DUE TO COVID OUR FIRST TEAM TO PLAY IN BELLS SALVER FOR 3 YEARS ANNOUNCED

Fantastic to announce a Bells Salver team for the first time in 3 years. Cameron, Archie, Jack and Keegan will tee it up at Muckhart on Saturday, unfortunately I won’t be able to attend after contracting Covid and having to self isolate. 8 sets of Hire Clubs arrived from Golphin today meaning we are fully stocked again. Just waiting for an update on golf shoes so we can place an order for the smaller sizes, but if anyone has any small sizes from 12-1’s going spare let me know. We also took delivery of 5 new trolleys for the Hire Scheme. £750 was received from Scottish Golf as a fund match to money we have invested recently in the Hire Scheme. As the summer approaches I am excited with what we intend to do - Girls Hub, Flag and GolfSixes Competitions and specialist performance coaching, we have identified a number of keen and very talented youngsters who we will be inviting to work with over the school holidays. 

BARRIE DOUGLAS

Unfortunately Kirsten and Blair haven’t had the best couple of days but hopefully they can get a score tomorrow and take some positives from the event. A very happy Mia was presented with her first Certificate. Golphin confirmed our latest order for sets has been processed and should be with us on Wednesday. 

ANOTHER RECORD GOES

Another great night at coaching. Max who had already broken our membership numbers also broke our Club Hire Scheme record by becoming the 72nd member to hire clubs in 2022. It’s such a small world his dad Scott started his green keeping career at Strathmore as an apprentice and Dawn and I were playing golf with his Granddad at Dornoch and Golspie last week !!! Amazing coincidences. Kian and Mia upgraded their hire sets having outgrowing them and Lewis will have his swapped next week. Charlie and John were presented with their Certificates tonight as well. Cameron and Stuart played in the Club Championship Qualifier in very difficult windy conditions. Well done boys proud of you both. 

JUNIOR OPEN

Thursday 21st July - enquiry for entry from Australia 🇦🇺. Family attending The 150th Open at St Andrews and son looking to play in Our Open. Global exposure. 

99

Max becomes new member 32 for the season and brings total membership for 2022 up to 99. A new record and one which will not last long as we have been confirmed as a Scottish Golf Girls Hub and hope to have at least 6 taking part so watch this space. Max will attend his first coaching session tonight. 

CORMAC PLAYS HIS WAY INTO THE MENS SCOTTISH OPEN FINAL

Cruden Bay will host the 4 round Final and Cormac will be there as the leading scorer from today’s final pre qualifier at Fraserburgh. What an achievement from someone who never forgot his roots and is still a Junior member. Dawn and I had the pleasure of attending his 18th birthday party recently. Good luck from us all. 

CHIPPING IS THE IMPROVEMENT AREA TONIGHT

Hopefully everyone will now have got the message. You don’t use the most lofted club in your bag unless you have to go up and over something. Could be a big stroke saving moment for many. Another membership enquiry tonight which is the 5th in the last 10 days. So much happening on and off the course just now. Have a meeting tomorrow and am awaiting a reply from a major supplier so some more exciting developments could soon be announced. 

SKILLS CHALLENGE (part 2)

Some tremendous scores today. We have leaders in the National League in most age groups, but to be fair only 3 other players scores from other clubs have been entered. Archie scored a fantastic 285 points and currently not only leads the 10-12 boys but has the highest overall score in all categories. Blair leads the 13-15 with 250. Keegan the 7-9 with 245 and James the 6 and under’s with 185. Saoirse leads the 10-12 girls with 160 and Tarah the 7-9 with 205. We will be holding follow up challenges but some of these score will be hard to match. Driving and putting has been excellent but chipping is definitely the problem area with too many youngster using clubs with too much loft. Only saying, but I’ve been telling them for years, get the ball on the ground and running as soon as possible. Make golf simple. 

ANOTHER BUSY DAY

Fantastic score by Jack who has probably played himself into the Bell Salver main squad on merit. Huge thanks to Díane who stood in at short notice to help us out today.  Great to see the improvements being made by all the players. Isla and Cara are delighted with their upgraded Hire Clubs and along with Brandon took possession of a free pair of golf shoes from our swap scheme. It’s brilliant to see the enthusiasm for playing golf and the willingness to listen and learn. Delighted for Kieran  who achieved his first Certificate. Blair, Cameron and Kirsten were at Forfar in the Junior Tour and will be looking to improve on today’s scores tomorrow. Big day tomorrow with our 2nd Skills Challenge. 

