Friday 31 March 2017
ANOTHER IDEA IN ACTION
Tomorrow it's the Ladies and Gents Captains Drive In and another of my ideas has appeared on the Course. The green side bunker on the 12th now has double penalty as I am asking players to donate 50p to support the Junior Section if they are unlucky enough to land in it, I hope everyone takes part as it is a bit of fun and it will bring a bit of banter into the club house when they donate into the box on the bar. The money raised will help us to improve the benefits out Juniors already receive and make Strathmore the club to join. As I was leaving after putting up the signs met Georgia who was going into the club house to do her first shift as a waitress then met Kirsty with her L plates up driving down to the course with her granddad as the instructor. Our juniors are growing up too quick !!!
Wednesday 29 March 2017
HOPEFULLY OUR JUNIORS APPRECIATE THE LENGTHS I GO TO
After promoting our juniors to both the Boys and Girls County sections I am delighted to announce that Alex for an unprecedented 3rd year running has received a Gleneagles Scholarship. Kirsty and Amy for a 3rd and 2nd year respectively have again been selected and after her performance at the weekend another one of my selections Kirsten has also been granted a place. Megan who I promoted last year gained a foundation place so this year we have 5 players enjoying 5 star treatment. I will always promote all our Juniors and hope they appreciate what I do for them all.
Monday 27 March 2017
DRAW FOR COUNTY STROKEPLAY TUESDAY 4th APRIL - AUCHTERARDER
Good luck Alex, Kirsty, Amy, Kirsten and Flora
ANOTHER HUGE THANK YOU
Andy Reeves who has already donated many items to our scheme has now added a cart bag to our collection, Tom Ogg donated a set of irons and Sandy McGibbon donated a full set of clubs, another set of woods and a pull trolley Thanks guys they will be put to good use.
Sunday 26 March 2017
GIRLS HAVE FUN
Amy was off to Scottish Academy Golf Camp at Tulliallan this weekend pictured below. Kirsty, Megan and Kirsten were away at Stirling today representing P&K. Kirsten was first to report back and I am delighted to tell you that she really enjoyed her debut and with her partner from Crieff recorded a tremendous 4&2 win with Kirsten holing the winning putt on 16. Megan was next up with a very comprehensive report on her match and although she lost was pleased with her performance and delighted to have played again for the County. What a great weekend for the girls.
Saturday 25 March 2017
WHAT A RESPONSE FROM FELLOW MEMBERS
I have been overwhelmed and humbled by the response from Strathmore members, their generosity has been amazing. I went down to the club today and so many people approached me with kind offers of various pieces of equipment. Spoke to David who advised me Norman Dyce had a car load for me and he wasn't kidding. 5 sets of irons, various drivers, woods, utility clubs, couple of 2 irons for the brave, various wedges, putters, a bag and even 4 umbrellas. He might now have room to get his car into the garage.
Friday 24 March 2017
SOREN MAKES LAST 16
After taking the scalp of the world no 2 Rory McIlroy he has made the last 16. Sent him a message of congratulations and he took the time out to send us a reply. Saturday and Sunday will be very exciting. Our best wishes go to Soren for a big weekend
ONE WEEK TO GO !!!!!!
With only one week to go before the season begins in earnest hopefully everyone is raring to go. I know some of you have been waiting for the clocks to change so from Sunday there is no excuse. Hopefully will see you all down practicing and playing and putting all Gareth's coaching to good use.
Will those who are looking to try for their certificates and fun handicaps let me know. For those looking to get a full handicap get in touch so I can arrange for 3 cards to be done 1 with myself and 2 others in competition.
First counting Club Competitions coming up for those with Club or Congu Handicaps on the big Course is on Sunday 2nd April at 11.45 am - sign up sheet is in Junior Book on shelf opposite the bar in the clubhouse.
