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CASTLE STUART TO HOST THE DUKE OF YORK YOUNG CHAMPIONS TROPHY

The internationally-renowned Castle Stuart Golf Links will play host to some of the world’s best young amateur golfers when it stages The Duke of York Young Champions Trophy later this year.

The 54-hole stroke play event for young men and women has featured in the past some notable players, including Rory McIlroy, Matteo Manassero, Pablo Martin, Oliver Fisher and Anna Nordqvist. Five former players also took part in the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

The 60-strong field at the four-time Scottish Open venue near Inverness from 17-20 September will be made up of golfers who are the current holders of their under 18 national Championship, or the winner of a separate but recognised major golfing event in the preceding year.

 The competition is supported and overseen by officials of the R&A, golf’s governing body, and counts towards the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

 The Duke of York, who is also The Earl of Inverness, founded the event in 2001 with the aim of promoting the development of junior golf, encouraging competitiveness and friendship between individual champions, whilst providing them with an opportunity to play on leading championship courses against their peers.
Dominic Hampshire, the Tournament Director, said: “Castle Stuart is a world class links course and we are delighted it will be the setting for this year’s Duke of York Young Champions Trophy, particularly as His Royal Highness has such a strong affinity with Inverness." “I have no doubt that for those junior champions invited to play this year it will be a huge privilege to have the opportunity to play this wonderful course.”

 It is the first time the event has been staged in the Highlands, having previously been held at other Scottish venues, Royal Aberdeen and Royal Troon, as well as Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool, Royal St George's and the Prince’s Golf Club in Kent.
 It is another milestone in the short history of Castle Stuart Golf Links, which was opened in 2009. The course was ranked at Number 53 in Golf Digest’s World’s Best 100 Golf Courses this month. 

Stuart McColm, Castle Stuart’s general manager, said: “This is a huge honour for Castle Stuart and the Highlands." “The Duke of York Young Champions Trophy is an event highly regarded around the world for promoting and supporting young golfers." “It is an exciting prospect to be involved in such a distinguished tournament and to see potentially the stars of tomorrow from around the world playing in the north of Scotland.”

ANGELA YE WINS ANNIKA INVITATIONAL

  

ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida – Angelina Ye hoped to win her first American Junior Golf Association invitational at some point in 2018. It took her two weeks into the year to achieve that dream. 

Ye flipped the script late Monday at the ANNIKA Invitational USA. She stood on the par-3 15th tee at the World Golf Village’s Slammer and Squire Course two shots back and in line to finish runner-up to wire-to-wire leader Mathilde Claisse. 

 Only, the French player stumbled late, and Ye rose with a pair of birdies to snatch a two-shot victory and with it earn an exemption into the Symetra Tour’s Florida’s Natural Charity Classic.

To read the full report  CLICK HERE

ENTRIES ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE 2018 JUNIOR FLAG CHALLENGE

Entries are now open for the 2018 Junior Flag Challenge!

 This year we are introducing a Glasgow North and Ayrshire Tour to go alongside our Glasgow South Tour that we have run for the last couple of years.

 Check out the dates and information at http://juniorflagchallenge.co.uk 

Fore from four! Lets Golf Pro publishes unique playing guide to encourage youth to take up and understand sport.

Lets Golf’s Steve Furlonger, in conjunction with junior academy coach Phil Swinard, has published a ‘Golf Made Simple for Kids’ guide to encourage today’s youth to take up the game.




The book, which features a guide to golf in pictures and rhyme, is PGA approved, a British innovation and a world first. Self-published by the golf-loving duo, ‘Golf Made Simple for Kids’ takes young readers through the entire game, focusing on everything from etiquette, which clubs to use, and warm-up exercises to putting, chipping, pitching and bunkers.

The book’s USP is its use of phrases, rhymes and pictures that children can remember when learning to play golf. Readers are introduced to two characters, Kim and Oliver, whose illustrated actions are clear for readers from a young age to comprehend and copy. Steve and Phil’s characters are also highlighted throughout offering top tips and rules guidance.

Steve, the resident golf pro at Lets Golf simulation centre in Horley, commented:
“At Lets Golf we have seen a real increase in young children taking up the sport which is great news, not only as it bucks the trend of endless reports highlighting the sport’s decline, but also as it can be the most rewarding activity for youngsters of all abilities. Golf teaches children a number of personal skills that will last a lifetime such as etiquette, sociability and networking, not to mention keeping them active and being able to enjoy quality time with friends and family that play too.
“However, teaching a child how to play golf requires a different approach to teaching an adult. First and foremost, it has to be fun or you will lose their interest.


