AYRSHIRE SCRATCH LEAGUES - Twenty clubs entered as competition format changes

Twenty member clubs have entered the 2024 Ayrshire Scratch Leagues, with the format of the event undergoing some changes in 2024.

For the 2024 competition the top two leagues will increase from six teams to seven teams, and clubs will no longer play off on a home and away basis, but will be allocated either a home or away fixture against each of the other teams in the league by a random draw.

In 2024 there will be no play offs, with two teams being automatically promoted, and two teams automatically relegated between the three leagues.

As a consequence of the changes the 2024 competition will have two leagues of seven teams and one league of six teams.

2024 AYRSHIRE SCRATCH LEAGUES

DIVISION 1 (7 teams)

Royal Troon, Kilmarnock Barassie, Largs, Irvine, Loudoun, Prestwick St Cuthbert, Ballochmyle

Bottom two teams relegated to Division 2 the following season.

DIVISION 2 (7 teams)

Turnberry, Caprington, Ayr Belleisle, Troon Portland, Troon St Meddans, Ardeer, West Kilbride

Top two teams promoted to Division 1 and bottom two teams relegated to Division 3 the following season.

DIVISION 3 (6 teams)

Girvan, Prestwick St Nicholas, Irvine Ravenspark, Troon Welbeck, Rowallan Castle, Redburn

Top two teams promoted to Division 2 for the following season.

All league matches to be completed by the 31^st of August 2024

Relevant details will be distributed to nominated club representatives in the near future.

AYRSHIRE FOURBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - draw made for 2024 competition

The draw has been made for the 2024 Ayrshire Fourball Championship, wit pairings from forty one member clubs taking part this year.

Play will continue throughout the season, with the final scheduled to take place during Finals Day at Ballochmyle on the first of September.

The draw for the opening two rounds is:-

PRESIDENT'S PUTTER - Thirty five clubs chase handicap club team knockout championship crown

Thirty five member clubs featured in the draw for the President's Putter competition, which was made recently.

With just three first round ties to be played, defending champions Auchenharvie 88 were drawn at home to Ardeer in round two.

The draw for the firast two rounds of the 2024 competition is:-

AYRSHIRE WOMEN'S HANDICAP LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP - Royal Troon boost entry for 2024 competition

Royal Troon have entered the 2024 Ayrshire Women's Handicap League Championship, boosting the entry to nine member clubs this season.

Clubs will play home and away matches throughout the season, with all sectional matches due to be completed by the 4th of August.

There will be two qualifying sections, and the draw made recently was :-

SECTION A - Largs, Kilmarnock Barassie, Ballochmyle, Prestwick St Cuthbert, Loudoun

SECTION B - Caprington, Ayr Belleisle, Troon Welbeck, Royal Troon

In a change to the latter stages this year, the two two teams in each section will qualify for a single match semi final in which the top team in section A will play the runner up in Section B and the top team in section B will host the runner up in section A.

The semi final winners will then play off for the championship on Finals Day at ballochmyle on the 1st of September

AYRSHIRE MEN'S CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS TROPHY - 47 bid for place in final at Royal Troon

47 players will contest the 2024 Ayrshire Men's Champion of Champions Trophy competition, chasing a place in the final at Royal Troon on the 9th of August 2024.

The draw for this years championship was made recently, and details will be forwarded to all competitors soon. The holder Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle) faces a first round match away to George Paton (Troon Merchants) in his defence of the trophy.

The draw for the opening two rounds of the 2024 event is:-

GARY BRYDEN MEMORIAL SALVER - 22 clubs chase scratch club team knockout crown

Twenty two member clubs will contest the 2024 scratch club team knockout competition for the Gary Bryden Memorial Salver.

In the draw made recently, defending champions face a first round match in their defence, at home to Girvan.

Details wiill be forwarded to nominated club representatives in the near future.

The draw for the first two rounds of the 2024 competition is:- 

AYRSHIRE MEN'S HANDICAP LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP - Record entry of 32 clubs to contest the 2024 event

A record entry of 32 clubs will contest the 2024 Ayrshire Men's Handicap League Championship, in eight qualifying sections, the draw for which has been made.

The clubs will play home and away matches in the qualifying sections throughout the season, with the top team in each section progressing to the knockout quarter final stages.