First County Competitions
Tuesday 4th April - Stroke Play at Auchterarder. Alex, Kirsty, Amy, Kirsten and Flora playing
Thursday 6th April - u14 Coaching Medal at Blairgowrie. Kirsten and Flora playing
Friday 7th April - Alyth Junior Open first event in the Race to Kingsbarns
First Scottish Event
Saturday and Sunday 1st and 2nd April - u18 Junior Tour - Forrester Park. Alex, Kirsty and Megan playing
Lets make 2017 the best year yet. Anyone needing any help or assistance don't be afraid to ask that's what I'm here to do.
Will those who are looking to try for their certificates and fun handicaps let me know. For those looking to get a full handicap get in touch so I can arrange for 3 cards to be done 1 with myself and 2 others in competition.
First counting Club Competitions coming up for those with Club or Congu Handicaps on the big Course is on Sunday 2nd April at 11.45 am - sign up sheet is in Junior Book on shelf opposite the bar in the clubhouse.
First County Competitions
Tuesday 4th April - Stroke Play at Auchterarder. Alex, Kirsty, Amy, Kirsten and Flora playing
Thursday 6th April - u14 Coaching Medal at Blairgowrie. Kirsten and Flora playing
Friday 7th April - Alyth Junior Open first event in the Race to Kingsbarns
First Scottish Event
Saturday and Sunday 1st and 2nd April - u18 Junior Tour - Forrester Park. Alex, Kirsty and Megan playing
Lets make 2017 the best year yet. Anyone needing any help or assistance don't be afraid to ask that's what I'm here to do.
Thursday 23 March 2017
HOW SOREN KJELDSEN HAS OVERCOME MORE THAN JUST BEING A SHORT HITTER
Last year at the Irish Open, Paul McGinley sat down for lunch with Soren Kjeldsen at the K Club for one of those moments that define the close-knit fabric of the European Tour.
The triumphant European Ryder Cup captain wanted to express how much admiration he had for Kjeldsen, in his 19th year on the European Tour, climbing back into the top-50 in the world at 41 years of age, doing it as one of the shorter hitters in world golf—all of this after overcoming a financial crisis in 2010.
“Paul just wanted to say it was brilliant what I was doing and it was a great inspiration with my kind of game, still competing against the guys that play a different game,” Kjeldsen said during our conversation in the Muirfield Village locker room on Wednesday. “He knew how hard I worked and the troubles I have faced so it was a huge compliment.”
As Kjeldsen went through his life’s journey, Rory McIlroy walked by as a reminder of the distance gap between the player that won the 2015 Irish Open in howling winds at Royal County Down and the European Tour’s best player that won the next year by overpowering the K Club. That Kjeldsen celebrated his biggest victory ranked 303 in the world—on a week when McIlroy missed the cut as tournament host—is one of those competitive ironies that make the story even better. And one that surfaced again when Kjeldsen took down McIlroy on Day 1 at the 2017 WGC-Dell Match Play.
“It told me that no problem that you ever face in the game of golf can’t be solved,” Kjeldsen went on to tell me. “I had a few years when I was very much in doubt if I could get up on a tee and trust my swing, trust my ability, and just let it go. I didn’t think that was possible. I thought there was too much scar tissue to ever do that again. In Ireland I realized that’s not the case.”
That win at County Down in 2015 and three subsequent second-place finishes put Kjeldsen on the road to the Summer Olympics in Rio, tournaments like The Memorial, and exemptions to all the majors in 2016.
At Augusta National last year, Kjeldsen realized he also has the game to compete on the big courses. More of that scar tissue was scraped away after witnessing his 10-year-old son Mads hole a putt and celebrate Happy Gilmore-style during the Par 3 Contest. Kjeldsen responded with a T-7 to culminate a run of 21-straight majors where he either did not play or missed the cut.
“He reacted to it that way and the people loved it. He just had the best time.” Kjeldsen said. “I do think it sort of set the tone for the whole week. It was a great experience.”
The worst experience of Kjeldsen’s lifetime occurred when his former business manager took funds from Kjeldsen’s earnings to “fill some of the holes” in the wake of the global recession. Kjeldsen told me it was less than the reported $3 million in losses, “but it was a big chunk of what I had.”