Secondly it must challenge their skill and stimulate their mind with suitable games. Our book not only teaches the child the golf skills through its unique picture and rhyme format, we have also incorporated at the end of each chapter a number of extremely fun games to challenge and test their newly developed skills. We have made golf fun!!
“We do not use technical terms because children respond better to visual cues and words they understand. This is where our world’s first rhyme and picture concept makes our book stand out from the crowd.”
Golf Made Simple for Kids is available from www.golfmadesimpleforkids.com for £9.99 or from Lets Golf’s shop at the simulation centre in Horley, Surrey.
For more information on Lets Golf please visit www.lets-golf.co.uk

ILGU Junior Medal Finals - Gold for Charlie Maxwell

Charlie Maxwell (Royal Curragh) BY Pat Cashman Photography

MEDIA RELEASE

ILGU Junior Medal Finals

Seapoint Golf Links

1 November 2017

 

Gold for Maxwell ILGU Junior Medal

 

FULL SCORING

 

Charlie Maxwell (Royal Curragh) has won the ILGU Gold Medal at Seapoint. Fifty-five qualifiers from across the country competed today having won their Club Junior Medal for players with the lowest aggregate of 3 nett score differentials (relative to CSS), one in each month June, July and August 2017.

 

Charlie, who was involved in the ILGU Regional programme with Johnny Young this year has fallen significantly in handicap and fired 41 points today. The Silver Medals went to Aine Donegan (Woodstock) and Olivia McCrystal (Holywood) while the Bronze Medal was won by Aoife Quinn (Dun Laoghaire).

 

Prizes

Gold Medal (Best Nett Overall): Charlie Maxwell (Royal Curragh) 41pts

Silver Medal (Best Nett <20 handicap): Olivia McCrystal (Holywood) 39pts

Silver Medal (Best Gross): Aine Donegan (Woodstock) 36 gross pts

Bronze Medal (Best Nett 21 – 36 handicap): Aoife Quinn (Dun Laoghaire) 38pts

2^nd Nett: Tara Laverty (Royal Portrush) 39 pts

3^rd Nett: Chloe Maples Gaffney (Royal Tara) 39pts

ILGU Junior Medal Final

Kate Lanigan (Hermitage) - Pat Cashman Photography 

Emma Fleming (Elm Park) - Pat Cashman Photography

The ILGU Club Junior Medal is presented to the player with the lowest aggregate of 3 nett score differentials (relative to CSS), one in each month June, July and August 2017.

 

The Club Junior Medal winners are invited to compete at the ILGU Medal Finals at Seapoint Golf Club to compete for the Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals on November 1^st.

 

A shotgun start at 11am will see 55 girls from across the country compete for not only the Gold Medal but also the Silver and Bronze Medals which are awarded to best gross score and best nett score for handicaps 21 – 36 respectively.

 

Two girls who have already tasted success at Seapoint this year are Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden) and Aine Donegan (Woodstock) who won the Leinster Girls Championship and U21 Seapoint Scratch Cup. Caoimhe O'Grady (Blackbush) also won the ILGU Junior Medal in 2015 and returns this year 13 shots lower in handicap to bid for the title again.

Drawsheet – Shotgun start at 11.00am

Tee 1 Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden), Aine Donegan (Woodstock), Leah Temple Lang (Elm Park), Kate Lanigan (Hermitage)                             

Tee 2 Katie O'Hart (Arklow), Emma Fleming (Elm Park), Anna Dawson (Tramore)      

Tee 3 Emily Walsh (Limerick), Caoimhe O'Grady (Black Bush), Olivia McCrystal (Holywood)              

Tee 4 Caitlin Shippam (Ballykisteen), Katie Poots (Knock), Annabel Greham (Ballina)

Tee 5 Clodagh Parkinson (Tramore), Roisín Connolly (Youghal), Orla O'Rorke (Headfort)

Tee 6 Aine Moore (Portarlington), Sarah O' Brien (Elm Park), Heidi McMillen (Holywood)

Tee 7 Tara Laverty (Royal Portrush), Kate Sheridan (Elm Park), Chloe Maples Gaffney (Royal Tara)                 

