QUADRANGLE DAY 2

Scotland lost to Ireland 8.5 v 3.5 and now need to beat undefeated Netherlands convincingly and hope Wales can get a result against Ireland to have any hope of retaining their trophy.

QUADRANGLE DAY 1

Scotland took on Wales in their opening match in defence of their trophy. Although Alex and Rowan Carey lost out by 1 hole in the foursomes and with the score standing at 2-2 at lunch, he was sent out first and showed what a competitor he is by winning 3&2 and inspiring the team to a 7&5 win. He was 3 under par after 16 - impressive stuff. Great start and Scotland sit proudly in 1st place. 

BUSY WEEKEND COMING UP

Whilst Alex is off on International duty it's the start of the County season with the P&K stroke play taking place at Strathmore on Saturday with Kirsty, Tod, Megan, Amy and Conor all playing. Then on Sunday the u14 Coaching Medal takes place at Blairgowrie with new member Kirsten Miller playing.

I have nearly finalised arranging our Scratch League and Bell Trophy matches and will publish the schedule within the next few days. 

I am also needing to sharpen up on my short game and putting so if anybody fancies their chances in a game of Donkey or a chipping contest then get in touch. 

FINISHED TIED 4th

Kirsty will be able to take a huge amount of positives from this weekend. Her final round included 5 birdies but 3 holes spoiled her score, but now to have finished 4th in the first two Scottish Girls events of the season will give her tremendous encouragement knowing that she is competing at the highest level and giving a great account of herself. Well done Kirsty, great start to the season and plenty more great scores to follow. New exact handicap 4.3 personal best !!!!

MORE OF THE SAME WOULD DO NICELY

Best wishes to Kirsty who tees off at 10.24 today in the final round of the Scottish Junior Tour u18, she was delighted with the way she played yesterday and is going there with a very positive mental attitude. Her consistency yesterday was key to her great scoring. The 9th hole must be her favourite as she eagled it in both rounds. I will leave Kirsty to explain how to do it - "On the first round I hit a great drive then hit a 5 iron to 20 foot and holed the putt. Then on the second round I like Skied my drive then smashed a three wood to 67 yards and approach shot with one bounce straight in the hole for my second eagle!!"

KNEW SHE WOULD DO STRATHMORE PROUD

Kirsty confirmed her early season form with a second round 77 which places her 3rd overall but only 5 shots off the lead 

KIRSTY'S STARTING HER SEASON IN A POSITIVE MANNER

After the 1st round at Forrester Park this morning she finds herself in 2nd position. After a slow start a superb eagle on the 9th pulled things back and a very steady back nine of only one over par leaves her in  great shape for the afternoon round. 

SEASON 2016 OFFICIALLY STARTS TODAY

Scottish Junior Tour u18, 26th-27th March. Forrester Park Golf Resort hosts this 54 hole event. 36 holes are played today with Kirsty teeing off at 9.27am and 14.12pm. The top 10 players making the cut play the final round tomorrow.

Scotland u16 Quadrangular, 30th March-1st April. Templepatrick Golf Club Belfast host this years event between Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland and Wales. Alex will be attempting with his team mates to retain the trophy they won last year.

Scottish Boys Amatuer Championship, 4th-9th April. Murcar Links hosts this match play event.

Tod plays John Bisset, Pollock on Monday at 13.37pm in match 51and Alex plays John Cowan, Pitlochry on Tuesday at 11.41am in match 111.

Scottish Girls Open Championship 6th-8th April. Strathmore host this 54 hole stroke play event. Top 60 and ties make the cut after 36 holes. Kirsty tees off on the 1st at 12.40pm with Megan teeing off on the 10th at 12.55pm. Amy is 3rd reserve. 

I send my best wishes to all our players taking part in these International and National competitions and know our players will do their best to represent Strathmore. 

STRATHMORE JUNIORS REACHES NEW HEIGHTS

The father of one of Alex's Scotland team mates is a very successful business man and he decided to organise a practice round for the two of them in Belfast before they head there next week with the rest of the team. He was chauffeured to a private plane which flew them to and from the venue.  Both boys will benefit from mapping the course and will give them a heads up on 2 of the other teams. Our juniors  are experiencing the life styles of the tour professionals and it raises the bar a few more notches and I believe that someday in the not too distant future we will have a player making that transition. 

NOW THE FUN BEGINS

Just back from Lanzarote and raring to go. Dawn and I went out for 9 holes tonight and was delighted to see Megan out playing in front of us. Got home messaged Alex and he's buzzing - off to Ireland for a practice round on Thursday before going back next week to represent Scotland again in the u16 Quads. He feels his game is just about there and was self critical about his chipping which surprised me as he has one of the best short games I have ever witnessed !!! Spoke with Kirsty tonight and delighted to announce her self confidence after last weeks score has now provided her with a platform to launch her season and I believe that will be the catalyst that can take her to another level - watch this space. Amy and Megan had played on Saturday and both played really well and scored well. I am now busy trying to finalise our Scratch League fixtures and Bell Trophy match - which is a nightmare with so much going on for our players but I will get there. 