Kjeldsen was working with sports psychologist Bob Rotella through this period, but as McGinley pointed out, it’s not like he had the power to come back and win the FedEx Cup the way Henrik Stenson did after losing a fortune in the Stanford Financial crisis.
On Saturday at last year's Memorial, Kjeldsen hit all 14 fairways and had his best round (64) on the PGA Tour before fading in the final round.
“Trying to compete when the odds are against you and you’re under financial pressure at that stage of your career is an incredible achievement,” McGinley said when I reached him in Ireland. “I would think the story is he’s found something inside of him he didn’t have before.”
Yesterday when Rory McIlroy was bombing it over 400yds on occasions Soren kept his cool, played in his 2nd shots first and put pressure on Rory to match them and in one of the best matches ever finished up winning 2&1 with his tee shot on 17 leaving him a tap in. He is proof that having a great short game is as important as being able to hit it miles.
For those of you who don't know Soren used to practice at Strathmore with his coach Colin Smith and his picture can be seen in the clubhouse.
The triumphant European Ryder Cup captain wanted to express how much admiration he had for Kjeldsen, in his 19th year on the European Tour, climbing back into the top-50 in the world at 41 years of age, doing it as one of the shorter hitters in world golf—all of this after overcoming a financial crisis in 2010.
“Paul just wanted to say it was brilliant what I was doing and it was a great inspiration with my kind of game, still competing against the guys that play a different game,” Kjeldsen said during our conversation in the Muirfield Village locker room on Wednesday. “He knew how hard I worked and the troubles I have faced so it was a huge compliment.”
As Kjeldsen went through his life’s journey, Rory McIlroy walked by as a reminder of the distance gap between the player that won the 2015 Irish Open in howling winds at Royal County Down and the European Tour’s best player that won the next year by overpowering the K Club. That Kjeldsen celebrated his biggest victory ranked 303 in the world—on a week when McIlroy missed the cut as tournament host—is one of those competitive ironies that make the story even better. And one that surfaced again when Kjeldsen took down McIlroy on Day 1 at the 2017 WGC-Dell Match Play.
“It told me that no problem that you ever face in the game of golf can’t be solved,” Kjeldsen went on to tell me. “I had a few years when I was very much in doubt if I could get up on a tee and trust my swing, trust my ability, and just let it go. I didn’t think that was possible. I thought there was too much scar tissue to ever do that again. In Ireland I realized that’s not the case.”
That win at County Down in 2015 and three subsequent second-place finishes put Kjeldsen on the road to the Summer Olympics in Rio, tournaments like The Memorial, and exemptions to all the majors in 2016.
At Augusta National last year, Kjeldsen realized he also has the game to compete on the big courses. More of that scar tissue was scraped away after witnessing his 10-year-old son Mads hole a putt and celebrate Happy Gilmore-style during the Par 3 Contest. Kjeldsen responded with a T-7 to culminate a run of 21-straight majors where he either did not play or missed the cut.
“He reacted to it that way and the people loved it. He just had the best time.” Kjeldsen said. “I do think it sort of set the tone for the whole week. It was a great experience.”
The worst experience of Kjeldsen’s lifetime occurred when his former business manager took funds from Kjeldsen’s earnings to “fill some of the holes” in the wake of the global recession. Kjeldsen told me it was less than the reported $3 million in losses, “but it was a big chunk of what I had.”
Kjeldsen was working with sports psychologist Bob Rotella through this period, but as McGinley pointed out, it’s not like he had the power to come back and win the FedEx Cup the way Henrik Stenson did after losing a fortune in the Stanford Financial crisis.
On Saturday at last year's Memorial, Kjeldsen hit all 14 fairways and had his best round (64) on the PGA Tour before fading in the final round.
“Trying to compete when the odds are against you and you’re under financial pressure at that stage of your career is an incredible achievement,” McGinley said when I reached him in Ireland. “I would think the story is he’s found something inside of him he didn’t have before.”