Tee 8 Xhemi Rama (Carton House), Ciara Dunne (Naas), Charlie Maxwell (Royal Curragh)

Tee 9 Maebh McLoughlin (Co. Sligo), Sorcha Moylan (Birr), Mary Beth McBrearty (Letterkenny)          

Tee 10 Isobel Gorey (Naas), Zoe Murphy (Berehaven), Orla Coughlan (Douglas)

Tee 11 Evelyn Park (Edmondstown), Corine Mulrooney (Enniscrone), Aoife Quinn (Dun Laoghaire)

Tee 12 Aoife Cadogan (Faithlegg), Katie McGrath (Mullingar), Zara Wadding (Dundalk)

Tee 13 Ellie O'Melvenna (Galgorm Castle), Niamh Grealy (Beaverstown), Sophie Reynolds (Co. Sligo)

Tee 14 Caitriona Dolan (Dunmurry), Olivia Costello (Roscommon), Ruth Flanagan (Co. Sligo)

Tee 15 Aoife Mullen (Mullingar), Sarah Hutchinson (Portarlington), Joanne Glynn (Tullamore)

Tee 16 Sarah McBrearty (Letterkenny), Nicola Lynch (Malahide), Niamh Lennon (Roscommon)

Tee 17 Jennifer Boland (Donabate), Rachel Brunton (Donaghadee), Ellie McCormack (Enniscrone)

Tee 18 Sophia O'Shea (Kilkenny), Zara Mee (Woodbrook), Sinead O'Donnell (Tralee)

Perthshire golf owes huge debt to the Butcharts for promotion and encouragement of Juniors

By BILL HOGG
Who played for GB and Ireland boys team
against Continent of Europe many moons ago
The efforts of Iain Butchart and his wife Dawn in all that they have done to promote and encourage junior golf in Perthshire from Iain’s position as Junior Convener at Strathmore Golf Club for the past 10 years or so stems from the well documented membership decline of most golf clubs in Scotland.

To a large extent, the drop in numbers can be attributed to the lack of youngsters taking up the game which, in turn, has caused the average age of some club memberships to have risen considerably, in some cases to the late 60s which is clearly unsustainable if club golf is going to survive as we have always known it.
We are all aware of the competing interests of youngsters these days and that to many  golf can be seen as too time- consuming and even still a bit elitist which is a barrier to getting new blood into the game if it is going to prosper at it has done in all my near 60 years' involvement in golf.  
While the R and A and other like organisations can do their best to stimulate interest, at the end of the day it is with the efforts at ground level of individual clubs through their junior sections that effective action can be taken to promote the game we all love.    
This is where I feel the likes of Iain Butchart deserve wider recognition of all that he and his wife Dawn have achieved at Strathmore, particularly with it being a relatively new club (the course there was only opened in 1996) and without being unfair, could be described as an unfashionable club compared with the many more established and wealthier clubs elsewhere.
The hire of golf clubs scheme was Iain’s brainchild as a first-class practical measure to introduce youngsters to the game .
The dedicated and enthusiastic work carried out by Iain and Dawn, with the help of others, over the last decade, has arrested the decline of interest in the game by youngsters
Thanks to Butcharts' efforts, top quality talent has already been produced in the likes of Alex Simpson, Kirsty Brodie, Megan Ashley and others.
There have been a number of talented young golfers produced by Strathmore GC in recent years who have gone on to receive national recognition and according to their long standing Junior Convenor, Iain Butchart, the reason is a simple one.
Strathmore has and continues to be very supportive of junior golf as they see it as their future and even pay for an external PGA professional in Gareth Couzens to give free lessons to their juniors.
They also have a certificate system set up on their nine-hole course and fun handicaps before Iain decides when they are ready for the 18 hole course and a CONGU handicap.
This has already produced two assistant professionals in Rory Tinker (Piperdam) and Hannah Robb (Elie), and Emily Aird and Michael Brodie are on college golf scholarships in America.   Megan Aird is looking to work in golf hospitality and Tod Bannerman has started a greenkeepers' course at Gleneagles, having first attended Elmwood College in Fife.
Currently, Strathmore have Kirsty Brodie, Amy Mitchell and Alex Simpson all in the Scottish Academy programme – the only club in Scotland to have three.
Butchart reckons that this success will continue and Strathmore will keep on producing good young players because of the structured set-up he has put in place.   He sees his role as convener is to give all juniors the opportunity to reach their potential and encourages them with much help as possible to achieve their goals.
Iain is expecting big things from the likes of Alex, Kirsty, Amy and also Megan Ashley. Strathmore continues to buck the trend in attracting new members this year, six of whom are girls, bringing their total number of girls to 15.

