SATURDAY GOLF - WE NEED YOU

With the forcast 1% and SUNNY hopefully Amy and Josh will get a bit of company tomorrow. Be at the putting green by 9.55am for a 10am start. This will be the only organised event tomorrow as I have a singles tie to play in the afternoon.   

YES IT DID GET BETTER - WHAT A FANTASTIC END TO A BRILLIANT SEASON

Tonight we attended the Spirit of Youth awards at Perth Concert Hall. I had made 2 nominations - one for Strathmore Juniors in the Team Section and another for Kirsty Brodie in the Individual Section.  I knew we were finalists in both Sections and had made 2 videos as nominee and couldn't wait to see how we fared. The team was up first and we were runners up to Jeanfield Girls football club. Kirsty was next up in the 12-15 Individual Sports Achievement Award.
Note from Dawn, this video may take some time to download depending on your Internet connection. To watch it at its best press the pause button and allow it to download (watch the bar move the end) then press play and enjoy!!






Congratulations to Kirsty - well deserved. Thanks go to Perth & Kinross Youth Council for organising and running this event. What a finale to our season - and yet another first for Strathmore Juniors.

I don't know what we can do next season to top this years successes but I'm sure the Juniors will no doubt exceed that they have achieved this year. As Junior Convenor I can only thank the kids for their support and efforts

Saturday Morning saw Josh and Alex take on Amy and I in a Pinehurst and Alex showed his sportsmanship by giving us a half on the 7th. For such a gesture we reciprocated on the last hole for a very well deserved half match. Alex - you are a gentleman and a true sportsman - respect.

Afternoon saw a very competitive Texas Scramble take place and Alex, Brad, Kirsty and I were pipped by 4 (lucky) shots by Dawn, Janet, Michael and Tod - gross score 56!!! no wonder I expect the unexpected.   

ANNUAL EMAIL ADDRESS UPDATE

Could all parents/guardians of our Juniors please email their current email addresses to iain@ianddinsurance.co.uk so I can keep you all informed of forthcoming events.

Thank you     

JUST WHEN I THOUGHT THINGS COULDN'T GET ANY BETTER

Tonight we had the P&K Gents AGM and prize giving where Strathmore Juniors past and present picked up their rewards. 2012 Scratch League Champions, Bell Trophy runners up and the Under 14 Coaching Medal Champion with past Junior Captain Rory Tinker also picking up 2 senior prizes.

To put the icing on the cake it was announced that Brad Bannerman and Michael Brodie have both been awarded P&K Gleneagles Scholarships. They become only the 2nd and 3rd Strathmore boys to be given this award following in the footsteps of 2011 P&K County Stroke Play Champion Allan Easton. Only 4 scholarships are awarded each year and for Strathmore to take 2 of the spots is amazing but then I was informed that Kirsty Brodie had become the 4th girl following Megan Aird, Emily Aird and Hannah Robb to be awarded the same scholarship by the P&K Ladies.

3 Strathmore Juniors awarded County Scholarships in one season, what an accolade to our section. 3 out of a possible 8 scholarships available unbelievable. The same 3 players had Strathmore Scholarships last year which provided the stepping stone from Club to County. Well done and congratulations to all 3, I'm sure they will all benefit from the opportunity granted to them.

With tomorrow's Awards ceremony still to come can this season get any better ?           

COUNTDOWN BEGINS

2 more sleeps until Thursdays County AGM and prize giving (7.30pm at Craigiehill). I think we will only be missing 1 team member for this and the following nights Spirit of Youth Awards (7pm for 7.30 at Perth Concert Hall)

I am really looking forward to both events where all the hard work and effort everyone has put in is rewarded. As the Junior Scratch League Champions of Perth and Kinross we should enjoy the experience which combined with our Bell Trophy Runners Up helped us become the most successful Junior Section in P&K ahead of Alyth, Auchterarder, Blairgowrie, Craigie Hill, Crieff, Kinross, Milnathort, Muckhart and Pitlochry to name but a few.

Dress code is Boys team shirts and Black trousers.Girls team shirts with Black trousers or skirts.

My own celebrations start tomorrow with a Master Blender trip to Glengoyne Distillery where I get to sample and make my own bottle of Whisky (last years Xmas present from my daughter Alana eventually being used)  Followed on Thursday playing in the Midlands Alliance at Ballumbie so with work to fit in as well my days will flash by - hope yours does too.

          

PINEHURST - REVENGE

Alex and Dawn took revenge for last weeks defeat in the points game with a 3&1 win against Jackie and myself. The format this week was Pinehurst - each player tees off and then they play their partners ball and then decide which ball to finish the hole with playing alternate shots. Can't wait for next week and what format we use. 