Yesterday when Rory McIlroy was bombing it over 400yds on occasions Soren kept his cool, played in his 2nd shots first and put pressure on Rory to match them and in one of the best matches ever finished up winning 2&1 with his tee shot on 17 leaving him a tap in. He is proof that having a great short game is as important as being able to hit it miles.
For those of you who don't know Soren used to practice at Strathmore with his coach Colin Smith and his picture can be seen in the clubhouse.
NEW MEMBERS UPDATE
Happy birthday to Blair Hockley who received his membership today and officially can be announced as our 3rd new member. I am meeting up with another prospective member and his dad on Saturday and gave out membership forms to another last weekend so we could be on track to have 5 before the season begins.
Monday 20 March 2017
WEEKEND RESULTS
Plenty of positives from the weekend - Winter Series Final at Strathtyrum
Alex shot 75 finished 17th and was level par to the turn including 2 birdies
Kirsty shot 73 finished 6th and had a level par back 9 including 2 birdies she also had the longest drive
Amy shot 76 finished tied 11th and had 3 birdies and also managed to drive through the back of a par 4
All 3 are looking forward to the new season and have plenty of competitive Golf to look forward to.
As Junior Convenor I believe you should lead by example, so on Sunday to inspire our Juniors this year I won the Gents Leitfie Links Scratch Championship for the 13th time this time by 5 shots 1999/2000/01/02/05/06/07/08/10/12/13/14 and now 2017. Having been a member since 1995 and in the first year only the 9 hole course being open and subsequently having played 1000's of rounds with our Juniors I might have an advantage but you still have to go out and play the shots. I've now done my part and can't wait to see how inspired our Juniors are and their first win is just round the corner.
Alex shot 75 finished 17th and was level par to the turn including 2 birdies
Kirsty shot 73 finished 6th and had a level par back 9 including 2 birdies she also had the longest drive
Amy shot 76 finished tied 11th and had 3 birdies and also managed to drive through the back of a par 4
All 3 are looking forward to the new season and have plenty of competitive Golf to look forward to.
As Junior Convenor I believe you should lead by example, so on Sunday to inspire our Juniors this year I won the Gents Leitfie Links Scratch Championship for the 13th time this time by 5 shots 1999/2000/01/02/05/06/07/08/10/12/13/14 and now 2017. Having been a member since 1995 and in the first year only the 9 hole course being open and subsequently having played 1000's of rounds with our Juniors I might have an advantage but you still have to go out and play the shots. I've now done my part and can't wait to see how inspired our Juniors are and their first win is just round the corner.
3rd NEW MEMBER FOR 2017
Great news another new member joins for 2017. Can't be named yet as it's a birthday present so it will be a great surprise for one lucky child this week !!
Sunday 19 March 2017
WINTER SERIES FINAL
Good luck to Alex, Kirsty and Amy who are all competing at St Andrews this morning.
Saturday 18 March 2017
DIDN'T HAVE TO WAIT LONG
Just had an email from a very successful Pershire businessman saying he had just read the Scottish Golf article and would like to donate a set of clubs to the Scheme. I am overwhelmed and humbled by the generosity and support I am being given.
WHAT NEXT AGAIN ??
WHAT NEXT AGAIN ??
ANOTHER AMAZING DAY
Scottish Golf published an article on their website today about the club hire Scheme after interviewing me at Strathmore last week. Hopefully with this high profile media the Scheme will reach more clubs and be copied to make golf more affordable to Juniors and make the sport accessible to all. The more Juniors who take up membership the more that are likely to continue playing golf into adulthood which in turn secures the future of golf and golf clubs. I hope that someday people will look back and say "what a simple and brilliant idea which has reversed the trend of falling membership numbers and grown the game"
https://www.scottishgolf.org/strathmore-hire-scheme-a-hit-with-junior-golfers/
Lesley Haynes today donated 2 bags crammed with clubs which I still have to sort through. 3 others have offered to bring in more clubs, woods and 2 push trolleys!!!
Josh also traded up to another set and outdrove me twice with a driver I donated which I had won in the Sunday Mail "Where Eagles Dare" competition. His tee shot on 12 was about 50yds past mine and I hit it good.
