THE FUTURE

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. 

FALDO FUTURES

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. 

4th CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIER

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. 

COACHING PROGRAMME COMPLETED FOR 2025

It’s now time to get out on the courses and put all the coaching and practice into playing. 

Leitfie - 

Route 36 - starting from Red tees, then Yellow tees and finally White tees.

Certificates - 1st = first and ninth hole in 12 shots or less

                   2nd = all 9 holes in 54 shots or less

Fun Handicap - Leitfie Summer League

For all of the above please send photo of completed score card dated and signed by both the player and marker

We will also run ad hoc skills challenge and flag competitions 

Rannaleroch - weekly Saturday Junior competitions where players without handicaps can take part to submit cards for handicap. 

This is a huge weekend ahead with GolfSixes at Blairgowrie and Strathmore making up 25% of the field at Crieff for the P&K Strokeplay Championship. Good luck to everyone. 

WHAT A GREAT SUNDAY

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. 

THE STORY CONTINUES

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. 

TRUST TAKES HIS TEAM ON AN AWAY DAY

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. 

COACHING IS PAYING OFF BIG TIME

Had the pleasure to accompany Archie, Louis and Keegan round the course today. The improvements in the distances they are hitting their drivers is amazing. This is reflected into their scores as they are now hitting shorter irons into greens. Having access to our Club Hire Scheme and the equipment we have on offer helps make this possible. Only one out of the 5 who played today was using his own clubs. I took down 12 different putters for Louis to try and he is away with 3 to test out.

Ally Brass took the honours today with 41 points and was happy with his gross 80 but it could have been so much better, he started with an 8, but credit to him he just got on with the rest of his round and I’ve no doubt a round in the 70’s is imminent. Archie Pattullo was in total control of his game and had 39 points. The other 3 had 35 points, fantastic scoring. Dawn also remarked on how supportive Ally and Keir were to each other when good shots were played and I can endorse her observation with the others. It makes us so proud to see how these young men are progressing in golf and their etiquette and behaviour is exemplary. 

A BUSY WEDNESDAY NIGHT

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. 

NEW MEMBERSHIP EXPLOSION FOR 2025

Struan Shepherd becomes new member number 19, Jack Short will be 20, with his sister Aoife joining on the Scottish Girls Hub Scheme being number 21. Lucy Richardson who we discovered at a Taster Session we ran will be 22 and also on the Girls Hub, she will be joined by her brothers Alistair and Tom who were members 4 years ago. That makes 24 new members so far this year and six in the past 2 days !!! 

WHAT A WEEKEND

Where do I start ? Yesterday I posted the results from the summer league but that was only the start. Our Strathmore 2 team travelled to Crieff for the Bell Salver and secured a great halved match 2 v 2. Angus Palmer lost on the last. Stuart Duncan won 4&3. Archie Pattullo won on the last and Louis Purdie lost on the last. Great result and so close. 

Yesterday past junior and Scottish Internationalist Cormac Sharpe, who was celebrating his 21st birthday, came along to where it all started with 4 of his Minnesota Gophers team mates. I was invited to play with him and two of his parents friends. Brilliant time was had by all and last nights party was so much fun. He has generously offered to help with the juniors whilst he is home which is testament to the man he has become and how much he appreciates the start and encouragement we gave him. 

Today we hosted the GolfNines and Keir Reid and Archie Loudon played superbly with a fantastic gross 39. These two both gelled so well together, it was like watching a Ryder Cup pairing and who knows. 

Jessica Sievwright and Saoirse Sangerman played very well and their length off the tee was amazing they just need to tighten up their short games and both have so much potential. 

We received another £100 donation to our Club Hire Fund from Royal Perth.

Looks like we have another 4 possibly 6 new members and the Scottish Golf Girls Hub will definitely take place. 

We held a taster session recently with Isla primary and I emailed one of their mums today as both Dawn and I saw so much natural talent and recognised the potential of a future star. We are delighted she is so excited to join in. 

SUMMER LEAGUE

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. 

QUICKEST MEMBER EVER

Turned up for Coaching tonight and was met by Stewart Mallin who wanted his daughter to join in the junior coaching and we had to explain to him it was for members only. Five minutes later she was. She joined the others and loved it. Her dad said he was going to buy her a set of clubs but after we explained the Club Hire scheme he quickly changed his mind and she is delighted with her new clubs and trolley. 

