ROUTE 36

Route 36 arrives at Strathmore. This was something Kathryn told me about which was huge in America. I watched the video she sent that featured Rory McIlroy explaining the concept and he admitted that both him and his father agreed that his children would follow this, as it made so much sense. Start with the short game then work back. You begin by playing 9 holes from 25yds and completing this in 36 holes or less. Once completed you move to 50yds then 75yds and finally the full tees. After agreeing this with the Centre and head green keeper Ben Anderson, Dawn and I marked out the course. We decided to use the old tee system so 25yds are Red, 50yds are Yellow and 75yds are White. We intend introducing this on Thursday to our third session of new member coaching to see what happens. I believe this could be something very special. 

HAMISH MCTAVISH CUP

Great turnout for our first Trophy of the season with 9 juniors playing. Louis Purdie had a fantastic gross 82 nett 68 and will reach his first goal of being a single figure player very soon. Archie Puttullo finished 2nd beating Jessica Sievwright into 3rd place with a better back 9. Keegan Fergusson was only a couple of shots back in 4th. 

Great to see these youngsters making so much progress and witnessing their camaraderie and friendships grow. Jessica has joined us for the last two weeks and her confidence has grown immensely. Her ball striking is so pure. On the 7th she was on the back of the green in 2. 

ANOTHER JUNIOR STEPS UP TODAY

Jessica Sievwright who has been attending P&K girls coaching during the winter and practicing  joined us on the course today and what potential. She hit 4 shots to the side of the first green but unfortunately 3 putted. She then hit a huge drive down the second and followed it up with a decent second shot, her chip onto the green was followed by 4 putts and Dawn and I both thought oh no, what a shame, such a good long game but no short game. But oh how she proved us wrong. She had a 5 on three and a great up and down from the bunker on the fifth. A par on six. Unbelievably she was neatly pin high on nine in 2 which is a par 5. She chipped to five foot and just missed her birdie putt. Out in 53 was acceptable but then everything changed. A back nine of 45 was a joy to watch and could have been better. A five on 10 should have been a four with a short putt missed. A six on 12 was excellent, but that was surpassed by a fantastic birdie on 14, her first on Rannaleroch. She followed that up with a great par on 15 where she blocked her tee shot behind the trees but played the sensible shot short of the green and got up and down. Her putting stats were superb. A poor start was followed by by some great putting resulting in a front nine of 21 putts but that was surpassed by an amazing 16 on the back nine. Most people would settle for 37 putts a round but someone playing off a handicap of 27.9 should be so proud of this achievement. With 41 points she won today from Keegan who followed up his success of last week with 38 points. Archie Pattullo was disappointed with his back nine after shooting 37 on the front nine, and so proud of Cammy Galloway who called a penalty shot on himself when incorrectly marking a ball. 

Conan Reid finished 2nd in the Gents White handicap Medal.

At the Helen Holm past juniors Katy Alexander and Megan Ashley are tied 13th and 18th respectively. 

HELEN HOLM SCOTTISH WOMENS OPEN

Great to see two past Strathmore junior girls in the top 20 at the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open. Katy Alexander lies tied 11th with Megan Ashley one shot behind tied 16th. 

NEW MEMBERS AND BEGINNERS COACHING

First night of New members and beginners coaching took place tonight. First to arrive was Jake Taylor, then brothers Wyatt and Oliver Fleming then Mia Baxter who missed the whole of last season through injury. We set up chipping lanes and used them to practice distance control for 10, 20 and 30 yards. We also concentrated on putting with 3 tasks, short putts, long putts and the obstacle challenge which combined both skills. In the second group we had Daniel Alexander, Hugo Lynch, Ollie McLaren and Will McLaren. All youngsters listened to Dawn and myself and quickly improved. We were very impressed by them all and have no doubt we may have unearthed some more future stars. 

Ollie was presented with his 1st and 2nd Certificates tonight and I’m sure more will follow. 

Archie Loudon “on tour” played Kingussie today in the Faldo Futures and qualified again, finishing 2nd again, with a round of 48 with the winner scoring 44. He decided to play the course again and went round twice in 42. His attitude and commitment is exemplary and I believe that he has the game and potential to progress as far as he wants. 

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

Christopher King becomes new member number 13 for 2025. Whilst writing this Logan Symon has just become number 14 !!! 

First Bell Salver league game arranged ✔️

GolfSixes teams and reserves all done ✔️ 

GolfNines - first event played another 3 to go ✔️

FALDO FUTURES

Brechin hosted the Faldo Futures today with Willow Rae winning the girls 7-8 age group and qualifying for the regional final.