WHAT A FRIDAY

Membership 99 registered and another 2 taster sessions to be arranged so triple figure Junior membership numbers is now a reality for the 1st time in the clubs history. Confirmation received that we again are one of the Scottish Golf Girls Hubs so watch out for future news. Skills Challenge numbers are growing for Sunday. Both home Bell Trophy matches arranged for Sunday 26th June v Crieff and Sunday 17th July v Milnathort. And finally we received the Alyth Development Trust grant for £2,000 which secures the future of the Strathmore Start-Up Scholarship Scheme for the next 12 months and hopefully beyond. This is huge and over the last 10 years we have secured over £15,000 of funding from different sources to make all this possible. I cannot thank the various sponsors enough but they have helped give opportunities to so many youngsters over the years. Looking forward I believe the current group of youngster can emulate the past juniors successes and who knows where this will lead. 

CERTIFICATES PRESENTED

 Mia, Ruby, Archie and Blake all received their Certificates at the coaching tonight. Woody and Dahn fitted for their Free Golf Shoes as well. 

2nd QUALIFIER

Stuart had the best round tonight and Ruby achieved her 1st Certificate and Fun Handicap 

LATEST FLAG COMPETITION AND MUCH MORE

19 juniors took part today and in a very close run event 3 players reached the 8th green. Arthur holed out to win, Louis finished 2nd, 6ft from the hole and Andrew a credible 3rd just on the edge of the green. 4 players also made the 7th green. Jessica won both the girls and 8 and under section. Great fun with 3 taking part for the first time. Great photo of Forbes planting his flag, one small step but one giant leap into competitive golf, and he only missed his 1st Certificate by one shot as did Kieran. Leighton who had a 6 on the first achieved his Certificate after a duffed pitch but holing a 10ft putt for another 6 on the 9th. 8 cards have sent in for Leitfie Summer League, with 5 handicap reductions. Great to see so many other youngsters out playing as well. Apologies to Rosina and Jessica whose photos the 2 officials missed taking. 

ANOTHER BUSY SATURDAY

Blair and Cameron took the honours in the Scratch and Handicap sections respectively in the first round of the Club Championship Qualifier. 2nd round on Tuesday. Hunter gained his Fun Handicap of 54 but just missed out on his Certificates by one stroke. Harry picked up a pair of size 7 golf shoes from our free swap scheme. Our youngsters were also on Tour competing in the Wee Wonders at Carnoustie today and our two players Tarah and James both won their age categories. Gareth had read my blog and had the chipping set up for the coaching session and again it was proved keep the ball low !!! Every group were more accurate with a 7 or 8 iron than a wedge of any description. Think I’ve been telling them that for 14 years !!! 

ANOTHER FIRST FOR STRATHMORE

On entering our scores tonight discovered we’re the first Club in Scotland to hold a Skills Challenge so in all sections we currently have all the leading scores !! 

6 and under boys leader James Thom 145 points 

7-9  boys leaders Keegan 245 & Jake 180. Girls leaders Tarah 205 & Ellie-Marie Smart 170

10-12 boys leaders Andrew Watt 195 & Nate Meikle 185. Girls Leader Saoirse Sangerman 135

13-15 boys leader Blair Hockley 250 

22 players took part and it looks like chipping is the next improvement area to be worked on and hopefully a week on Sunday some who competed today will have a chance to improve their scores. It’s really exciting to see the enthusiasm the youngsters have and the improvements in the putting due to the work everyone has put it. 

READY FOR FIRST SKILLS CHALLENGE

Welcome back to Samuel who became our 98th member for 2022. Charlie, Rosina, Ruaridh, Ruby and Samuel all were fitted for their Free golf shoes from our swap scheme. Samuel rejoined the Club Hire Scheme and along with Rosina and Ruby will also be hiring a trolley. Angus was busy working on swings and set ups last night whilst Jackie worked on improving their putting. Paid off for Mia who achieved her 1st and 2nd Certificates. Below is Andrew pictured with his 1st Certificate he achieved last week. 

ANOTHER 3 GREAT COACHING SESSIONS

Some fantastic improvements again. The youngsters are listening and learning and putting the effort in and it shows. We are holding 2 Skill Challenge events and another Flag event over the next two weeks which will give us a yardstick to where they are. Emily upgraded her clubs and trolley tonight and Douglas hired a trolley and Kari was fitted for Free Golf shoes from our swap scheme. A busy night with Ellie, Luna and Kai receiving their Certificates. Kieran just missed his first Certificate but I suspect he will get it next time. More cards are coming in and scores are improving and fun Handicaps on Leitfie and WHS Handicaps on Rannaleroch are also being reduced. James will probably be first to have 10 cards in with 8 submitted already. 13 others are catching up but we have a long Summer ahead and I expect more will join in. Tom will be next with a WHS Handicap with Owen next. Looks like Samuel is going to rejoin which would take membership numbers up to 98, 2 away from the magic number, but with 4 enquiries last week I don’t think it will take long. Great to have Stuart along to help tonight as part of his Duke of Edinburgh award. 

