LAST TEXAS SCRAMBLE OF 2016

Alex, Kirsten and Josh joined me for a round today. +6 degrees and 17 full greens open. Normal Texas scramble rules, 3 tee shots to be used by each player. Alex as you would expect from a scratch player was very consistant and his tee shots were spectacularly long !!! which made it difficult for the other 3 of us to use ours. Kirsten was also very consistant and Alex was impressed with her smooth swing. I was very impressed with her putting which she has practiced and it certainly shows. Josh showed a marked improvement from last week and is becoming a better player and I'm sure if he keeps it up over the winter he will be ready for the new season ahead. 

We managed an 8 under par 64 which was helped by Alex finding the greens on 3 and 11. He is off tomorrow to St Andrews for a 9 o'clock start and 6 hours of Academy coaching. Josh asked me after Alex had launched another monster drive down 12 (nearly to the tree on the left) how he did it and I told him, practice and lots of it. It means a lot to me that Alex gives up his time to come out with the younger players and encourage them to get better and it proves that he will make a great Junior Captain in 2017. 

I would like to wish you all a very merry Xmas and a successful new year and may all your golfing aspirations come to fruition (or dreams come true) 2017 is going to be huge so get practicing, we have so many talented youngsters and Strathmore juniors will prove again how good they have become. 

P&K AGM AND PRIZE GIVING 2016

Alex stole the show after his tremendous season at County level. Runner up in the inaugural Junior Champion of Champions, retaining his under 16 Championship, winning his first under 18 Championship (whilst still u16), winning the Order of Merit despite missing 2 events due to being on International duty and winning the Lee Cormack Trophy after being voted player of the year !!! What a brilliant season.

He was also part of Strathmore's winning 3 man team with Tod and James and picked up that Trophy as well 

Unfortunately James couldn't attend.

I had a quick look at the names on the Trophies and was very proud to see Strathmore's name figuring prominently over the last few years.

Team winners - 2016 & 2014

Under 16 - Alex 2016 & 2015

Under 18 - Alex 2016, Michael 2014, Rory 2013 & 2012

Order of Merit - Alex 2016, Michael 2014 & 2013

Lee Cormack (Player of the year) - Alex 2016, Brad 2014

Makes me so proud to be involved with bringing the best out of these kids and seeing the progress they have made from achieving their 1st Certificates on the wee course to where they are now. Roll on next year when my expectations are even greater. 

Non of this would be possible without the continued support of Strathmore Golf Center so our thanks go to Peter and David. 

WELL DONE FINLAY AND JOSH

With temperatures a pleasant +8 and 17 Full Greens in operation was delighted that Finlay and Josh joined Dawn and I for a Texas Scramble.  I did receive 2 apologies but where was everyone else? With us all having to use at least 3 tee shots, everyone had contributed by the time we finished on the 15th. I think both boys will learn from the experience. We played from the winter tees and used the Gents white pars and returned an impressive 4 under par including 5 birdies and 1 bogey. 

Golf is all about having fun so hopefully the next time a few more of you might want to join in ! 

CHRISTMAS IS THE TIME FOR GIVING

But here at Strathmore members believe in giving the whole year round. I would like to thank the following people who have donated equipment to our junior section

Bill Hogg - dozens of New balls which meant we haven't had to buy prizes for years

Jack Gillison - hundreds (possibly thousands) of balls which he spends hours walking the three local courses finding and resulting in our juniors never having to purchase golf balls 

Ron Brodie - numerous sets of clubs and bags, outgrown by Michael and Kirsty

Dawn and Iain Butchart - numerous sets of clubs and bags

Mark and Calum Fullerton - numerous sets of clubs, bags and trolleys etc

Eric Ritchie - set of clubs and bag

Ian Scott - driver and 3 wood

Andy Reeves - numerous putters 

Jackie and Frank Moran - bag

Mary West - trolley

Hopefully I haven't missed anyone and apologies if I have but I think these generous gifts deserve a special mention. 

Please have a look round your garages and sheds and if you have equipment surplus to requirement let me know as it can be put to good use, perhaps by our next Internationalist. 

          

FIRST NEW MEMBER FOR 2017

Huge welcome to ________ who becomes our latest recruit. As it is a special Xmas present can't reveal their name but look forward to meeting them soon. 

MISSED ONE

Very remiss of me I forgot about Hazel McGargvie who is another of our past Juniors. Last season she had a fantastic year winning the Scottish Girls Order of Merit and is currently in Florida with the Scottish Ladies squad taking part in their winter training camp. She has also represented Scotland many times and currently has a handicap of -1 (-1.5 exact)

This is where practice can take you. 

ANOTHER UPDATE FROM PAST JUNIOR MEMBERS

Our success at bringing Juniors through the ranks has again been recognised at National level. Katy Alexander and Cormac Sharpe who both began at Strathmore are now in Tier 1 of the Scottish Academy programme. Alexei Butchart is now an Internationalist having represented Russia in matches against Spain in Madrid and Alicante. He won events in Rostov and Moscow which included a course record 69 in the later. Won the Russian Junior Tour under 15s and Junior Tour Order of Merit which gave him a grant towards clubs of 75,000 rubles (equivalent to just under £1,000) He lost in a play off for the Russian Golf Association Presidents Cup, but both he and the winner secured a free tip to Malaga for 2 weeks in February for their efforts.
I am so proud of what we have achieved over the years and with all these youngsters still developing the future of Strathmore juniors past and present is unprecedented and can't wait to see what 2017 brings.

This is how it all started for Alexei.