When I got home a gentleman from the Pitlochry area phoned me after reading the article in the Perthshire Advertiser wanting to know how he could either sell or donate clubs into the Scheme.
WHAT NEXT ????
https://www.scottishgolf.org/strathmore-hire-scheme-a-hit-with-junior-golfers/
Lesley Haynes today donated 2 bags crammed with clubs which I still have to sort through. 3 others have offered to bring in more clubs, woods and 2 push trolleys!!!
Josh also traded up to another set and outdrove me twice with a driver I donated which I had won in the Sunday Mail "Where Eagles Dare" competition. His tee shot on 12 was about 50yds past mine and I hit it good.
When I got home a gentleman from the Pitlochry area phoned me after reading the article in the Perthshire Advertiser wanting to know how he could either sell or donate clubs into the Scheme.
WHAT NEXT ????
Friday 17 March 2017
A HUGE THANK YOU TO JACK GILLISON
For many years Jack was a member of Strathmore and during his time has collected and donated 1000's of golf balls into the Juniors box in the office keeping them supplied without always having to buy balls. Due to a health problem he had to give up his membership but has continued to come down for a walk and search for balls and that is why the box is always full. Last night he popped into see me with another gift to our Hire Scheme - an Electric Trolley complete with bag, charger and two 18 hole batteries. Normally we hire push trollies for £5 per annum but for the Electric one we are going to ask for £10 pa. We have decided that as a few of you may be interested we will hold a draw on Saturday 1st April after the main Club Captains Drive In and ask one of the Captains to pull out the name of the lucky hirer. If you want to be in the draw let me know as entries will close Friday 31st March.
Thursday 16 March 2017
SEASON IS ABOUT TO START AND THINGS ARE MOVING SO FAST
Yesterday Josh Clark was the first Junior this year to upgrade his clubs having had a growth spurt over the winter and watching him hitting them last night I think we have another prospect in the making. Today we added to our club selection with another full set of gents irons donated from one of I&D Insurance Services clients Craig Maxtone, Janet Griffiths has kindly donated a Ladies Driver and Gents Captain Mark Melville added an Odyssey Putter and I will soon have another exciting announcement regarding a piece of equipment - watch this space.
Entry forms are in the Juniors folder and County competitions have been notified to those who can enter.
Entry forms are in the Juniors folder and County competitions have been notified to those who can enter.
NEW FEATURE ON 14th
What's the ruling if you find yourself behind this - no stakes or plastic tubing.
Tuesday 14 March 2017
RYDER CUP 2018
Tod who is studying Green Keeping at Elmwood is heading to France to help prepare the course for the 2018 Ryder Cup so Strathmore can claim assisting Europe in their quest to regain the trophy "Under 4 weeks until I fly to Paris to start my 6 month internship at Le golf National!⛳️" What a great learning curve for him.
Monday 13 March 2017
SO PLEASED SO MANY ARE OUT PLAYING
Following my email tonight I have a few updates - see below
Update Saturday - Amy played Glenisla with her Grandad and Josh was out at Strathmore with his dad. This is shaping up to be another brilliant season with another enquiry today for a junior membership. Bumped into Gareth tonight who had been coaching Kieran, Kirsten and Megan and he gave me an update on their progress. Tomorrow a Scottish Golf Limited Development Officer has an appointment with me to discuss the success of our section and the Club Hire Scheme so more great publicity is in the pipeline.Hi all,Who played at the weekend ??? Where and with who ?? Who practiced and where ??I was away the the U16 County Boys coaching at Gleneagles on Saturday and played on Sunday at StrathmoreAlex and Kirsty were playing at Strathmore on Saturday and he was at Drumoig with the County Gents on SundayKirsty, Megan and Amy were all at St Andrews with the County Ladies on SundayOn Saturday Kirsten and her dad were out on the big course and Georgia, Molly and James were out on the wee course so let me know especially if you had any good scoresBlog link - http://strathmorejuniors.blogspot.co.uk/Regards Iain
CONFIRMATION OF KIRSTENS SELECTION
The girls team to play Stirling and Clacks county on the 26th of March was officially announced on P&K Facebook page tonight and is:
Zoe Morton - Auchterarder
Kirsten Miller - Strathmore
Lauren Pirie - Pitlochry
Cathy Lambie - Crieff
Well deserved !! Just off the phone to her and she is really excited at the prospect of making her debut for Perth and Kinross
Zoe Morton - Auchterarder
Kirsten Miller - Strathmore
Lauren Pirie - Pitlochry
Cathy Lambie - Crieff
Well deserved !! Just off the phone to her and she is really excited at the prospect of making her debut for Perth and Kinross
Sunday 12 March 2017
⛳️ SCOTTISH JUNIOR TOUR U18 ⛳️
Alex, Kirsty and Megan will compete at Forrester Park Golf Resort on the weekend of the 1st - 2nd April. 45 boys and 15 girls will play 36 holes on the Saturday with the top 30 and ties boys and the top 10 and ties girls making the cut for the final 18 holes on Sunday. Along with the New Golf Club St Andrews we are one of only two Clubs in the country with 3 representatives and the only club with the 3 made up of both boys and girls. Boys handicap cut off was 3 and Girls 6.