The draw for the eight qualifying sections is :-

SECTION 1 - Alton, Troon Portland, Routenburn, Tam O Shanter

SECTION 2 - Irvine, Ayr Dalmilling, Golf South Ayrshire, Kilmarnock Barassie

SECTION 3 - Wallacetown, Ayr Seafield, Ardeer, Troon St Meddans

SECTION 4 - Moorpark, Ballochmyle, Royal Troon, Annanhill

SECTION 5 - Prestwick St Cuthbert, Redburn, North Beach, Caprington

SECTION 6 - West Kilbride, Prestwick St Nicholas, Kilbirnie Place, Largs

SECTION 7 - Rowallan Castle, Troon Welbeck, Stewarton, Auchinharvie 88

SECTION 8 - Loudoun, Portmann, Ayr Belleisle, Irvine Ravenspark

All qualifying section matches will be completed by the 14th of July when the championship will progress to the quarter final knockout stages:

The quarter final line up (played home and away) to be completed by the 4th of  August will be:

1 - Winner of League 4 Vs Winner of League 1

2 – Winner of League 5 Vs Winner of League 8

3 – Winner of League 6 Vs Winner of league 2

4 – Winner of league 3 Vs Winner of League 7

The semi-final line up, to be completed by the 25th of August, will be:-

Winner of tie 1 Vs Winner of tie 2

Winner of tie 3 Vs Winner of tie 4

The Final will be played on the 1st of September at Ballochmyle

Relevant details will be forwarded to appointed club representatives in due course

AYRSHIRE WOMENS CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS TROPHY - Draw for 2024 competition

The draw has been made for the 2024 Ayrshire Women's Champion of Champions Trophy competition, with the entry boosted to 10 players for the second annual championship.

The players will play 18 hole scratch matchplay knockout ties throughut the season, culminating in the final over the championship course at Royal Troon on the 9th of August.

The draw for the opening two rounds of the 2024 championship, details of which will be sent to the competitors soon, is:-

SCOTTISH GOLF - Three Ayrshire Golf Association Executive members appointed to posts with the national body

Three serving members of the Ayrshire Golf Association executive have been appointed to posts within the national body for the forthcoming season.

John Rushbury (Royal Troon), Association President from 2016 - 2018 will serve for a second successive year as Scotland Men's Team manager in 2024.

Immediate past President Scott Gilchrist (Loudoun), who managed the Ayrshire Boys' team to successive West of Scotland league titles in 2018 and 2019, has been selected by Scottishgolf  as an Under 18 team selector for the forthcoming season, while Executive member Liz Keohone (Louodun) will take up a chaperone post within the national organisation. 

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION ANNUAL DINNER - Last call for tickets for the 2024 event

There are only three days remaining for purchase of tickets to the 2024 Ayrshire Golf Association Annual Dinner & Presentation of Prizes, with final numbers required to be submitted by Thursday the 15th f February.

The annual dinner, to be held this year at the Carlton Hotel, Prestwick on Friday the 23rd of February 2024, gives the opportunity to honour the winning teams and individuals in Ayrshire Golf Association events in 2023.

Guest speaker this year is former UEFA international football referee John Rowbotham.

Tickets for the event are priced at £30, which covers a three course meal and coffee, and are available from the Area Secretary, Alasdair Malcolm, who can be contacted by email at 

ayrshire.golf@btinternet.com 

to reserve spaces., which will be available until Thursday the 15th of February. 

The dinner is open to any member, male or female, of Ayrshire Golf Association member clubs to attend.

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION ANNUAL DINNER - Spaces still available for 2024 Annual Dinner on the 23rd of February.

Tickets for the 2024 Ayrshire Golf Association Annual Dinner & Presentation of Prizes, to be held at the Carlton Hotel, Prestwick on Friday the 23rd of February 2024, are still available for purchase.

The Annual dinner gives the opportunity to honour the winning teams and individuals in Ayrshire Golf Association events in 2023.

Guest speaker this year is former UEFA international football referee John Rowbotham.

Tickets for the event are priced at £30, which covers a three course meal and coffee, and are available from the Area Secretary, Alasdair Malcolm, who can be contacted by email at 

ayrshire.golf@btinternet.com 

to reserve spaces., which will be available on a first come first served basis.

The dinner is open to any member, male or female, of Ayrshire Golf Association member clubs to attend.

THE AYRSHIRE JUG - Spaces still available for mixed greensomes knockout competition

Inaugural winners in 2023
Billy & Gillian Pollock (Skelmorlie)

There are still places available for pairings to sign up for the 2024 Ayrhsire mixed greensomes knockout competition, for The Ayrshire Jug.

Entries close at the end of February, or when the first 64 entries are received, whichever comes first.

Entry is open to pairings of one male and one female member who are both members of clubs affiliated to The Ayrshire Golf Association. The players do not need to be members of the same club.

