SGU JUNIOR TOUR - Open entry for 2012 events

(FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF WEBSITE)

The Scottish Golf Union has made changes to the entry system for the three Junior Tour Events for the 2012 season.

Traditionally, an invitation process was used to allow SGU selectors to assess boys’ performances over challenging courses, with a view to then picking national teams.

Now for 2012, entry will be open for the trio of Junior Tour competitions, with a nominated number of invites per event coming from SGU selectors.
As in the past, these three events will combine with other national championships and events to count towards the Scottish Hydro Boys Order of Merit (formerly the SGU Boys Order of Merit).

In December, the SGU announced an exciting new sponsorship agreement with Scottish Hydro who will be investing in junior golf over the next three years (2012-14). Scottish Hydro is this year’s official sponsor of the SGU Boys’ Order of Merit and Junior Tour series.

Scottish Golf Performance Development Manager Kevin Cademy-Taylor said: “We are trying to ensure the best players are in all our junior fields so we have a first-class competitive season for Scottish Boys.”

The SGU Junior Tour was launched in 2004 to provide leading Scottish Boys (Under-18) with additional competitive play on challenging courses; to provide coaching staff and selectors an opportunity to assess players and their development over such venues; and, to provide an appropriate competition structure and added incentive for young players to pursue higher honours.

Entry forms for the Junior Tour events along with all other national championships will be available for download from the SGU website – www.scottishgolf.org – from the beginning of February. The entry fee for Junior Tour events will be £15.

The fields for the Junior Tour events will be limited to a certain number, with a handicap ballot used to determine the final field.

The schedule for the Scottish Hydro Boys Order of Merit, including the three Scottish Hydro Junior Tour events, is a follows:

March 31-April 1: Scottish Hydro Junior Tour – Event 1 (Gullane No 2)
April 9-14: Paul Lawrie Foundation Scottish boys' championship (Murcar Links)
May 11-13: Golf Data Lab Scottish youths open amateur stroke play championship (Ladybank)
May 26-27: Scottish Hydro Junior Tour – Event 2 (The Roxburghe)
June 10: Dunfermline BS Scottish boys' area team championship (Cowglen)
June 16-17: Scottish Hydro Junior Tour – Event 3 (Rowallan Castle)
July 3-4: Loretto School Scottish boys' Under-14s open stroke-play championship (Buchanan Castle)
July 11-13: Scottish boys' Under-16s open stroke-play championship (Strathaven)
July 24-16: Scottish boys' open amateur stroke-play championship (Cardross).
August 14-19: British boys' amateur championship (Notts and Coxmoor)
August 21-22: Nick Faldo Junior Series Scottish qualifier (Panmure)
September 1-2: Paul Lawrie Foundation Junior Jug (Elgin)

If you have any questions regarding the Order of Merit, please contact
Kevin Cademy-Taylor on 01334 466 486

SCOTTISH LADIES GOLFING ASSOCIATION AGM - Ayrshire golfers amongst 2012 national officials

(Courtesy of Calcarson Golf Agency)

Dewars Centre, Perth, Saturday 28th January 2012

A very healthy turn-out of SLGA members attended the SLGA AGM in Perth on Saturday 28th January 2012.

The meeting started on a sombre note as out-going President, Emma Wilson, asked for a moment's silence to remember three stalwarts of the Scottish women's game who died within the last year. They were past British Champion and Curtis Cup player Moira Milton, past Vet's Captain and President Liz Miskimmin and Scottish Senior Internationalist Moira Thomson.

Shona Malcolm

Reports of the year's activities, finances and LGU activities were ably given by SLGA Chairman, Shona Malcolm, Finance Director, Lynne Terry, and LGU Representative on the SLGA Board, Lorna Bennett.

Chairman, Shona, expressed disappointment that the proposed merger with the SGU, which gained a 94% vote in favour at the SLGA EGM on May, was not supported on the men's side. The SLGA board is anticipating a revised proposal in the near future and will give it due consideration then.

Isobel Crawford

Shona Malcolm remains as Chairman for a further year, and Aberdeen's Margaret McNaughton has take over from Emma Wilson as President. Lynne Terry retired after 10 years as Finance director. The SLGA are still looking for a successor. Performance director, Beth Paterson retired from the Board after four years sterling service, and her position has been taken by Ayrshire's Isobel Crawford.

Chairman of selectors Sandy Bushby (P and K) also retired from the board and has been replaced by Janet Griffiths.

Isobel Crawford's last year as Scottish representative on the LGU International Selection Panel finishes after the Curtis Cup in June, when Fiona de Vries takes over the role. Noreen Fenton (Midlothian) replaces Margaret Tough (Stirling and Clackmannan) as East Division selector and Addi Shamash replaces Martine Pow as South Division selector. They join Cara Gruber (North and Anne Laing (West) to complete the SLGA Selection Committee.