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL DAY

Great day at coaching and loads out playing. Cameron won the May Medal with a great nett 70 just pipping James on the best back nine, 12 out which is brilliant. Archie gained his first and second Certificate and a Fun Handicap of 45 (22.5 over 9 holes). James reduced his Fun Handicap again. William upgraded his hire set. Tom upgraded his trolley and Brandon took possession of his. Tom, Hunter, Ben and Fraser all got fitted for FREE golf shoes from our swap scheme. Mia not only got a brand new set of hire clubs but also took Tom’s trolley which had just been swapped, things move quick at Strathmore. She was delighted as the photo shows. 

BELL SALVER AND A WHOLE LOT MORE

Bell Salver back up and running with Crieff, Kinross, Milnathort, Muckhart and Strathmore fielding teams. Great to have this event back. New fun Handicaps for Luna and Rory and WHS Handicaps confirmed for Harry and Olly. 2 Skills Challenge and 1 Flag Competition organised over the next 2 weeks and entries filling up. 13 juniors playing in the Monthly Medal tomorrow or for handicap and another 4 enquiries for junior membership. 

YES IT CAN GET BETTER

Confirmation today that we have received our second grant in two days, this one £750 from Scottish Golf towards our Club Hire Scheme. More sets ordered and on way. 3 more enquires for membership and a waiting list now a reality but we are looking at different options. Coaching was amazing again tonight with Angus so impressed by the improvements. Dawn and Jackie took the putting sessions and again seen major improvements. Loads of parents took my advice to get their youngsters out on the course and John and Andrew both achieved their 1st Certificates and Mia gained a Fun Handicap of 54 (27 over 9 holes)  Archie, Blake and Cooper got themselves golf shoes from our free scheme and Mia, Charlie and Cooper hired trolleys. We are now preparing for more events starting with the Skills Challenge and may include a Flag Competition to run alongside. 

CAN THIS GET BETTER

Fantastic news. Today I received confirmation that we had been awarded a further grant towards our Strathmore Start-Up Scholarship Scheme. I would like to thank the Alyth Development Trust for their funding. We now have 18 delighted recipients. One parent has already donated their equivalent saving to the 2023 Strathmore Start-Up and Retention Scheme when we hope to continue and expand what we have already put in place. Our membership record has been smashed with 97 junior members and our club hire numbers of 71 sets will be matched on Saturday and that record will go next. Our hard work and commitment to junior golf is being recognised and supported which makes everything we do worthwhile. Have received so many complimentary messages tonight from grateful parents. 

ANOTHER 3 FANTASTIC COACHING SESSIONS

Place was buzzing again tonight after yesterday’s Closed GolfSixes event. The youngsters are desperate to get back out and playing. Stuart has agreed to help on a Monday night as part of his Duke of Edinburgh award scheme which is brilliant. Our juniors who mentored during the winter are showing their appreciation by giving so much back. It makes me so proud that they are willing to do this. Kirsten tonight qualified as 2nd seed in the Matchplay in the P&K Ladies Championship where she could meet another past Strathmore junior. Captain Megan in the final if they both win through. 

STRATHMORE GOLFSIXES CLOSED COMPETITION

Fantastic turnout for our first Closed GolfSixes event. 30 youngster formed 15 pairs, 21 playing for the first time and everyone had a brilliant time. Archie and Rhys won with an amazing 47 points with Ben and Fraser coming second. Great to see so many new players taking part maybe this will inspire them to get out more. Cameron finished tied 2nd in the Ballantine Cup and Tarah finished 2nd at the SGF flag event. 

SEASON NOW IN FULL SWING

4 great coaching sessions today and it’s definitely showing in the scoring. 9 played in the Hamish McTavish with another 3 playing for their first WHS Handicaps. Archie took the honours with a fantastic nett 66. He reduced his handicap by 1 shot as did Keegan and Keir knocked 3 shots off his. Kieran joined our Club Hire Scheme and was keen to try out his new clubs and new golf shoe supplied to members from our swap scheme,  and his wee sister was quick to try out his old set. Tom was refitted for his hire set and Mia who attended her first coaching session will be fitted for a set next week along with William who has outgrown his set. 30 are now confirmed to play in our first Strathmore Closed GolfSixes event which is so exciting as it introduces a fun way for juniors to get involved in competitive golf. Olly and Finn were presented with their Certificates as well.