubs joy at decision to keep course open

After months of uncertainty, members of six Ayrshire golf clubs were celebrating this week when it was announced that South Ayrshire Council had reviewed its decision to close Ayr Dalmilling Golf Course

A sustained campaign by the Ayr Dalmilling Action Group throughout the year no doubt contributed constructively to the reversal of the previous decision, allowing the five SGU and one SLGA affilliated clubs to continue playing at their home course.

The decision of South Ayrshire Council now allows the clubs and their membership to plan for the future.

One such club is the Wallacetown Golf Club.

Secretary Dan Higgins commented,

"Wallacetown Golf Club has recently had a drop in its membership, partly due to some members leaving because of our affiliation to Dalmilling (which they thought was doomed), and partly because of a difficulty in recruiting for the same reason.

With the decision taken at the recent South Ayrshire Council meeting, that obstacle will hopefully have been taken out of the equation and we would now like to try and make ourselves more widely known, in a bid to recruit new members.

We now have a website at

http://www.wallacetown-golf-club.org.uk/

and would welcome new member applications"

A link to the website is also available under the 'club links' section on the left of this page.

Further details about membership of the Wallacetown club can be obtained from the Secretary, Dan Higgins, 8 Piersland Place, Girdle Toll, Irvine, KA11 1QF, Tel 01294 235214.

BACK ON LINE - Normal service will be resumed

After a few days of no posts due to faulty internet connection, I am glad to say that the internet is now back up and running and normal service should be resumed over the next couple of days.

Alasdair

UNDER 16 INTERNATIONAL - McDonald helps Scotland to draw with England

Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) helped Scotland to stage a superb fightback in the singles to earn a 7.5 - 7.5 draw with England on Sunday 4th October in the Under 16 Boys' International match at Arbroath links.

4 - 1 down after the morning foursomes, the Scotland team clawed back the lunchtime defecit by winning the first three singles, thanks to Calum Stewart (3 and 2), Jack McDonald (4 and 3) and Grant Forrest (3 and 2).

Liam Johnston halved his tie in the fourth singles whilst the final four matches were shared.

FOURSOMES (1-4)(Scottish names first)

Calum Stewart & Jack McDonald lost to Seb Nixon & Oliver Carr by 3 and 2
Grant Forrest & Liam Johnston beat Greg Payne & Curtis Griffiths by 2 and 1
Eamon Bradley & Lawrence Allan lost to Sam Edwards & Nick Newbold by 1 hole
Fraser Thain & Ewen Donaldson lost to Toby Tree & Colin Walsh by 1 hole
Ewan Scott & Josh Jamieson lost to Liam Harper & Harry Castle by 3 and 1

SINGLES (6 1/2-3 1/2)

Stewart beat Nixon by 3 and 2
McDonald beat Harper by4 and 3
Forrest beat Edwards by 3 and 2
Johnston halved with Tree
Bradley beat Payne by 2 holes
Allan beat Griffiths by 1 hole
Donaldson lost to Newbold by 3 and 1
Thain beat Casey by 1 hole
Jamieson lost to Walsh by 6 and 4
Scott lost to Carr by 2 and 1.

AYRSHIRE SUMMER LEAGUE - Centenary club Loudoun are 2009 champions

Loudoun Gowf Club rounded of their centenary year in style on Sunday 4th October with a win over Irvine (Bogside) in the final of the 2009 Ayrshire Summer League.

The Loudoun team - pictured above - were 4.5 - 1.5 ahead after the first leg, but had by no means an easy task in securing the title over the tought Bogside links. Indeed, so it proved with the overall result of the match eventually coming down to the final tie between Gareth Lamb and Paul Kennedy which Irvine had to win, the countback scores lying in Loudoun's favour if the overall match was drawn.

In the event, Paul Kennedy won his tie by 2 & 1 for Loudoun, giving the club a 6.5 - 5.5 win over the two legs and the 2009 Summer League title.

In winning the title, Loudoun played 6 matches in their League, 2 matches in the semi-final and 2 matches in the final, a total of 60 ties.

Results in the second leg of the final (Irvine names first) were :-

Alec Gourlay beat Tommy McInally by 2/1
Keith Fairley lost to Chris Bone by 2/1
Gordon Dunlop beat Sammy Cox by 1 hole
Mark Anderson beat Scott Gilchrist by 3/2
Colin Gray beat Gavin Wilson by 4/3
Gareth Lamb lost to Paul Kennedy by 2/1