The draw for Saturday is below. It is a Medal so off the whites. Both Iain and I are both away but we are delighted that past Junior Captain, Callum Ewan, will be performing his first duty as a new member of our committee. Callum will be joining the final group and seeing you all off.
As most of you know my club hire scheme has been running for 13 years. It’s been an incredible success, adopted by Scottish Golf and rolled out nationally.
Due to an additional grant we received from SSE Drumderg Community Fund and income generated from hire charges we have been able to upgrade all our clubs to full sets. This meant we had loads of half sets unused.
I took the decision to sell them off at discounted rates and also to include some of our other full sets that were surplus to requirement. What a success it has been.
Dullatur bought 5 sets, Cowal 5 sets, Hollandbush 7 sets, Kingennie 3 sets, Cardross 10 sets, Elgin 10 sets, King James V1 6 sets, Stirling have reserved 6 sets and Inverness 2 sets. That’s 54 sets leaving us with 14 plus a few others I might consider.
It’s all about getting more youngsters into golf and making it affordable. The purchasing of clubs is often a stumbling block for participation but with the hire scheme that hurdle is taken away.
Crieff hosted on Sunday and what a result for Strathmore juniors. 11 competed. Archie Puttullo finished 2nd scratch with a fantastic 68 being pipped by one shot. He won the handicap section with a nett 62. Archie Loudon had a nett 65 with Keegan Fergusson and Alasdair Brass nett 68’s. Angus Palmer finished 3rd scratch with a 71.
Archie Pattullo is 2nd seed in the scratch with Archie Loudon, Keegan Fergusson and Alasdair Brass all avoiding each other in the last 8 of the handicap matchplay.
Blairgowrie hosted the GolfSixes and we finished 4th but the youngsters had great fun and will learn from the experience.
Today Dawn and I saw part of the future development and growth of Strathmore Juniors. Keegan Fergusson continued his consistancy. Struan Shepherd who I accompanied for the first time has huge potential, his driving distances are phenomenal and very consistent. A bit of putting practice will make all the difference. Noah Shepherd playing his first competition adapted well, although he had 4 high scoring hole he showed enough on the other holes and his par 3 on 17 was the highlight. Great to have him taking part and joining our growing band. Archie Loudon impressed Dawn with his distance improvement off the tee and is so committed to improving his performances. Keir Reid joined 2 of the Ladies who were also playing today so we didn’t have a Fourball and impressed the Ladies so much that they both said they would be happy to help out anytime they were needed.
Over the next couple of weeks Aoife Short and Lucy Richardson have been invited to attend some extra Scottish Girls Hub coaching to catch up with Amaya Mallin, Jessica and Millie Grewar who have already received some sessions. Both girls can be added to the list of those with huge potential. The future is so bright at the moment.
Archie Loudon and Willow Rae travelled to Dalmahoy yesterday for the regional qualifier in the Faldo Futures. The experience they gain from playing in these events is so important for their development. Neither had their best day on the course but both can take the positives and move on. Past junior member Tarah Simpson qualified in the girls 11-12 age group.
Fantastic scoring by Keegan Fergusson, a gross 81 nett 67 also seen his handicap reduced from 12.7 to 11.9. 9 played last night including new member Struan Shepherd.
Up early this morning to get organised for a busy week ahead. First up a Club Fitting for Ellis Murray and he is delighted to get them and a trolley. His dad told me he had only bought his set for Xmas and that’s him outgrown them in 5 months. Ellis has subsequently donated them to our hire scheme so another new member can benefit from using them, what a generous gesture. Next up was a quickly arranged Flag Competition with Daniel Alexander and Willow Rae taking part. Willows drive on the first was pin high and I wish I’d taken a video of her swing, it was text book. Daniel had a great 5 on the first as did Willow. Both played very well and their 36th shots both finished on the 6th hole. Daniel short of the green and Willow an inch from the hole. Daniel went on to gain his first Certificate by having a 6 on the 9th including a fresh air shot. Fantastic to see these youngsters so keen to get out and play.
Next up was the Crieff Junior Open and I’m so proud of our 6 players who attended. Angus Palmer retained the Jennie Collie Trophy he won last year by returning a gross 75. Jessica Sievwright was the leading girl and also finished 2nd overall in the handicap section. We spoke to both of them tonight and they are delighted with their results. Angus was disappointed he took 3 to get out of a bunker but that’s positive as he knows his score could have been better. Something he will no doubt work on. Jessica didn’t realise how well she had done but a voucher and prize sorted that. Waiting for P&K to confirm but I think more than these 2 will pick up valuable points for the Gleneagles Scholarships.
Great result today, 3 out of the 4 qualified for selection for the district. Trust is delighted and hopefully this will help him get into a coaching course.
Growing Golf in Zimbabwe. Trust has taken a team of youngster to Mutare to compete in a competition and they are staying in a tent. Respect to this young man who we helped and seeing him continuing to help grow golf.
10 played in the latest Club Championship qualifier with Angus Palmer taking the honours in the Scratch with a 76 which stared with an 8, fantastic recovery, and proof that you put behind you a bad hole and just get on with it. Louis Purdie had the best nett with a 69 followed by Keegan with a 71. Great scoring yet again.
5 new members joined in tonights coaching with 3 of them being fitted with clubs, trolleys and shoes. Great to welcome them all. 19 took part in the 4 sessions and the improvements were amazing. Cameron Duncan and Shane Anderson deserve a special mention as their progress is beyond comparison.
Fantastic scoring today with Keegan Fergusson scoring 79 gross. Olly Stevenson had 43 stablemate points followed by Keir Reid on 42. Keegan finished 3rd with 41 and Ally Brass followed with 39. Think all will have handicap cuts and it was great to see them all having so much fun.
Delighted to announce that Matthew Nicolson and the returning Emily Harbison are our latest new members. The Strathmore pathway is becoming “the road” to go and I’m so delighted that other Clubs are seeking advice and following on. It’s simple, it works and there’s no reason why it can’t be replicated elsewhere. It takes commitment, support, effort and time to achieve.
Stuart Duncan led the Scratch score with an 81 and Keegan Fergusson with an impressive 86 finished second. The Handicap section saw Keegan’s nett 69 pipped by Olly Stevenson’s nett 68. Keir Reid finished 3rd with a nett 71. It’s great to see the commitment of all those who played tonight, they are forming really strong bonds and friendships. This is what makes golf such a special sport.
Huge congratulations to all our players who took part. Saoirse Sangerman was just pipped by one shot but what a fantastic performance to finish second in the handicap section. Archie Loudon finished 6th and picked up valuable points, In the Scratch section Angus Palmer finished fourth and Archie Pattullo 5th. Great start to the County Programme of events and it’s exciting to see how the rest of the season goes