The event sees a field of Scotland’s leading junior golfers compete in the season opener. The Junior Tour event acts as a warm-up to both the Scottish Boys' Open Stroke Play Championship at Monifieth Links and the Scottish Girls’ Open Championship at Montrose.
This is a chance for the country’s most talented youngsters to test themselves on high-quality courses while the national selectors assess player development. Sandy Scott from Nairn and Aboyne’s Shannon McWilliam came out on top in 2016.
This is a chance for the country’s most talented youngsters to test themselves on high-quality courses while the national selectors assess player development. Sandy Scott from Nairn and Aboyne’s Shannon McWilliam came out on top in 2016.
Friday 10 March 2017
STRATHMORE GIRLS MAKE THEIR MARK
P&K ladies have a match v Stirling on Sunday 26th and I am delighted that Kirsty, Megan and Amy have been selected for the ladies team and Kirsten for the girls. Flora unfortunately had prior commitments or we could have had 5 players involved. What an amazing achievement for any Junior section anywhere.
Sunday 5 March 2017
BIG WEEKEND FOR ALEX
Friday and Alex just missed out on being P&K Junior Sport's personality of the year and congratulations go to Swimmer Scott Mclay. But Alex should be very proud on being selected and reaching the final 3. His weekend did get better as it was confirmed for an unprecedented 3rd time he had been awarded a P&K Gleneagles Scholarship and to top it off was invited to a practice match with P&K Gents team at Monifieth. Well done.
Whilst I was out playing today I got a message from past Junior member Calum Sinclair who said he was home from Robert Gordon's University, Aberdeen and was coming along for a game with his dad and had looked out a set of his old clubs that he wanted to donate to our Scheme. I met him in the car park and we had a good catch up and he was asking how things were going and who was in our current Scratch League team and was surprised and delighted when I told him we had 3 girls in the squad and Alex was playing off scratch, Kirsty 3, Megan 5 and Amy 8. I am going to add the post from September 2012 when Calum was part of our 1st Scratch League Team to win the trophy. It brings back some great memories
Callum Ewan, Kirsty Brodie and Tod Bannerman joined us and we discussed the format of the competition and how to play as a team. I accompanied them on the first 2 holes where Alex took the Red Cross "yellow ball" and just missed birdie but had a steady par. Kirsty also had a par 5 (net 4) for 3 Stableford points and the team were off and running. On the second hole Kirsty took the "yellow ball" and with all 4 players finding the green in 2 I explained that it was best for Kirsty to play out the "yellow ball " first as the boys all had shots and after Kirsty made sure of a 4. Alex made a 4 (net 3) which left Tod a free putt at a 3 (net 2) but just missed. 6 points secured and 2 pars with the "yellow ball"'- a great start. All 4 hit good drives down 3, I wished them well and headed back to meet Michael who was practising his putting, in his words "just to make sure yesterday's putting display wasn't a fluke !!"