Entry is £10 per couple and the entry form should be available through club secretaries. It can also be downloade via the link on te left of this page, under the 'Entry Forms' heading, or can be obtained by contacting the Area Secretary, Alasdair Malcolm, by email at ayrshire.golf@btinternet.com

You can also access the entry form via the link below

2024 Mixed greensomes Knockout - entry form

Get your entries in soon to avoid disappointment.

The list of entries received to date, 7th of February 2024, is:-

MIXED GREENSOMES KNOCKOUT 

1.       Jamie Bryant (Irvine) & Linda Bryant (Irvine)

2.       Carol Moffat (Caprington) & James McGhee (Loudoun)

3.       Pauleen Cameron (Ayr Belleisle Ladies) & Bob Cameron (Ayr Belleisle)

4.       Gilliam Pollock (Skelmorlie) & Billy Pollock (Skelmorlie)

5.       Alan Pole (Prestwick St Nicholas) & Susan Pole (Prestwick St Nicholas)

6.       Graham Hutton (Skelmorlie) & Alyson Hutton (Skelmorlie)

7.        ….. (Rowallan Castle) & ……..Rowallan Castle)

8.       Alison Malcolm (Prestwick St Cuthbert) & Andrew Gordon (Ayr Belleisle)

9.       Catherine A. Malcolm (Prestwick St Cuthbert) & Alasdair J Malcolm (Prestwick St Cuthbert)

10.   Stuart Dunlop (Kilmarnock Barassie) & Sandra Dunlop (Kilmarnock Barassie)

11.   Gordon Neill (Prestwick St Nicholas) & Elizabeth Neill (Prestwick St Nicholas)

12.   Angela Hughes (Irvine) & Douglas Gillespie (West Kilbride)

13.   Fran Hadden (Kilmarnock Barassie) & David Hadden (Kilmarnock Barassie)

14.   George Meikle (Kilmarnock Barassie) & Grace Meikle (Kilmarnock Barassie)

15.   Liz Keohone (Loudoun) & John Keohone (Loudoun)

16.   Ken Goodwin (Prestwick) & Elizabeth Goodwin (Ayr Belleisle Ladies)

17.   Alistair Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) & Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie)

18.   Neil Kennedy (Loudoun) & Sheila Kennedy (Loudoun)

19.   Jean Tannock (Troon Welbeck) & Rab Dalziel (Troon Welbeck)

20.   Alistair Belford (Prestwick St Nicholas) & Jane Belford (Prestwick St Nicholas)

21.   Kevin Flack (Skelmorlie) & Janet Harkness (Skelmorlie)

22.   Joy Currie (Loudoun) & David Currie (Loudoun)

23.   Margaret Dalziel (Loudoun) & John Dalziel (Loudoun)

24.   Jean Phillips (Ballochmyle) & Ralph Griffiths (Ballochmyle)

25.   Andrew Gilligan (Royal Troon) & Debbie watt (Ayr Belleisle Ladies)

26.   Irene Hodge (Largs) & David Hodge (Largs)

27.   Jean Capes (Largs) & Brain Fulton (Largs)

28.   William Fleming (Ballochmyle) & Joan McMurdo (Ballochmyle)

 

AYRSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION EXTENDED COMPETITIONS - Four days left for clubs to enter

There are just four days left for clubs to enter the extended Ayrshire Golf Association competitions for the 2024 season.

Entry forms for the various events were emailed to club secretaries several weeks ago.

If any club secretary has not received the forms, or needs further copies, they should contact the Area Secretary, Alasdair Malcolm, by email at ayrshire.golf@btinternet.com.

