WHAT A JUNIOR CAREER

Junior Captain Kirsty has had an amazing time as a Junior at Strathmore and here is a list of some of her achievements.
2011
Girls Highland Junior Masters Champion 🏆
At 11 became the youngest ever Ladies Club Champion 🏆
2012
Girls Highland Junior Masters Champion 2nd time 🏆
2013
Scottish u14 Girls runner up 🥈
P&K u14 Autumn Meeting 🥇
2014
1st time representing Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Qualifies aged 14 in Scottish Ladies Amateur
Breaks Murrayshall Ladies Course record
2015
Alfred Dunhill Senior Girls Champion 🏆
Scottish Junior Champion of Champions 🥈
P&K Ladies Champion of Champions 🏆
1st P&K Ladies Jamboree
Girls County Champion 🏆
Ladies Club Champion 🏆
Junior Scratch League winner 🏆
2016
European Team Championship 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Junior European Masters 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Scottish Schools 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Paul Lawrie Scottish Schools Team Championship (Angus) 🥇
St Andrews Ladies Invitational 🥇
P&K Junior Stroke Play 🥇
2017
Signs up to Charleston. South Carolina
Home International Girls 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
European Team Championship 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Scottish Schools 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
P&K Ladies Jamboree 🥇 and played in Scottish Finals
P&K MacPherson Medal 🥇
P&K Girls Champion 🏆
2018
Scottish Ladies Open pro-am 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Girls Home International 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
European Team Championship 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Scottish Girls semi finalist
Stephen Gallacher Foundation Vase 🏆
P&K Girls Champion 🏆
1st Strathmore girl to have a Scratch then plus Handicap

Kirsty has promised to keep us up to date as her adventure continues at University in America

NEW 2nd CERTIFICATE

After the redesigned Leitfie Links Course come into play it was decided the 2nd Certificate should be altered. From today it can be achieved by playing 9 holes in 54 shots or under. This will also count towards gaining a fun handicap and being able to participate in the Summer and Winter Leagues.

AMAZING RESPONSE

Looks like 2019 is going to be another fantastic season and we’re not even finished 2018. 2 girls have already joined and another 1 is going to follow. 5 Mums and a Grandmother have signed up for our “Parents get into Golf” Taster Sessions which has now been extended to include Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and even family friends. Members are renewing like there is no tomorrow and refitting of clubs have been organised. Many Juniors are keen to keep playing at weekends during the winter and work on different aspects of their games which is really encouraging. Archie has already knocked 2 shots of his fun handicap and Blair 6 shots. So the Winter League will be competed for the first time in 8 years !!!! Also just found out another of our past Juniors is following a career in Golf, Ben Anderson has been an apprentice Green Keeper at Alyth since July this year.

END OF SEASON BUT ANOTHER ABOUT TO START

Please read this to the end.

