UNIVERSITY LIFE - USA - UPDATE FROM HANNAH

Dear Iain,

I am just giving you an update of my time out here so far.

While out here I have learnt being an athlete is very high intense. Extremely long days with very few moments you feel like you have nothing to do.

Last Semester, I got off to a good start, settling in at University and playing in 3 tournaments, my first tournament was The Daytona State Lady Falcon Invitational, which was my first tournament representing ERAU I shot, 83 80 for 163 and finished 28th. There were a few nerves playing in this tournament but on the whole i was happy with my performance.

My next tournament was the Guy Harvey Invitational at West Palm Beach, where it was exceptionally hot and humid. Temperatures were soaring! I found the conditions challenging but it was yet another great experience.

My last tournament of the Fall Semester was the SCAD Invitational, in Savannah Georgia. I shot 76 80 and finished 13th.

Every single moment out here is amazing, from waking up at 4:45am sometimes for morning workouts before classes, to practicing until it goes dark, or having to sit in a bus journey for 8 hours.

Even with my schedule and busy days I still try to find time to check the blog now and again and I always see such promising things from the Juniors and I believe in many years to come, more of the Junior Section will be out here as well.

I look forward to what the Season and Semester has to offer. With my first tournament only 2 weeks away practice is back in full swing.

All the best,


Hannah Robb

Great to hear all the news and we all wish Hannah a successful 2014 and hope to see her when she is home later in the year. 

SUPER SATURDAY

Had brilliant fun today. The early morning heavy rain went off and Alex and myself took to the course. I won't mention the score but the look on Alex's face every time I got up and down or holed out from anything from 6 to 20 ft was priceless. He was trying out his new irons for the first time on the course and I was very impressed with his ball striking especially his driving and found myself sometimes up to 50 yds back. Adding a few inches in height over the winter has added another 20 to 30 yds off the tee and I can't wait to see how much progress he will make once he gets used to his new clubs. Great fun and can't wait for the next challenge.                      

1st update for 2014.

Whilst some of you have gone into hibernation some of you have been practicing really hard. We have Kirsty in year 3 of the Scottish Golf Academy programme and Alex in year 1 - both have been working hard on their games and Kirsty has earned a place on the plane to Spain for warm weather training in February. What a result and I know my prediction of having a Scottish player at Strathmore is one step closer.

County coaching at Gleneagles has seen Kirsty being invited into the ladies squad, Amy into the girls through the SGDC programme, Marcus (Under 14), Tod (Under 16) and Michael and Brad (Under 18).

Tod, Marcus and Conor have enrolled again into the Scottish Golf Development Centres programme and I think we will again see huge improvements in their games.

I have also seen quite a few of you on the course, Callum is now a seasoned Winter Leaguer and takes great delight in outscoring his Dad. Hopefully we will see you all again soon.

Alexei entered the Moscow Golf School's simulator competition for over 11's. A +9 in the qualifying round over Bro Balsta, an 18 hole Swedish course was good enough to make the final and 30 juniors played 9 holes over Fairmont. A round containing 7 pars, 1 bogey and a birdie saw Alexei win and get himself and Strathmore off to a flying start.

I attended the Perth and Kinross annual Junior County meeting last night at Craigie Hill and am pleased that my proposal to change the Scratch League to a home and away basis has been ratified.
The Bell trophy for 2014 will see boys playing from Yellow tees instead of White. And there is exciting news of an order of merit event regarding all P&K Junior opens that will this year be called "the race to Kingsbarns" and culminate in the top 12 scratch and 12 handicap qualifiers playing in my opinion "the best links course in the world" in a grand final in October.

Only 15 Juniors have renewed so far so if you could remind your parents that Centre fees and Club subs are due by the 31st January.

I would also like to remind you of the Club Hire Scheme. We already have 2 signed up and a 3rd enquiry so if any of you have outgrown your old clubs and are interested please let me know.

We have also been asked if we would like to twin with the Junior section of Jaeren Golfklubb - Norway.

Finally another honour we have been invited to play the Scottish Under 16 girls in a match at Strathmore to give them a practice round before their Championship. This has now been arranged for Sunday 2nd March first tee time11.45am.

Only January and so much happening. Really excited to see what 2014 brings - with the nights starting to stretch I feel the Leitfie challenge looming and with my last round being a 59 can't wait to see who is first to step up to give it a go !!!