I arrived at Gleneagles and Callum Sinclair, Rory Dyce and Hannah Robb were already there. After the warm up we made our way to the putting green and then had to kick our heels for 20 minutes due to a fog delay in the morning. This may have helped us, as we spent the time usefully with the strokesavers and I had a Eureka moment and came up with a master plan using the tick formula. Our players had to read the pro tip follow it and if they succeeded they had to tick it off. This seemed to relax our team and Auchterarder looked more apprehensive as each player was announced onto the tee. I watched them all tee off and Michael who led us out looked like he had won the 1st so our team had made the perfect start. Rory Dyce last out won his first hole and I made my way through the course to catch up what was going on ahead. Callum lost the first 2 but responded with a great birdie and par to square his match. Brad had followed the pro's tip to the letter and with pin at the front played to the back of the 5th green but still secured a half. I caught up with Hannah to see her hole a 20 foot birdie and win the hole to peg her opponent back. At the Dormie House 10th I received the news from Strathmore that our team had successfully defended and won their 4th successive British Red Cross junior trophy. I relayed this to our team and kept them abreast of how each other were doing. Hannah was behind Rory was up and the other 3 games were nip and tuck. Trying to follow 3 games which are all heading back towards the club house is difficult and I knew Michael had gone 1 up but saw him tee off 2nd on 18, Brad won 16 to go 1 up and Callum was dormie 2 down . Brad won 17 to put Strathmore 2v1 and I was trying to see what had happened ahead when I went to the back of the green where our team was and was told Michael had won 2 up. It took a second to sink in but Michael who had ran back up from the 18th green and had put on his white wind cheater was standing there and I hadn't noticed. When I had seen him tee off 2nd on 18 it was a provisional ball and he had not lost the 17th. With Rory, Brad and Michael all winning we were Perth and Kinross Champions for the first time and after only 4 years of trying . The experience of being runners up last helped our team and if you refer back to my previous blogs I have always installed into our juniors you first have to learn how to lose before you win , as winning is never easy. Today Strathmore Juniors have come of age , made their mark and rubber stamped their place as the most successful Junior Section in P&K and proved me right as I never doubted their ability.
I have built up friendships which will last a lifetime and seen juniors grow into adults and have so much pride in seeing them reach their own personal goals I will remember this day forever.
Travelling down today I remembered of our first away match at Aucherarder 01/07/2008 and after playing golf at Strathnmore we went to Downfield to watch Carly Booth represent P&K in Dawns team and stopped off at MacDonalds at Perth for a burger and Alan Easton showed his farm yard identification skills were thankfully less than his golfing ones, Megan,Emily and Matthew laughed so much and with Grant it set us up for a brilliant halved match wearing our team colours for the first time
Last year Allan became County Stroke Play Champion.
4 years later we are County Scratch League Team Champions and Bell Trophy Team Champions runner ups , with the talent coming through and the fight for places hotting up we can be the strongest Junior section in P&K for years to come.
Whilst I was out playing today I got a message from past Junior member Calum Sinclair who said he was home from Robert Gordon's University, Aberdeen and was coming along for a game with his dad and had looked out a set of his old clubs that he wanted to donate to our Scheme. I met him in the car park and we had a good catch up and he was asking how things were going and who was in our current Scratch League team and was surprised and delighted when I told him we had 3 girls in the squad and Alex was playing off scratch, Kirsty 3, Megan 5 and Amy 8. I am going to add the post from September 2012 when Calum was part of our 1st Scratch League Team to win the trophy. It brings back some great memories
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2012
DOUBLE DELIGHT
SCRATCH LEAGUE TEAM
This was definitely my proudest day as convenor of Strathmore Junior Section. I went down to the Club to meet our British Red Cross team and Alex Simpson was already on the range practising an hour and a half before their tee time.
