There are very limited spaces left for the History Of The Open event at Dundonald Links on Thursday the 16th of November.
Two sessions are now understood to be full, with a very limited number of slots still available to attend the 11.00 am session.
Places need to be pre booked.
Contact details to secure a place are available on the poster for the event.
Chaired by Ian Yates (Ayr Belleisle), the evening was attended by Ayrshire Golf Association President Andrew Gilligan along with other Ayrshire Golf Association representatives, several Ayrshire Junior Golf League honorary members and junior conveners and golfers from the members clubs.
After an excellent meal and the usual raffle for a large number of prizes, Ayrshire Junior Golf League Secretary Gavin Scott read out the names of the winning individuals and teams from the 2023 season, with the prizes being presented to the winners by Ayr Belleisle Golf Club Captain, Stephen Lucas.
Along with the various awards for the winning teams and individuals, The MacRobert Thistle Junior Golfer of the year trophies for both boys and girls were presented. |
| Boy Golfer of the Year - Finlay Watt |
Finlay also represented Ayrshire on numerous occasions with an unbeaten record, and was also a member of the Stephen Gallacher west squad, in which he also mentors two of West Kilbride's younger junior members throughout the year.
He sets a great example to our junior members and is well respected amongst his peers both within and out with West Kilbride Golf Club.
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| Girl Golfer of the year - Orla Moran |
Orla had a very active and successful 2023 season, playing every weekend she could at her home club of Irvine, supporting the weekly junior competitions, and competing across Ayrshire in many of the Junior Open events.
Orla started off the 2023 season with a handicap index of 16.3 which was reduced to 7.9, through hard work, practice, and dedication to her golf.
At her home club of Irvine Orla won the Junior July medal, and alongside her brother Liam, won the Junior match play fourball title.
Orla was an integral part of a successful season for the Irvine Junior teams who were finalists in all three Ayrshire Junior Golf League extended team events, and was also part of the Irvine team who finished second at the Scottish Junior Team Championship at Elderslie Golf Club in September.
Orla also play for the Irvine Ladies Greenlees inter club league team and contributed to the team’s success in winning their division title and promotion.
Away from her home club Orla was selected to represent both the Ayrshire ladies County Golf Association girls' team and the West of Scotland girls during the season, and in individual play had several successes including winning the girls scratch trophy at the Tom Lehman Junior Open, the best overall nett winner in the Troon Welbeck Under 14 open, the best nett girls winner in the irvine Junior Open, the best nett girl in the Strathaven Junior Open, the overall Under 16 trophy winner and best nett girls winner in the Prestwick St Cuthbert Junior Open.
In her season's highlight, in the inaugural Ayrshire Golf Association Women's Strokeplay Championship Orla, aged just 13, won the nett trophy and title with a four under par score of 70.
The trophies and awards were presented to all the successful teams and individuals, culminating in the presentation of the Ayrshire Junior Golf League title and trophy to the 2023 winners, Irvine Golf Club.
The evening concluded with a vote of thanks by Ayrshire Junior Golf league Secretary, Gavin Scott, who also received grateful appreciation from the assembled company for his own hard work and contribution to a successful evening.
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| Andrew D Nimmo Trophy winners Loudoun GC |
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| Matt Lygate trophy winners West Kilbride GC |
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| Carrick Trophy winner Aran Cowan |
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| Prestwick Circuits trophy winner Dylan Scally |
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| Junior Order of Merit winner Sean Hillis |
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| Junior Order of Merit Runner Up Finlay Watt |
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| Junior Order of Merit - third Liam Moran |
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| Wallace Thornton Trophy winners West Kilbride GC |
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| Wallace Thornton Trophy Runners Up Irvine GC |
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| Under 16 Knockout Trophy winners West Kilbride GC |
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| Under 16 Knockout Trophy Runners Up Irvine GC |
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| Champion of Champions Trophy winner Ryan Kennedy |
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| Champion of Champions Trophy Runner Up Jack Broadfoot |
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| Ayrshire Junior Golf League Championship Runners Up Troon Welbeck GC |
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| Ayrshire Junior Golf League Champions Irvine GC |
A unique opportunity will be available at Dundonald Links on Thursday the 16th of November 2023 when Angela Howe, The R & A Museum and Heritage Director will explore the history of The Open and it's West Coast connections.
There are three sessions organised, at 0930, 1015 and 1100 a.m., and numbers are limited for each session.
Pre booking for the event is essential.
Places can be booked by telephoning 01294 314000 to secure the chance to attend this special event.
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| President Andrew Gilligan |
At the A.G.M., held at Loudoun Gowf Club on Tuesday the 17th of October, Royal Troon member Andrew, a former Club Captain and Club Champion of the Troon St. Meddans club, was elected to the presidency for the period 2023 - 2025, following the retiral of immediate Past president Scott Gilchrist (Loudoun).
Barry O'Rourke (Caprington) was elected Vice president for the next two year period, and Alasdair J Malcolm (Prestwick St Cuthbert) was re-elected as Secretary/Treasurer of The Association.
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| Vice President Barry O'Rourke |
In presenting his President's Report, before demitting office, Scott Gilchrist paid tribute to all that had been achieved during his two year of Presidency, making The Association a more diverse and inclusive organisation than ever before, and thanked the individuals, clubs and club members who have supported the work of improving all aspects of golf in Ayrshire.
Scott highlighted the introduction of competitions for women members of member clubs, which will be further expanded and enhanced in 2024, as well as the successes of individuals and teams including the win by the youths team in the West of Scotland inter County Championship and the runner up place by the men's team in the Scottish Men's Area Team Championship.
Scott also highlighted the decision to confer the title of Honorary President on the serving Secretary, Alasdair J Malcolm, during the year, for his services to golf in Ayrshire, as well as thanking all the clubs for providing facilities and taking part in the various events administered by The Association during the season.
The minutes of the 2022 A.G.M were circulated prior to the meeting along with reports in relation to Finance, Coaching, Course Rating and The Ayrshire Junior Golf League, and an update on the Governance of The Association, which were all discussed and approved at the meeting.
The proposal to retain the Ayrshire Golf Association per capita sum at £2.50, with no rise for the forthcoming year, was passed with a show of hands, while President Gilligan advised the meeting that the Scottish Golf per capita level would remain at £14.50, pending any forthcoming EGM set by Scottish Golf prior to next year's AGM.
Under any other competent business, in response to a question regarding handicapping and course rating, it was confirmed to members that the very successful and well supported Ayrshire Course Rating team, developed under the auspices of The Ayrshire Golf Association and with the excellent work of Mike Hazlewood and Kirk Ramsay, would cease to exist following the A.G.M.. This was a direct result of Scottish Golf directing that all course rating arrangements in Scotland would now be governed centrally, including course visit schedules and organisation and employment of volunteer raters.
Mike Hazlewood confirmed that he was standing down as a Team Leader as a result, which left no team Leader's in the Ayrshire area after the retiral of the two other long standing post holders and the failure of Scottish Golf to progress the appointment of several other individuals suggested as potential post holders.
Mike stated that he would be happy to advise any clubs going forward on course rating matters, in an unofficial capacity, though all enquiries in relation to all course rating and handicapping matters should now be sent directly to Scottish Golf for any advice or decision.
The meeting closed at 20.04 p.m., with a vote of thanks to The Chair.