SCOTTISH GOLF RECOGNISES STRATHMORE

June McEwan, President of Scottish Golf Limited, was interviewed today and I am so proud that the success we have had in attracting girls into golf has been recognised at the highest level. This is what makes everything worthwhile. Below is what she said. Full interview on Scottish Golf website.

Click here for full report

We need to see more young girls taking up the sport. Is that an area you are determined to help support this year?

JM: “Of course. There are pockets of girls doing very well. Craigmillar Park are doing a grand job, and Strathmore, Paisley, Peebles and many others. I think it comes from enthusiastic people in the club. It’s obviously about having an interest in golf, but there are early retired people that we could tap into for more support. The health benefits are there through golf, it’s so good for your mental health among other things, and it’s great for company and to make friends. It’s also a fantastic sport for networking in a business capacity. You meet friends for life. I’ve met so many interesting people through clubs.

BACK TO BACK WINS FOR HAZEL

Hazel shines in the rain @ Scottish Student Golf Champs.
Stirling University rising star completed a famous maiden victory as the Scottish Student Golf Championships drew to a close at a rainy Moray GC today.
She once again showed supreme ability and confidence to weather not only the conditions but an uncertain start to her final round.
Double bogeys at the second and fourth holes brought the chasing field much closer, but MacGarvie responded in emphatic style – completing the following fourteen holes in five under par.
A birdie at 5 was shortly followed by a huge moment on the 7th rolling in a fifteen foot putt for an eagle 3. Further birdies came at the 10th, 14th, 16th and 17th to deliver a final total of 284 (-8).
Commenting on her victory Hazel said ‘It feels great to win this tournament, especially first time round. I got off to a bad start today but didn’t feel too nervous and I was really happy to be able to bring it back.’ The Stirling University scholar, currently in her first year continued ‘I really enjoy playing student golf. It gets me out of the classroom and I really enjoy getting to play with new people.’
St Andrews’ Lieve Van Veggel completed a fine four round series with a determined -2 round of 73. Despite bogeys at the fourth and fifth Lieve was level at the turn, before a bogey-free back nine of 36, featuring birdies at 14 and 17. This left the Dutch competitor in silver medal position with a final total of 280 (-2).
Three-time champion Gemma Batty (Stirling) rounded out the top three following a closing 76 (+1) to conclude her final Scottish Student Championships in a creditable bronze medal position.
Stirling University also won the extracted team element with a six round total of 289, eight shots ahead of St Andrews, with Stirling II a further four shots back.
Brad Bannerman University of Glasgow made the cut in the Gents and finished 26th.
The 96th Scottish Student Championships continue tomorrow with Men’s Team, and Women’s Individual Matchplay tournaments
.

NEW MEMBERS UPDATE

4 new membership forms sent out. That will make 9 which is an amazing start before the season starts. Can we make double figures by the weekend ? I think so.

Also have a club fitting for the hire scheme with one of our new members on Wednesday.    

5TH NEW MEMBER SIGNS UP

Miles Hughes today became our latest member and look forward to seeing how he progresses.

BUSY WEEKEND FOR THE GIRLS

Today Kirsty and Megan were at Kingsfield at a Scottish Golf coaching session. Amy was mentoring Mollie then joined Kirsten to assist with the taster session. Both of them were excited to tell me they had phone calls last night confirming that P&K Ladies had given them Gleneagles Scholarships again, which is brilliant !! and they will be joined by Megan who already has a foundation place. Kirsten also confirmed she had been given a place on the Golf Leader Award:
·         Fun and practical workshop of the introductory elements of coaching golf activities in school and supporting clubs
·         As well as resources and coaching ideas for primary and secondary school pupils, Scottish Golf and Active Schools work together to support coaching hours with a series of projects that support local golf development and club coaching programmes
·         Opportunities to work with Scottish Golf and Active Schools to give young people a voice in golf and inspire more young people to play
·         Opportunity to support children and family activities at the European Team Championships at Glenaeagles this summer (a European Tour & Ladies European Tour sanctioned event)
Amy is now going to apply as well.
So proud of all our juniors who want to give something back.
Tomorrow Kirsty, Megan and Amy are representing P&K Ladies and Kirsten P&K Juniors in a match v Stirling and Clackmannan at Strathmore.

3RD TASTER SESSION

15 youngsters attended the 3rd taster session today, 7 for the first time and what a brilliant morning we had. We split into 3 groups and worked on putting, chipping and long game using the putting green, practice area and driving range then we went onto the wee course to play a mini Texas Scramble on the 1st and the 9th. Our 5th new member for 2018 signed up and I also received an email saying that another 4 want to join and another youngster wants to come along to see what we do. What an amazing success !!!