Coaching format was brilliant with concentration on short game and putting. Fantastic to welcome Emily Harbison back tonight and wow what potential. Kathryn immediately spotted something and asked if she was left handed ? Although using right handed clubs she was exceptional we are going to try her next week with a left handed set to compare. She is a Karate Internationalist so I’m not going to argue with anything she says. 

The youngster are having so much fun and the camaraderie developing is amazing. I have always said that our job was to get them to that competitive stage and tonight I overheard a conversation that confirmed the next generation is there. It’s so exciting to see this develop as I know where it can lead. 

Jessica Grewar picked up her prize from the Scottish Golf draw for competing in The Skills Challenge. 

NEW MEMBERS 16 and 17 for 2025 CONFIRMED

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. 

FANTASTIC SCORING IN 2nd QUALIFIER OF JUNIOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

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.

 

 

P&K JUNIOR SPRING MEETING

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 

STRATHMORE HOSTS GOLFSIXES

Great fun today with six juniors from four clubs competing at Strathmore. We modified The Leitfie 9 hole course to 6 holes and would like to thank the centre for accommodating a “Shotgun start” The format is a pairs Texas Scramble and designed to give under 12’s with no handicap or handicaps of 37 and above the chance to compete. 

Blairgowrie 127, North Inch 123, Crieff 119 and Strathmore 112. 

Best pair score was 44 points from Andrew and Alistair representing the winning team. 

FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIER

Delay in yesterday’s results due to power cut at Centre and problem with HowDidIDo. Some good scores returned yesterday and it’s close at the top. Archie Pattullo leads the Scratch scores by 1 shot from Stuart Duncan with Jack Stevenson another shot behind. Cameron Galloway shares the lead in the handicap section with Archie Loudon with nett 71’s. Jack Stevenson returned a nett 72 and Keir Reid and Olly Stevenson are both just one shot further back. There were a few hard luck stories but quite a few will still  have handicaps cuts due to high scores on just one or two holes. 

WHAT A SATURDAY

The coaching again was amazing, Kathryn has introduced new elements which is helping the youngsters understand what helps develop the swing and to generate power and also to gain more control on short shots. It is definitely working. It was a tad windy today and one of her umbrellas did a Mary Poppins and disappeared up in the atmosphere. Luckily the space-hoppers stayed on the course, just. 

Corey Nicolson became new member number 15 for 2025 and it looks like his brother will also join and it looks like Emily Harbison is about to return. 

A very excited Willow Rae became the first junior member to complete Route 36 Red with a 35 including a fantastic 2 on 7. Leighton Thomas just missed out by one shot when he missed a 3ft putt on 9. Willow also picked up her 1st Certificate she attained a couple of weeks ago, but my fault I forgot it was in the car 🤦🏼‍♂️. 

At Alyth today 4 past Strathmore Junior girls took part in the P&K Ladies Championship with Megan Ashley and Katy Alexander, both winning, and could make the final as they are in different semi finals. 

The result from today’s first round of the Club Championship qualifier has been delayed due to a power cut at the Club House and a problem with HowDidIDo. I will post asap 

ISLA PRIMARY

Dawn and I held a taster session for Isla Primary School as part of their Health Week and have discovered another amazing prospect in Lucy. Her ball striking was phenomenal, she listened and put into practice what she was told. During the last 17 years I have watched 1000’s of youngster hit balls and only a few have natural talent and make it look easy and she is definitely up there with the best. Fingers crossed she enjoyed it so much she will come back to our Girls Hub. 

All 6 girls did well and enjoyed the experience and hopefully a few of them will decide to try the Girls Hub. 

COACHING

Second night of coaching and it’s amazing how much fun the youngsters are having. Kathryn has included a lot of exciting concepts which relates to the swing and generating speed and also aspects relating to pitching. Tonight Luke’s driving was nearly off the charts !! and the range. Archie short game was unbelievably consistent. Shane’s potential was remarked on. 

Monday - Ben’s improvement was tremendous with all the others making huge progress. 

Can’t wait to see the coaching results transfer to the course scores.