Entries received to date, Wednesday the 7th of february, are:-

MENS CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS TROPHY

1.       JOHN SHANKS (Irvine)

2.       GEORGE PATON (Troon Merchants)

3.       CRAIG HAMILTON (Holder)

4.       JAMIE RALSTON (Moorpark)

5.       JASON BUTLER (Troon St Meddans)

6.       WILLIAM FLEMING (Ballochmyle)

7.       JOHN R. ANDERSON (Skelmorlie)

8.       ROBBIE STEWART (Troon Portland)

9.       BRIAN McGARRITY (Drongan)

10.   CAMERON GRAY (West Kilbride

11.   HENRY ROCKS (Irvine Ravenspark)

12.   IAIN GIRVAN (Muirkirk)

13.   SAM FINDLATER (Braehead

14.   RYAN MORRISON (Ayr Seafield)

15.   BRIAN GIBSON (Rowallan Castle)

16.   GAVIN CHESNEY (Kilbirnie Place)

17.   STUART MILLER (Kilmarnock Barassie)

18.   AIDAN LONG (Ayr Belleisle)

19.   THOMAS FREER (Alton)

20.   JAMES McINTYRE (Redburn)

21.   BARRY McDONNELL (Stewarton)

22.   ANDY MACDONALD (Auchenharvie 88)

23.   ANDREW MARSHALL (Prestwick St Nicholas)

24.   MICHAEL SMYTH (Royal Troon)

25.   KENNETH DOCHERTY (Routenburn)

26.   KEVIN CAMPBELL (Glacier)

27.   COLIN GOUDIE (Ayrshire Men’s Strokeplay Champion)

28.   SCOTT CAMPBELL (Turnberry)

29.   ROBERT ADAMS (Abbotsford)

30.   DAVID PRATT (Annanhill)

31.   DARREN YOUNG (Crosshouse)

32.   DENIS TAGGART (Malletsheugh)

33.   STEVEN McEWAN (Caprington)

34.   KEVIN THOMAS (Ayrshire Men’s Matchplay Champion)

35.   SCOTT MARTIN (Troon Welbeck)

36.   ALAN SMEETON (Tam O Shanter)

37.   STEVEN SMITH (Loudoun)

38.   CALUM NAIRN (North Beach)

39.   ANDREW McCONNELL (Portmann)

40.   JAMIE MONAGHAN (Girvan)

41.   CHRISTOPHER HEWITSON (Wallacetown)

42.   JOHN TANNER (Prestwick Centre)

43.   MICHAEL MAIN (Largs)

44.   JOE McSORLEY (Prestwick St Cuthbert) 

 

WOMAN’S CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS TROPHY 

1.       ALYSON HUNTER (Ballochmyle)

2.       JENNIFER BELL (West Kilbride)

3.       PAULINE PATRICK (Irvine)

4.       GILLIAN HENDERSON (Ayr Belleisle)

5.       DEBBIE WATT (Holder)

6.       AUDREY THOMPSON (Ayrshire Women’s Strokeplay Champion)

7.       LIZ KEOHONE (Loudoun)

8.       CATHERINE MALCOLM (Prestwick St Cuthbert)

9.       TRACY MACPHERSON (Troon Welbeck)

 

AYRSHIRE FOURBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 

1.       IRVINE (David Irish & partner)

2.       MOORPARK (Gordon Brown & James McGill)

3.       TROON ST. MEDDANS (John Carmichael & Phil Laycock)

4.       BALLOCHMYLE (Ian Kelly & Fraser Maxwell)

5.       SKELMORLIE (Stuart McVey & James Ward)

6.       TROON PORTLAND (Brian Wilson & Fraser McCall)

7.       DRONGAN (Scott Linwood & Iain McKinlay)

8.       WEST KILBRIDE (Carter Lothian & Matthew O’Sullivan)

9.       IRVINE RAVENSPARK (Ally Mair & Joe Boyd)

10.   MUIRKIRK (Iain Girvan & Alex Patrick)

11.   BRAEHEAD (Brian Alexander & Franny Donaghy)

12.   AYR SEAFIELD (James Cameron & Gordon Jamieson)

13.   ROWALLAN CASTLE (Graham Foster & Steven Grant)

14.   KILBIRNIE PLACE (Andrew Blackwood & Stephen Blackwood)

15.   KILMARNOCK BARASSIE (Cameron Hill & Fraser Robertson)

16.   AYR BELLEISLE (David Low & Des Brown)

17.   REDBURN (Tam Caddis & Duncan Jamieson)

18.   THE CHASE (Dougie Beattie & Scott Cassidy)

19.   STEWARTON (Barrie McDonnell & Ronnie Watters)

20.   ALTON (Matthew Blakeley & Thomas Reid)

21.   AUCHENHARVIE 88 (Stevie Hay & Brian Robertson)

22.   PRESTWICK ST NICHOLAS (George Grierson & Blair Henderson)

23.   ROUTENBURN (Stuart Reid & Steven Gallacher)

24.   GLACIER (Steven Barr & Thomas Gibson)

25.   ABBOTSFORD (Michael McArthur & Eric Armour)

26.   ANNANHILL (Scott Goldie & Alan Purvis)

27.   CROSSHOUSE (Edward Woods & Michael McCabe)

28.   GOLF SOUTH AYRSHIRE (Kieron Gallagher & Bruce Harris)

29.   MALLETSHEUGH (Mick Savage & John Cairney)

30.   CAPRINGTON (Steven Murray & Andrew Watt)

31.   TROON WELBECK (Gary Burgess & David McCulloch)

32.   TAM O SHANTER (John Robertson Jr. & Colin Garrett)

33.   LOUDOUN (Allan Gray & Stuart Gray)

34.   NORTH BEACH (Scott McNeill & Calum Nairn)

35.   PORTMANN (Alan Miller & Daniel Ross)

36.   WALLACETOWN (Jamie Clark & Allan Dunlop)

37.   PRESTWICK CENTRE (Danny Chilton & Daniel Sharpe)

38.   LARGS (David MacPherson & Fraser MacLachlan)

39.   PRESTWICK ST CUTHBERT (David Brown & David Clelland)

 