HUGE THANK YOU TO GARY TOUGH

Had asked all our juniors if they had played the courses being used for the Scottish boys and girls and  Alex told me that he hadn’t played Montrose before so I gave a golfing pal of mine a call to see if he could help out. Gary who plays off a +1 handicap and is a greenkeeper and member of Montrose and was only too happy to assist. We met him today and he was brilliant in showing Alex how he plotted his way round the course. We had a prevailing west wind which made the front 9 slightly easier but the back nine played tougher. Gary has invited Alex back again for another round and his knowledge and advice will be invaluable to Alex when he tees it up in 2 weeks time. Thanks again Gary, you are a true gentleman.

HAZEL WINS BY 10

Hazel MacGarvie won the West of Scotland Trophy by 10 shots today but unfortunately Kirsty Brodie slipped down the field to finish 9th but will take some consolation having made yesterday’s cut.

STRATHMORE GIRLS TO THE FORE

Past Strathmore Junior Hazel MacGarvie (Stirling University) extended her lead at the top of the West of Scotland Trophy students' golf tournament leaderboard to six shots after a three over par second round of 74 at Western Gailes Golf Club today. A couple of birdies helped the former Scottish U18 girls champion to reach the 15th in level par, before four dropped shots over three holes threatened to allow the rest of the field back into the competition. However she bounced back to birdie the last and ensure that the competition is in her hands heading into Wednesday's final round. Past club mate Kirsty Brodie (Strathmore) representing (Scottish Golf) is tied 2nd and it’s great to see these 2 girls performing so well.

ANOTHER BRILLIANT SATURDAY

 ,

10 youngsters attended our 2nd taster session, 5 from last week and 5 for the first time. Next week we could have as many as 17 attending which will be amazing. I am also very appreciative of the assistance Alex, Kirsty, Megan, Amy and Kirsten have given and these 5 are a credit to Strathmore. The Centre kindly gave those who attended bowls of chips and juice when they finished and it was brilliant to see all the kids sitting round a big table having so much fun. I would like to welcome Euan Rutherford to the section and he becomes the 4th new member of 2018. The place was buzzing on Saturday. We now have in place the perfect scenario, we can attract youngsters to come along and try golf, we have the club hire scheme which means parents don’t have to go out and buy clubs and more importantly the Centre support the Section by providing 17 weeks of coaching from PGA Professional Gareth Couzens. Over the years we have had so many successes and I know that will continue. Can’t wait to see what happens next.

MICHAEL MAKES A SOLID START

Michael Brodie, ex Strathmore Junior Captain and a third-year student at Lander University, Greenwood, South Carolina, was sharing 13th place in a field of 93 players at the end of the first round of the Southeastern Collegiate tournament at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club, Valdosta, Georgia.

He had a two-under-par 70 over a long course of 7,363yd. And is six shots behind the leader by two, Chandler Blanchet (West Florida).
Lander University has only one American on his men's golf roster of nine players of whom five are British - James Bartlett from Brockenhurst, Chris Kendall from Cumbria, Conor Richards from Hampshire and Cameron Bell from Surrey as well as Michael.
Lander (279) are lying second to West Florida (277) with Rollins College third on 282 in a field of 13 teams.

Unfortunately his 2nd round was disappointing and he slipped down the field. 

NEW MEMBERS UPDATE

3 new members have already joined, Liam Shand, Kian Donnelly and Dionne Sharpe. Huge welcome to them all and with another application received today 2018 is starting off with a bang.

FIRST TASTER SESSION IS A HUGE SUCCESS

What a brilliant start to our “Try Golf Taster Sessions” 7 local children attended on a cold wet morning. We spent an hour at the range hitting balls and we saw some really good swings then to finish had some fun competitions. Everyone was really enthusiastic and they all want to come back next week when we will be joined by at least another 3. Huge thanks to David Norman for the range tokens and to Frankie Moran, Megan Ashley, Amy Mitchell and Kirsten Miller who helped coach the kids and they enjoyed it so much they have all offered to come back next week as well.

GETTING PREPARED FOR THE SEASON AHEAD

Busy 5 weeks coming up. The next 3 Saturday’s we have our taster sessions where local primary school children are invited to try golf. With one week to go numbers are looking good and if it’s as successful as last summers sessions the fairways will soon be full of kids out having fun and learning new skills. The 4th to 6th of April sees the Scottish Open Boys and Girls Championships hosted by Montrose and Monifieth respectively. Alex is joined by 2 past members Alexei and Cormac. Kirsty and Megan are joined by past member Katy and it will be interesting to see how they all perform.