I now want to get our next group of players sorted with handicaps as the full course is now OPEN and can't wait to get started. 

KEEP PRACTICING

With the season just around the corner thought I would go to Lanzarote for some warm weather practice. Narrow fairways, rather hard and bumpy. 

See you all very soon. 

MATURITY BEYOND THEIR YEARS

On Sunday Amy, Kirsty and Alex played in the final of the Scottish Academy Winter Series at the Jubilee course St Andrews. Although I am away on holiday I was still keen to hear how they all got on and sent each of them a message, the responses I got really made me feel great and appreciated. The success of our junior section is built round kids being able to learn to play golf and have fun. To respect each other and be part of a team and to progress individually as far as they want to in the sport. Amy, as always, was first to respond, she was pleased with her front nine but disappointed in her back nine but told me she'd had bunker problems and practice was required and we've have already agreed to work on that. I have since looked at her card which she omitted to tell me about the 4 birdies and that 3 of them were on the par 5's ! Having played in her buffer she is keen to improve, has identified a weakness and wants to solve it. Next reply was from Kirsty " shot 2 over 76 , really happy " and so she should be. Again looking at the scores she finished 4th in the Girls and got a 0.3 cut in her handicap. This I know will give her confidence a huge boost going into the season. Finally a philosophical Alex responded after playing to his buffer "Game is in really great shape, holing putts, striking it really well, some silly course management, but other than a few school boy errors, I played pretty solid" Then he followed it up by telling me he had been selected again to represent Scotland under 16's in Belfast against Ireland, Wales and Netherlands. Congratulations Alex well deserved.

The maturity these youngsters are showing is incredible. They have listened, learned, practiced and are keen to improve and deserve every success they achieve.

DRAWS FOR SCRATCH LEAGUE AND BELL TROPHY

We open our defence of the Scratch League trophy being drawn in the Green group at home against Milnathort. Then 2 away games Blairgowrie (green) and Muckhart (red) and finish off with 2 home games against Blairgorie (gold) and Alyth.
The Bell Trophy we go to Milnathort for the first leg before hosting them for the home leg.

Bring it on !!!!

SUNDAY UPDATE

Scottish - Alex at St Andrews today and heading to Murcar for a practice round for the Scottish boys later this week. Kirsty has been away at a weekend camp also at St. Andrews. 

County - Megan was with the P&K Ladies squad at Strathmore.

Club - Josh Davies and Finlay McCoshim joined me for a Texas Scramble and although it was winter greens we managed 34 out and 33 back for a 67. Highlight was Josh's 2 on the 6th thanks to a 30ft putt !! Both boys games got better the longer the game went which goes to prove that you need to keep playing even through the winter.

BEST START EVER AND WE'RE STILL 3 WEEKS AWAY FROM THE START OF THE SEASON

Tonight I am the proudest Junior Convenor in the county and the country. Four of my players have been selected by P&K and awarded scholarships at the 5 star Gleneagles resort, they are Alex Simpson, Kirsty Brodie, Amy Mitchell and Megan Ashley. What a complement to Strathmore and to these talented youngsters.

This will include use of all the practice facilities, four courses and 6 hours of individual coaching. 

This sets 3 records for Strathmore and P&K.

1 - first time out of 4 girls scholarships available a club have been awarded 3 in the same year. 

2 - first time out of 8 boys/girls scholarships a club have been awarded 4 in the same year. 

3 - first time 4  players from the same club have been awarded the scholarships more than once.

I know all four will take full advantage of this amazing opportunity and they are already making plans to play together. 

P&K County girls were looking to bolster their numbers and Strathmore now have 8 players involved. Kirsty and Megan in the ladies squad, Amy in the junior squad. Kirsten Miller who will receive coaching at Gleneagles and Mollie Castle, Flora McGregor, Georgia McKay and Dominika Iglinski who will receive coaching at Noah's Ark.

Tod Bannerman is in the under 18 P&K boys squad and receiving coaching at Gleneagles and Noah's Ark. 

With Kirsty, Alex and Amy in the Scottish Academy programme making Strathmore the only club in the Country with 3 players represented it's no wonder I am so proud of my players. 

Today Amy and I took out two groups of our most promising youngsters and were very impressed with their play. First up was James Bonar and Kirsten and with 15 full greens open we decided to play a Texas scramble with each player having to use 3 tee shots. We were out in 34 back in 32 for a total of 66. In the afternoon Georgia and Molly joined us and we were 35 out and 35 in for a 70. Was very impressed with all players and with this sort of talent coming through I see a very bright future for Strathmore for years to come. 

Tomorrow it's Josh Davies, Finlay McCoshim and Georgia to see if we can beat the 66 ?