RED CROSS TEAM
Callum Ewan, Kirsty Brodie and Tod Bannerman joined us and we discussed the format of the competition and how to play as a team. I accompanied them on the first 2 holes where Alex took the Red Cross "yellow ball" and just missed birdie but had a steady par. Kirsty also had a par 5 (net 4) for 3 Stableford points and the team were off and running. On the second hole Kirsty took the "yellow ball" and with all 4 players finding the green in 2 I explained that it was best for Kirsty to play out the "yellow ball " first as the boys all had shots and after Kirsty made sure of a 4. Alex made a 4 (net 3) which left Tod a free putt at a 3 (net 2) but just missed. 6 points secured and 2 pars with the "yellow ball"'- a great start. All 4 hit good drives down 3, I wished them well and headed back to meet Michael who was practising his putting, in his words "just to make sure yesterday's putting display wasn't a fluke !!"
I arrived at Gleneagles and Callum Sinclair, Rory Dyce and Hannah Robb were already there. After the warm up we made our way to the putting green and then had to kick our heels for 20 minutes due to a fog delay in the morning. This may have helped us, as we spent the time usefully with the strokesavers and I had a Eureka moment and came up with a master plan using the tick formula. Our players had to read the pro tip follow it and if they succeeded they had to tick it off. This seemed to relax our team and Auchterarder looked more apprehensive as each player was announced onto the tee. I watched them all tee off and Michael who led us out looked like he had won the 1st so our team had made the perfect start. Rory Dyce last out won his first hole and I made my way through the course to catch up what was going on ahead. Callum lost the first 2 but responded with a great birdie and par to square his match. Brad had followed the pro's tip to the letter and with pin at the front played to the back of the 5th green but still secured a half. I caught up with Hannah to see her hole a 20 foot birdie and win the hole to peg her opponent back. At the Dormie House 10th I received the news from Strathmore that our team had successfully defended and won their 4th successive British Red Cross junior trophy. I relayed this to our team and kept them abreast of how each other were doing. Hannah was behind Rory was up and the other 3 games were nip and tuck. Trying to follow 3 games which are all heading back towards the club house is difficult and I knew Michael had gone 1 up but saw him tee off 2nd on 18, Brad won 16 to go 1 up and Callum was dormie 2 down . Brad won 17 to put Strathmore 2v1 and I was trying to see what had happened ahead when I went to the back of the green where our team was and was told Michael had won 2 up. It took a second to sink in but Michael who had ran back up from the 18th green and had put on his white wind cheater was standing there and I hadn't noticed. When I had seen him tee off 2nd on 18 it was a provisional ball and he had not lost the 17th. With Rory, Brad and Michael all winning we were Perth and Kinross Champions for the first time and after only 4 years of trying . The experience of being runners up last helped our team and if you refer back to my previous blogs I have always installed into our juniors you first have to learn how to lose before you win , as winning is never easy. Today Strathmore Juniors have come of age , made their mark and rubber stamped their place as the most successful Junior Section in P&K and proved me right as I never doubted their ability.
I have built up friendships which will last a lifetime and seen juniors grow into adults and have so much pride in seeing them reach their own personal goals I will remember this day forever.
Travelling down today I remembered of our first away match at Aucherarder 01/07/2008 and after playing golf at Strathnmore we went to Downfield to watch Carly Booth represent P&K in Dawns team and stopped off at MacDonalds at Perth for a burger and Alan Easton showed his farm yard identification skills were thankfully less than his golfing ones, Megan,Emily and Matthew laughed so much and with Grant it set us up for a brilliant halved match wearing our team colours for the first time
Last year Allan became County Stroke Play Champion.
4 years later we are County Scratch League Team Champions and Bell Trophy Team Champions runner ups , with the talent coming through and the fight for places hotting up we can be the strongest Junior section in P&K for years to come.
Thursday 2 March 2017
ANTIPODEAN IS OUR LATEST MEMBER
Rory Brown has become our 2nd New member of 2017 and when I heard he was Australian I believed he had beaten Alexei 🇷🇺 by becoming our longest commuting member but Rory now lives in Scotland so we will hopefully see him more often. Although he is new to golf, he is natural sportsman and will learn quickly, look forward to meeting him soon and great to have another new member.
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