AYRSHIRE SCRATCH LEAGUES 

1.       IRVINE

2.       TROON ST. MEDDANS

3.       BALLOCHMYLE

4.       TROON PORTLAND

5.       WEST KILBRIDE

6.       IRVINE RAVENSPARK

7.       ROWALLAN CASTLE

8.       KILMARNOCK BARASSIE

9.       AYR BELLEISLE

10.   REDBURN

11.   PRESTWICK ST NICHOLAS

12.   ROYAL TROON

13.   TURNBERRY

14.   CAPRINGTON

15.   TROON WELBECK

16.   LOUDOUN

17.   GIRVAN

18.   LARGS

19.   PRESTWICK ST CUTHBERT 

 

GARY BRYDEN MEMORIAL SALVER – Scratch club team knockout 

1.       TROON ST. MEDDANS

2.       BALLOCHMYLE

3.       SKELMORLIE

4.       TROON PORTLAND

5.       WEST KILBRIDE

6.       IRVINE RAVENSPARK

7.       ROWALLAN CASTLE

8.       KILBIRNIE PLACE

9.       KILMARNOCK BARASSIE

10.    PRESTWICK ST NICHOLAS

11.   AYR BELLEISLE

12.   REDBURN

13.   ROYAL TROON

14.   TURNBERRY

15.   CAPRINGTON

16.   TROON WELBECK

17.   LOUDOUN

18.   GIRVAN

19.   LARGS

20.   PRESTWICK ST CUTHBERT 

 

AYRSHIRE MEN’S HANDICAP LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP 

1.       MOORPARK

2.       TROON ST. MEDDANS

3.       BALLOCHMYLE

4.       TROON PORTLAND

5.       WEST KILBRIDE

6.       IRVINE RAVENSPARK

7.       AYR SEAFIELD

8.       ROWALLAN CASTLE

9.       KILBIRNIE PLACE

10.   KILMARNOCK BARASSIE

11.   AYR BELLEISLE

12.   STEWARTON

13.   AUCHENHARVIE 88

14.   ALTON

15.   REDBURN

16.   PRESTWICK ST NICHOLAS

17.   ROYAL TROON

18.   ROUTENBURN

19.   ANNANHILL

20.   GOLF SOUTH AYRSHIRE

21.   CAPRINGTON

22.   TROON WELBECK

23.   TAM O SHANTER

24.   LOUDOUN

25.   NORTH BEACH

26.   PORTMANN

27.   WALLACETOWN

28.   LARGS

29.   PRESTWICK ST CUTHBERT 

 

AYRSHIRE WOMAN’S HANDICAP LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP 

1.       BALLOCHMYLE

2.       KILMARNOCK BARASSIE

3.       CAPRINGTON

4.       LOUDOUN

5.       LARGS

6.       PRESTWICK ST CUTHBERT

7.       ROYAL TROON

8.       TROON WELBECK

PRESIDENT’S PUTTER – Handicap club team knockout

1.       MOORPARK

2.       TROON ST. MEDDANS

3.       BALLOCHMYLE

4.       SKELMORLIE

5.       TROON PORTLAND

6.       DRONGAN

7.       WEST KILBRIDE

8.       IRVINE RAVENSPARK

9.       BRAEHEAD

10.   AYR SEAFIELD

11.   ROWALLAN CASTLE

12.   KILBIRNIE PLACE

13.   KILMARNOCK BARASSIE

14.   AYR BELLEISLE

15.   ALTON

16.   REDBURN

17.   THE CHASE

18.   STEWARTON

19.   AUCHENHARVIE 88

20.   PRESTWICK ST NIICHOLAS

21.   ROYAL TROON

22.   ABBOTSFORD

23.   ANNANHILL

24.   GOLF SOUTH AYRSHIRE

25.   CAPRINGTON

26.   TROON WELBECK

27.   TAM O SHANTER

28.   LOUDOUN

29.   NORTH BEACH

30.   WALLACETOWN

31.   LARGS

32.   PRESTWICK ST CUTHBERT