THIRD NEW MEMBER JOINS UP FOR 2016

A huge welcome to Conan Reid who becomes our latest recruit. I'm sure he will enjoy being a member and look forward to meeting him soon.

SATURDAY UPDATE

Alex and Tod joined me for a game. Better ball 32 out 28 back - 5 birdies I bogey = 60 not a bad score. Georgia was out on Leitfie with her dad, Marcus played with his grandad, Kirsty and Megan were at their coaches for lessons and Amy should have been at Lorretto's with the Scottish Academy for the weekend but was unwell. Hope she makes a speedy recovery. Hope to see you all out on the course soon.

BRILLIANT NEWS

Delighted to announce Strathmore juniors have attracted their first new members of 2016. Firstly Kirsten Miller who already has a handicap of 34, she is a welcome addition to the section and having seen her play I am sure her handicap will come tumbling down. Secondly is Archie Pattullo who I look forward to meeting soon. 

SCOTTISH GOLF WINTER SERIES FINALE

Monifieth today hosts the last of the Academy's Winter Series and Alex, Amy and Kirsty all head off with confidence high after all their winter practice. Alex and his coach Kevin Hale have been fine tuning his swing. Karen Dallas and Gareth Couzens have both been working with Amy and I have seen a marked improvement all round. Kirsty and her coach Kevin Craggs have also done a lot of work over the winter and having played with her yesterday she is itching to get the season started. 

Megan Ashley had a lesson from Gareth yesterday and when I spoke to him afterwards he was full of praise of how well she was striking the ball and told me that both Megan and Amy had improved tremendously over the winter and he expected great things for the year ahead.

Tod Bannerman is attending the Development Centre at Gleneagles and also P&K coaching and has had to have an extra inch put on his clubs so goodness knows how far he will be hitting the ball now. 

Georgia McKay and Molly Castle joined me a couple of weeks ago to introduce a prospective new girl to the course and I think both of them will be soon have their handicaps and hopefully we will also have a new member. 

With only 7 weeks to go until the season begins I am already getting excited to see what's in store for this year. We are the ONLY Club in Scotland with 3 players in the Academy programme (and I believe it should be 4), 2 Internationalists, current P&K Junior Scratch League Champions, Kirsty is P&K ladies Champion of Champions and P&K Junior Champion, Alex is P&K under 16 Champion but as importantly we have a great bunch of talented kids who love golf and having fun at the same time. Strathmore Juniors are just simply the best. 

2015 SCOTTISH ORDER OF MERIT

Girls under 18

Kirsty Brodie 12th
Megan Ashley and Amy Mitchell tied 38th

Boys under 18

Brad Bannerman 40th
Alex Simpson 63rd

Brad has now left the junior ranks but it will be interesting to see how high the others climb this year - I expect at least one top ten but watch this space - just over 7 weeks to go before it serious competitions start again !!!!!!