SPECIAL THANKS

As Dawn, Jackie and myself were away at Forres to watch, support and caddie for P&K Ladies who won the Scottish Ladies Inter County Championship. Last time they won it was 68 years ago. Two past Strathmore junior girls were part of the winning team and a third was involved in the qualifying a testament to our coaching programme. Kirsten and Blair assisted Gareth on Saturday and Blair and Cameron assisted tonight. Special thanks to all 3 who are keen to assist and grow golf. Great fun tonight as we also held a putting Skills Challenge and everyone was up for it. Starting off with the first group James stood out and we were really impressed by Jon and Owen who’s concentration being new to golf was great and they both did really well. In the second group Olly and Finn  picked it up really quickly and these two impressed. Madeline got it and Matthew wasn’t far behind. Great to see Bella and Lottie getting competitive as both girls have potential. Maya is determined and it showed through in the putting as she improved so much. Last up was our more experienced players and Archie was the first to match Cameron and my scores of 4. Stuart also did it but only Archie and I managed it twice. Everyone got in the spirit of it all and the improvements in distance control by everyone was impressive, it just goes to show that by adding a competitive fun element does lead to better putting, the most important part of golf.

LEWIS IN FOR A CUT

Great score by Lewis today 

ACCREDITATION AWARDED

 

FIRST MONDAY NIGHT OF AUTUMN COACHING

First of all huge thanks to vice captain Blair Hockley who although having only undergone surgery on Thursday on his broken finger offered to help out at the coaching sessions until he is fit enough to play again. This shows his love and commitment to golf and we were very impressed tonight with his enthusiasm and ability to communicate with the other juniors. With Cameron Redden tonight, who also assisted with the Spring sessions, both boys certainly are a huge asset to our section and the skills they have picked up and are now passing on is a credit to our coaching team. We had 12 new members joining in tonight and wow do we have some amazing prospects. Angus worked his magic on the essential basics of grip, stance and swing planes on the range whilst others were taking part in chipping practice and fun challenges on the practice area. Another 4 sets of hire clubs were fitted tonight and we now have 71  players utilising the Scheme. Our junior section is the biggest we have ever had and I believe after having done this for 13 years we have some really talented prospects coming through. The next few years are going to be very exciting, having already produced 4 PGA professionals who’s going to be next ? 

STRATHMORE JUNIORS WITH TODAYS TROPHY WINNERS

Kirsten, Blair and Cameron with today’s AIG Women’s Champion Anna Nordqvist and top amateur winner Louise Duncan. Great fun for all our juniors who were lucky enough to attend.

WHERE DO I START !!!

Helicopter Saturday, Trophy winner at the AIG Women’s Open golf Skills Challenge, another new member and coaching off to a flyer. Owen makes it new member 49 (94 Junior members) for 2021. Certificates awarded to Sam and William. Our first attendees at coaching Nathan, Maia, Sam and Owen were all very impressive and the improvements in all our existing juniors was amazing to watch and with a few tweaks became even better. I am so excited to see how far some of these youngsters can progress. Having told Tom he trailed in the Summer League he went out with his dad, shot 39 took the lead and reduced his handicap by 3 shots. This will be the toughest trophy to win this year. The previous leader Tarah was off with Zoe and Blair to the AIG Women’s Open Skills Challenge Final at Carnoustie and her dad was keeping me up to date with their progress and I am delighted to announce she won her age group and all 3 had a brilliant time competing and then watching the action. Came home to watch the final holes and there she was at the side of the 18th studying the line of the putts. Who knows maybe someday she might have that same putt but she will be ready. Back at Strathmore the weather was horrendous but Dawn  was so ims

pressed that all the kids taking part finished their rounds with flooded greens and difficulty in finding relief from the water. Lewis won today with 37 points but we won’t speak about his opening tee shot, he stayed focused and obviously played very well. Tomorrow’s another day and we have invited a couple of our prospects out on Rannaleroch to assess their readiness to step up. What a brilliant day, so much enthusiasm for the game and so many happy faces. 

GOLDEN TICKET WINNERS HAVING A BALL

The smiles say it all !!!!

ANOTHER NEW MEMBER

Huge welcome to Blair who becomes new member 48 for 2021 and brings total membership to 93. We now have 66 sets out on Hire with another 3 fittings to be done. Golf is certainly booming !!!! 

FAMILY FUN DAY

Great to have 21 players taking part today and Theo, Nate, Keegan and Lee took the honours with a one under par 26. Tomorrow our 4 Golden Ticket winners attend the AIG Women’s Open and get their masterclass unfortunately Blair’s participation will be limited as he broke a finger on Friday and looks like he will be out of action for at least 4 weeks which means he will also miss the Skills Challenge Final. 

TODAYS SCORES IN LEROCH CUP

Kirsten won by 2 shots 

GOLFSIXES AT PITLOCHRY TODAY

Great experience for some of our younger players today especially Rory making his debut. We played their short 6 hole course and it turned out to be quite tricky but our team did well and finished 2nd. Highlight of the day was the long drive Competition which the pro did on the trackman. It came down to a drive off and James kept his cool to win and take the prize. We host the final event on Sunday the 5th September and sit in 2nd place. Crieff are in the lead and by winning all 3 events so far will take the honours but we are lying in 2nd place and hopefully can stay there which will be a great result. 