This Saturday on the 01/12/2018 sees the Junior AGM and Prize giving proceeded by a Texas Scramble on the recently upgraded Leitfie Course this gives all the juniors a chance to play and have some fun. Arrive for 11.30am tee off 12noon and AGM 2.30pm.
The Leitfie Winter League has started and Archie has 4 cards in already. Fun handicaps can be attained on the wee course and you can all play and give him a bit of competition. In March we will again be running Taster Sessions for local  School children so if any of the juniors have friends who might enjoy trying golf, feel free to bring them along. Our “Parents into Golf” Sessions are also proving a success with 4 mums already signed up, which is brilliant,  and we do hope some more will follow suit. We have now extended this to grandparents, aunts, uncles, and even family friends so if you know anybody who might be interested in giving golf a go let me know and we will get them along. They don’t even need clubs and if they decide to become members they can join my Club Hire
Scheme which I have now extended to include adults. 2019 Membership letters have been sent out and may I take this opportunity  to thank all our 2018 members for their support during the season and hopefully we will see you all rejoining. Centre fees and Clubs subs should be paid before the 31/01/2019 when the 2018 membership expires.
For the 38 on the Club Hire Scheme these fees should also be paid by the same date. Charges remain the same for 2019.
Set of clubs with bag £25
Set of clubs £20
Set of irons £15
Electric trolley £10
Manual trolley £5
If anyone has outgrown their current set let me know and I will arrange a refit. If anyone is not
rejoining the Scheme for any reason please return the clubs as they will be required for others and if
anyone has clubs they no longer require then I will be happy to receive then into the Scheme. There will hopefully be some exciting news coming up early next regarding the Scheme so watch this space. In the meantime I have just taken delivery of a nearly new Stowamatic Electric Trolley with carry bag which is available for hire now until 31/01/2020 for £10 - this will be done on a first come first served basis. ALREADY HIRED 7.50pm Congratulations Conan.
Failing to plan is planning to fail so everyone should now sit down and plan out their goals for next season. Once a goal has been set, plans have to be put in place as how to get there. Get your practice strategy in place. If it’s a handicap reduction make it realistic and achievable as you can always set new goals. The Junior fixture list is available now, the Ladies County list is on their blog but still being worked on, the Girls and Boys Junior lists are not available yet but watch their blogs and websites. Some of the Scottish dates are online so diaries out and get your season planned out now.
Best tip for improving your game is knowing your distances. How far on average you hit each club. Take 20 balls hit the same club and measure to the middle of where most of your balls finish. Practice your putting especially distance control and your short game by using a variety of shots to get the ball close to the pin.
I now need you to answer a few questions
1 Who’s coming to the Texas Scramble/ AGM and Prize giving (numbers required for catering)
2 Are there any Parents, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles or family friends who would like to sign up for
our Free "Get into Golf" Taster Sessions
3 Are there any friends of the Juniors who might be interested in coming to the Junior Taster Sessions
4 Who is rejoining in 2019 (numbers required to help plan coaching sessions)
5 Who needs to upgrade their Hire clubs
6 Who wants to join the the Club Hire Scheme (numbers required in case I have to buy more)
7 Who will be handing their hire clubs back in
8 Who wants to hire the Stowamatic Trolley
9 Who wants help with their Goal setting and planning
10 Who wants help with their distance control, short game or putting
11 Who wants to play on a Saturday or Sunday
12 Who needs to get a handicap - Leitfie or Ranneleroch
Please reply by email to iain@ianddinsurance.co.uk and thanks again lets make 2019 another amazing for Strathmore Juniors

ALEX BOWS OUT OF JUNIORS AS A NATIONAL CHAMPION

Was honoured to attend today’s P&K Gents AGM and Prize giving in the company of Alex and his family. As his Junior Convenor and doubles partner I have had the privilege to watch him mature and develop as a player and individual and I could not have felt more proud than I did today. It’s days like this that makes my role so worthwhile.
Alex’s list of P&K Junior achievements
2012 - under 14 Coaching Medal 🥇 winner
         - Bell Trophy team runner up
2013 - under 14 Coaching Medal 🥇 winner 2nd time
         - under 14 Champion 🏆
2014 - under 14 Coaching Medal 🥇 winner 3rd time
         - under 14 Champion 🏆 2nd time
         - Team Championship winner 🏆
         - Scratch League runner up
         - Stephens Trophy 🏆
2015 - under 16 Champion 🏆
         - Scratch League 🏆 winner
2016 - under 16 Champion 🏆 2nd time
         - under 18 Champion
         - Lee McCormack 🏆 winner
         - Order of Merit 🏆 winner
         - Champion of Champions runner up
         - Team Championship winner 🏆 2nd time
2017 - Champion of Champions 🏆 winner
2018 - under 18 Champion 🏆 2nd time
         - Match Play Champion
He has been the Champion at every age group category more than once and his name is on every Trophy except the Strokeplay which clashed twice when he was away representing Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿. What an achievement and one I doubt will ever be repeated.
And then to top it all he was part of the 4 boys County Team who made history by becoming the first P&K team to become National Champions.