Subscriptions remain the same for a further year, and some minor tidying up of the regulations governing SLGA Championships and other tournaments was unanimously approved.
The meeting finished within an hour.

SCOTTISH GOLFER OF THE YEAR - Register your vote for Ayrshire ace

Golfers throughout the country are being invited to vote for their Scottish Golfer Of The Year in a Scottishgolf survey.

All those who vote are in with a chance of winning tickets to attend the Scottish Golf Awards Dinner in Glasgow on 23rd March.

Michael Stewart with the
South African Amateur Trophy

Amongst the candidates for the award this year is Ayrshire golfer Michael Stewart from Troon Welbeck who won the South African Amateur Championship, was a finalist in The Amateur Championship and was a member of the victorious GB & I Walker Cup team who beat the USA at Royal Aberdeen in September.

You can register your vote on the Scottishgolf website or by clicking on the link below.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3KBM726?utm_campaign=SGU%20Golfers%20e-bulletin%20-%2023%20January%202012&utm_source=emailCampaign&utm_medium=email

2012 AYRSHIRE FIXTURES - confirmed list of events published

The complete list of Ayrshire Golf Association fixtures for 2012 has been published and distributed to member clubs, along with entry forms and posters for the seasons opening events.

The Ayrshire Strokeplay Championship takes place on 22nd April this year, at Prestwick St Nicholas with the matchplay taking place in early May at Western Gailes.

In July the Ayrshire Club Championship, which is fast becoming one of the most sought after titles in the county following two Ayrshire clubs in the last three years going on to win the National Club Championship title, takes place at Irvine (Bogside) GC.

August sees the Ayrshire Boys Championship take place at Largs as well as the Champion Of Chmpions final at Royal Troon and the Boys Matchplay Championship at Prestwick .

The Ayrshire Under 18 team have 3 home games, at Ardeer, Skelmorlie and Kilbirnie, in their five matches throughout the summer as they bid for the Wishart Trophy and West Of Scotland Inter County title.

In the West Of Scotland matches in September and October, the A team have three home games in their five matches whilst the youths team are away from home on three occassions in their competition for the West Of Scotland title.

Entry forms for the Ayrshire Strokeplay Championship have been distributed to clubs and can also be downloaded directly from the link on the left of this page, under the 'Mens Info' heading.

Entry forms for all other Ayrshire Golf Association events are also available to download from the website now, and will be distributed to clubs in due course.

The full list of County fixtures for 2012 are :-

		AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION
		FIXTURES 2012
MONTH	DATE	FIXTURE	VENUE
APRIL	15	AYRSHIRE BOYS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS	AYR DALMILLING
	22	AYRSHIRE STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP	PRESTWICK ST. NICHOLAS
MAY	7 to 10	AYRSHIRE MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP	WESTERN GAILES
	19 - 20	AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS	BLAIRGOWRIE
	27	AYRSHIRE U18  v RENFREW U18	ARDEER
JUNE	10	SCOTTISH BOYS AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP	COWGLEN
	17	AYRSHIRE U18  v STIRLING U18	SKELMORLIE
JULY	15	AYRSHIRE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP	IRVINE
	17	AYRSHIRE SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP	LOUDOUN
	29	AYRSHIRE U18  v LANARK U18	BOTHWELL CASTLE
AUGUST	2	AYRSHIRE BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP	LARGS
	3	CHAMPION of CHAMPIONS SEMI FINALS	ROYAL TROON
	7 to 9	AYRSHIRE BOYS MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP	PRESTWICK
	10	CHAMPION of CHAMPIONS FINAL	ROYAL TROON
	19	AYRSHIRE U18 v DUMBARTON U18	KILBIRNIE
SEPTEMBER
	9	AYRSHIRE U18 v GLASGOW U18	BISHOPBRIGGS
	16	AYRSHIRE A v STIRLING A	KILSYTH LENNOX
	16	AYRSHIRE Y v STIRLING Y	BRUNSTON CASTLE
	23	AYRSHIRE A v LANARK A	PRESTWICK ST. CUTHBERT
	23	AYRSHIRE Y v LANARK Y	AIRDRIE
	30	AYRSHIRE A v RENFREW A	AYR BELLEISLE
	30	AYRSHIRE Y v RENFREW Y	RENFREW
OCTOBER	7	AYRSHIRE A v DUMBARTON A	MILNGAVIE (1230)
	7	AYRSHIRE Y v DUMBARTON Y	WEST KILBRIDE (1200)
	14	AYRSHIRE A v GLASGOW A	TROON DARLEY
	14	AYRSHIRE Y v GLASGOW Y	HAGGS CASTLE