This format stands us in good stead as it leads to the progression to the next stage which should be Full Handicaps and Bell Trophy (Handicap match play) which didn’t happen for the last 2 years but hopefully will be reinstated. In the meantime we as a club will run a handicap League and if things at County level don’t improve will hold our own Flag and GolfSixes events. We are fortunate to have the numbers and could make it work and could even include some other clubs in our events.

AUTUMN COACHING

You know it’s Autumn Coaching time when you here the Geese arrive. Right on cue lying in bed this morning heard the arrival. 

2021 13th August

2019 19th August

2016 4th September

2015 7th August

2014 14th August

2013 19th August

2012 23rd August

2011 17th August 

CORMAC QUALIFIES FOR MATCH PLAY STAGES OF BRITISH BOYS

Best wishes to Strathmore junior member Cormac who will play tomorrow in the last 64 of the British Boys 

WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY

Another day another new member !! Huge welcome to Madeleine who becomes member 47 and takes or total membership to 92. She joins our growing band of Girls which now numbers 28. Phenomenal success. 

TREMENDOUS TUESDAY

First up a club fitting for Jon and he is delighted with them. Owen had outgrown his own set but will be able to use Jon’s old set until he outgrows them as well. Both boys were hitting some great shots and looking forward to their first coaching session on Monday night. Next up was Angus and Stella and both were fitted for sets and also took trolleys. I believe that these two youngsters could be something special. Their ball striking was very consistent and I was very impressed by the improvements they made with a few tips. Exciting times ahead for all 4 of them. Nate was out with Callum today and attained his 1st and 2nd Certificates and a Fun Handicap of 36 (18 over 9 holes) which is very encouraging as he only joined a few weeks ago. Callum, Rory and Jack all had handicap cuts and Dawn said there were loads of others out practicing and playing today. Great to hear. We now have 65 sets hired out with another 2 fittings next week and an enquiry from another mum looking to join and hire a set. Looks like one of the boys who attended a taster session last week is about to join and received an email tonight about another boy keen to come along. And to top it all received confirmation that another Grant we had applied for has been successful. What a day. 

MAGIC MONDAY

Where do I start. Our 45th and 46th new members for 2021 joined today, huge welcome to Jon and Owen. This brings our total membership up to 91, another record extended this year. With 2 additional taster sessions planned for this week who knows how many we will finish up with. We have 27 girls and 64 boys. Maya was the latest to be fitted for a set of clubs on our Hire Scheme and has the 62nd set hired this season with another 4 players still to arrange fittings. She also had a choice of free golf shoes and found a pair that fitted perfectly and is raring to get started. We received confirmation that Blair, Tarah and Zoe have qualified for their gender/age categories in the Skills Challenge Final to be played on Saturday 21/8/21 at the AIG Women’s Open at Carnoustie and will be able to also watch the play after they have finished. We now have 9 players with 10 plus cards submitted in the Leitfie Summer League and another 3 players with only 2 cards to go to join them. I am really excited for the next couple of years and how much  these youngsters will progress. 

GREAT FUN TODAY

Took Saoirse and Seamus out for 9 holes today and was very impressed by both of them. Seamus’s first drive finished pin high on the right of the green and Saoirse’s drive was straight at the pin and looked like it might go in but just missed and ran to the back of green. Both of them have made huge improvements and it’s so good to see. A potential new member Blair attended a taster session and he enjoyed himself by hitting some nice shots and getting some past the 50yd marker. Spoke to a mum who was there with her 2 girls and gave them a few tips and looks like they might want to come to a taster session soon. 

4th PAST JUNIOR IN 7 YEARS JOINS THE PRO RANKS

What a fantastic opportunity for Emily Aird joining Saffron Walden Golf Club as their assistant Professional. Best wishes from us all at Strathmore. 

MEMBERSHIP GROWS AGAIN

Matthew becomes new member 44 for 2021 and brings total membership up to 89 and another taster session tomorrow. More donations picked up today for our Club Hire Scheme, a Full set of Ladies Clubs with bag and a Greenhill push trolley. Cards for summer league just keep on coming and we have a new leader in Tarah with Tom one shot behind and Keir only another shot away in third place. Both Tarah and Keir have 26’s to improve on whilst Tom has 2 x 25.5 as his worst scores. Dark horse Arthur has a 30.5 to get rid of and is only 3.5 shots back. Think this is going to the wire. 

ANOTHER BUSY WEEKEND.

First up Blair pipped Lochlan with a better inward half to win the Junior President’s Cup. Both players scored 39 points and I am so pleased for both of them as their consistency is improving and they are working hard at improving and it is showing week in week out. We had another donation made from a friend of Strathmore Juniors who’s own friend had unfortunately passed away but their family wanted his gear to be put to good use. Full set of clubs, extra bags, assorted putters and wedges, hats and shoes. Dawn and I held a taster session on Friday for Maya and she has just become new member 43 for 2021 and total junior membership up to 88. Then to top it off we are given 2 extra Golden Tickets for the AIG Ladies Open for Carnoustie and Tarah and Stuart are delighted to be going. What a great few days and we have another 3 youngsters attending taster sessions over the next week. Picking up more donations tomorrow so always something happening. Could do with some push trolleys so if anyone has any spare ones not required give me a shout.