OH SO CLOSE TO ANOTHER 1st

After a rather late night following the Club AGM and prize giving, I did oversleep, but did make the 10am tee time on Leitfie. Michael, Josh and Amy all played really well but the highlight of the round came on the 5th. Both Josh and Amy put their tee shots through the green so I asked them both to take 1 club less and try again. Josh hit a superb shot and it looked bang on line but finished 4 foot short of the pin. Amy was next up and her tee shot was all over the flag and when her ball hit the pin we all held our breath to see where the ball would finish --------- 18 inches to the right. High 5's ensued followed by more high 5's when Amy holed out for her 1st ever birdie. I think that smile will take a few days to subside !!! Josh was the todays winner and I see a great future for all 3 - well done.

Have some of our Juniors went into hibernation ????  Saturday mornings 10am on the wee course or 12.30pm on the big course. Come and join in and have some FUN !! Every week we will play something different, so far - donkey, texas scrambles, match play, stroke play, greensomes, pinehurst and the points game. If anyone fancies a game on a Sunday just give me a call.               

SPIRIT OF YOUTH AWARDS

Tickets for the nominees have arrived, the excitement levels will start to rise as the event gets closer.

GOLF

Game
Of
Lifelong
Friendships

SATURDAY MORNING PINEHURST THEN SOME MORE

Michael and Josh paired up against Amy and Luke and won 4&2. Some great shots were played and a new format was enjoyed by all. In the afternoon Alex joined Dawn and I to play the points game. 6 points are available on each hole eg all players have the same score = 2 points each, 1 player wins the hole and the other 2 half = 4 points and 1 point each , 1 player wins the hole and 1 player is 2nd = 4 points and 2 points. Result Iain 40 points Alex & Dawn 34 each.       

AGM SLIDE SHOW

Sorry I have taken so long! But below is a slideshow of our AGM Prizegiving...enjoy! If you would like any of the photos emailed to you please let me know

GOOD NEWS FROM ALEXEI IN ZURICH

Alexei eventually got his game of golf ! Email I received from Graeme today

Iain - success - thanks to your email - finally got on the Otelfingen course today. Cheers, Graeme.

STRATHMORE MEMBER JOHN CUNNINGHAM TO THE RESCUE

Just to say thanks John , superb service. Dawn has promised not to drop the lap top again but if she does we know who to call Microwizard http://www.microwizard.org.uk/index.html . Telephone 07934689060 or 01250 876249. I would like to recommend John's service to all members who may encounter computer breakdowns.

NEVER A DULL MOMENT AS STRATHMORE JUNIOR CONVENOR

Today I had another first. Alexei's dad telephoned me from Zurich to ask me to forward an email to Unterengstringen Golf Club to confirm his handicap so he could play.  

HUGE THANK YOU

We started off with a Texas Scramble on Leitfie. New Junior Captain Brad Bannerman with his team of Marcus Ryan, Jude Archibald, Josh Edington and Michael Davie won with a 2 under par 27 with birdies on 4 & 5. We then held the AGM and Prize Giving and it will be one I will remember forever and not be allowed to forget either. Dawn had made a video of photographs taken over the past 4 years and set it to music -  We are Young, Simply the Best and We are the Champions. Although I had already seen it, watching the kids seeing themselves through the years was quite emotional. When I started my report I was fine but as I got towards the end the pride I have for what we have achieved over the last few years took over and through tears I had to ask Jackie to finish my report.
To my surprise I was then presented with the most unbelievable gifts from the Juniors and their parents. A specially commissioned book of photographs of the Juniors during the last 4 years with me playing golf in my Kilt on the front, a dinner for 2 at The Lands of Loyal, a bag of home made Chocolate Truffles and a specially designed and signed card to the BEST JUNIOR CONVENOR IN THE WORLD. I will admit looking through the book again brought a tear to my eye and when I opened the card I'm afraid I was off again !!!! I cannot thank everyone enough for these amazing gifts and it makes me feel so proud to be appreciated in such a way. As one parent said to me afterwards "it just goes to show how much it means to you" With only the Club AGM, County AGM and the Spirit of Youth Awards to go think I should contact Kleenex for sponsorship!

I am delighted Callum Ewan has accepted Brad's invitation to be Junior Vice Captain and wish them both the best in their roles for 2012/13.

Thanks to Dawn, Jackie and Frank for their assistance, Strathmore Golf Center for their commitment to the Juniors and the Gents and Ladies sections for their support.