“GET PARENTS INTO GOLF” TASTER SESSION

Moya’s mum Carol became the 2nd mum to try our taster session and Dawn and Jackie were both very impressed. I believe if we can get more parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and other family member involved Strathmore more can enhance it’s growing reputation as one of the best club in Perthshire not only for Juniors but for family golf.
Dawn, Jackie, Frankie and I have secured funding from Scottish Golf, Sport Scotland and Live Active (Gannochy Trust) to enable us to do the PGA Level 1 Coaching Qualification at Elmwood in February and look forward to then being able to enhance Strathmore’s already amazing Coaching set up.
As most of you already know I find making my annual AGM report an ordeal as I am very passionate about the section achievements and get very emotional 😭 when talking about it. So again this year Frankie has assisted in prerecording my whole speech. We have also invested in some high tech equipment which will hopefully enhance the whole experience for everyone and be a great asset for years to come. Hopefully everyone can attend next Saturday please arrive by 11.30 am to allow plenty of time to arrange teams and make your way to the starting tees.
Over the past 2 years the Donation box 📦 on the bar for landing in the green side bunker on the12th had raised over £500 and I would like thank everyone for their donations and taking it in the spirit it was intended, to make it a bit of fun and a talking point in the 19th 👍.
My Club Hire Scheme which has been amazing has now been extended so any family members who join who can also take advantage of not having to go out and buy clubs, yet another first for Strathmore Juniors. Tomorrow I am off to Dollar to pick up 26 clubs, 2 bags and an electric trolley which have been donated. I will hopefully have some really exciting news regarding the Scheme early in 2019. Tom and Alistair have already renewed their memberships and club hire so we are already off to a flying start. Next week Conan and Stuart are having fitting sessions for replacement and new sets respectively and if anyone else thinks they need to upgrade please let me know. The 31st of January 2019 is the date all juniors should renew both Centre and Club membership and also renew their Club Hire fees which remain at £25. Many of our juniors are now ready to upgrade to the the full course and if anyone is in doubt I am happy to advise.
Tomorrow also sees the last P&K girls coaching session at Gleneagles and hopefully all our County girls will attend. If I have time I will drop in on my way back from Dollar before attending the P&K Gents and Junior AGM at Craigiehill to see Alex recieve his Trophies for 2018. He has now won every P&K age group Junior Trophy and I am so proud to have been there every step of the way. Such an amazing talent and if he wants it bad enough he can achieve it and if he can recapture the self  belief he had as a 5 year old the world is his oyster.
Kirsty just replied from Carolina to a message I forwarded her when she won The Spirit of Youth award in front of 900 people at the Perth Concert Hall 6 years ago !! The Junior Section finished 2nd in another category. We were making headlines back then as well.
Blair and Conan were out trying to reduce their Congu handicaps today and I picked up some cards from the box and Archie already has 3 cards submitted for the Leitfie Winter League which hasn’t been played for since 2010 !!! Lochlan has also put in a card for handicap so let’s keep it going.

NEW LEITFIE LINKS LAYOUT

Played it for the first time yesterday and was very impressed !! This will certainly be great for all our juniors because the holes are now all par 3’s and there are no long carries to reach the fairways. It will also be brilliant for sharpening up their short games. Set a target yesterday for someone to beat so who’s up for the challenge ?

SO MANY POSITIVES

Frankie is home and on the mend. He would like to thank everyone for their kind wishes. Took Archie, Conan and Stuart out for 9 holes today and wow, these 3 were so impressive. Cannot believe the improvements they have made. Megan was out testing the new Leitfie course and Kirsten was up for a putting lesson from Gareth. Brilliant to see so many Juniors out and hopefully we will see more out during the winter.

PARENT TASTER SESSIONS

Wow 4th mum signs up !!!