Link to Ping Junior Solheim Cup Day 1 results

https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/1072859

SCOTS TO FORE IN ST ANDREWS JUNIOR OPENS

By Colin Farquharson

Local lads in St Andrews Boys' Open semi-finals and Scotland v England in Junior Ladies

Two local lads, Christian Barbour (St Andrews New) and Matthew Jackman (St Andrews), are through to Thursday morning's semi-finals of the St Andrews Boys' Open tournament.

But they have formidable opposition to overcome in the semi-finals, teeing off at the Old Course at 6.30am and 6.40am.

Barbour plays the leading qualifier, Daniel Nicholls from Colchester, while Jackman faces Japan's Taiga Sugihara who is trying to following in the footsteps of a compatriot who won the title last year.

Sugihara has come through to the last four despite being the 22nd of 32 qualifiers for the match-play and much the same can be said about Barbour who was the 21st qualifier.

In the boys' handicap semi-finals, Calum G Daun (Inverness) and Bean Carberry (Falkirk) are keeping alive the prospects of a Scottish winner. Their semi-finals over the Old Course tee off at 6.50am and 7am with Daun playing Carberry in the second tie.

The final of the St Andrews Junior Ladies Open is bound to be a Scotland v England affair as the two English survivors, Eloise Healey (West Lancs) plays compatriot Katie Jane Stanley (Manchester) in the first semi-final (7.10am) over the Old Course while Jennifer Saxton (Muckhart) meets Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) in the second tie (7.20am).

Healey KO'd top seed Kirsten Brown (Strathaven) by 2 and 1 in the quarter-finals.

The final of the handicap section will be contested (tee off 12.20) by two English players, Adel Watt, who plays off eight at Cookridge Hall, Leeds, and Isla McDonald O'Brien, a 12-handicapper at Lilleshall Hall.

JUNIOR LADIES 

SCRATCH

QUARTER-FINALS

E Healey (West Lancs) bt K Brown (Strathaven) 2 and 1.

K J Stanley (Manchester) bt F Rattray (Douglas Park) 4 and 2.

J Saxton (Muckhart) bt M Ashley (Strathmore) 7 and 6.

K Beveridge (Aboyne) bt M Fraser (Powfoot) 4 and 3.

HANDICAP

QUARTER-FINALS

H Kelly (Fulford) bt M Baldwin (Princes) 4 and 3.

A Watt (Cookridge Hall) bt E Marshall (Baberton) 3 and 1.

I McD O'Brien (Lilleshall Hall) bt S Murphy (Clydebank and Dist) 4 and 3.

B Norton (Brough) bt M McIntosh (Formby Ladies) 2 holes.

SEMI-FINALS

Watt (8) bt Kelly (15) 1 hole.

O'Brien (12) bt Norton (10) 1 hole

BOYS RESULTS

SCRATCH

QUARTER-FINALS

D Nicholls (Colchester) bt V Koppitsch (Ger) 1 hole.

C Barbour (St Andrews New) bt J Roberts (Muckart) 1 hole.

M Jackman (St Andrews) bt M Fullepp (NZ) 2 and 1.

T Sugihara (Japan) bt F Matthews (Blairgowrie) 4 and 3.

HANDICAP

QUARTER-FINALS

D Di Mattheo (Burhill) bt M Robertson (Glasgow) 2 and 1l.

A Koyama (Luffenham Heath) bt J Emerson (East Kilbride) 5 and 3.

C G Daun (Inverness) bt Z Hogg (Ealing) 2 and 1.

B Carberry (Falkirk) bt B C Hunter (St Andrews) 2 holes.

GERMAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 1 SCORES

LEADING first-round scores in the German junior golf championships at St Leon-Rot Golf Club:

GIRLS

Par 74

66 Emma Spitz (Austria), Linn Grant (Sweden)

67 Esther Henseleit (Germany), Julia Engstrom (Sweden), Caterina Don (Italy).

68 Sara Kouskova (Czech Republic)

ENGLISH & IRISH SCORES

69 Annabell Fuller (Eng) (T7)

74 Amelia Williamson (Eng), Samantha Fuller (Eng), Lily-May Humphreys (Eng) (T42)

75 Valerie Clancy (Ire), Martha Lewis (Eng) (T55)

78 Mairead Martin (Ire) (T78)

83 Rachel Thompson (Ire).

BOYS

Par 72

67 Jiri Zuska (Czech Republic), Max Reiss (Germnay).

68 Nick Bachem (Germany).

ENGLISH SCORES

71 Toby Briggs (T24)

73 Charlie Strickland, Ben Jones (T48)

P&K COUNTY GIRLS' CHAMPIONSHIP

Kirsty Brodie and Megan Ashley 

P&K County Girls held their championship at Pitlochry GC on Sunday the 28th of May.

On a windy afternoon the scratch winner was Kirsty Brodie (Strathmore) with a gross 74.
Her clubmate, Megan Ashley, won the handicap trophy with a 79 gross, 74 net.

CSS for the day was 72, PAR 72

Thanks go to Laura Walker (County Junior Organiser) for the photo and results

Aboyne selected to host national event

Aboyne Golf Club Juniors – Fortrose & Rosemarkie June 2016

Back Row: Nigel Bradburn, Carmen Griffiths, Bill Gibb

Front Row: Liam Harker, Daniel Aitkin, Murray Crawford, Jamie Gibb, Fergus Anderson

Aboyne Golf Club is celebrating after being selected by governing body ‘ScottishGolf’ to host the Junior Scottish Open regional qualifier.

The club will open its doors to teams from across the North East who will be vying to reach the finals in Ayrshire which coincide with the world leading professionals such as Henrik Stenson and Russell Knox competing for the coveted Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open title at Dundonald.

After the success of last year’s inaugural Junior Scottish Open at Fortrose & Rosemarkie, the event has been extended this year to involve regional qualifying. Aboyne will host the North-East qualifier on Sunday 2nd July.

Aboyne Marketing Convenor Nigel Bradburn said “The Club took two teams up to the Black Isle competition last year and they finished 2nd and 4th respectively. It was a phenomenal achievement against some very high profile clubs. Our youngsters thoroughly enjoyed the event and went on to watch the professionals competing across the water at Castle Stuart.

Nigel went on ”Our juniors came back buzzing and asked if we could apply to host the event this year. We thought nothing more of it until we were notified by ScottishGolf our application had been successful. We are really looking forward to hosting this high-profile event and welcoming young golfers from right across the region to our fabulous course”.

Jackie Davidson, Acting Head of Development at Scottish Golf, said: “We look forward to visiting Aboyne again and the return of the Junior Scottish Open which is a great fun event for young players. The event is aimed at attracting juniors new to competition, creating a learning opportunity in a more relaxed environment, with the opportunity to play a select number of wonderful courses like Aboyne. The event is also designed to support clubs in the retention of young golfers while giving new golfers the opportunity to experience the game in a fun format.”

Club President and Junior Convenor at Aboyne Golf Club Scott Mackie said "We are absolutely thrilled to be chosen to host this major event. Aboyne has a long history of producing excellent young golfers and our junior section continues to go from strength to strength. We are delighted ScottishGolf have recognised our contribution to growing the game at a junior level. It is a real privilege to host this event and showcase our club.”

The competition is open to all affiliated clubs in Scotland who are invited to enter a team of three juniors (aged under-16 at 11 July 2017), to be accompanied by one adult player. The format is four-ball better ball. The leading teams from each regional qualifier book a place in the Junior Scottish Open at Lochgreen, Troon Links to be held on 11th July.

 Further details and entry form can be obtained from ScottishGolf at l.allan@scottishgolf.org.

GET INTO GOLF AT THE GLASGOW INDOOR GOLF ACADEMY WITH KARYN BURNS

Article from the PGA magazine  

For a coach who abides by reality of numbers there's nothing Karyn Burns at the Glasgow Golf Centre at Kinning Park loves more than a little bit of Seve magic

CLICK HERE TO ENLARGE AND READ ALL ABOUT IT.

GOLPHIN JUNIOR FLAG COMPETITION

The Golphin Junior Flag Challenge was set up 2 years ago, as a way to try and get more children into golf. The tour gives children the opportunity to play at various golf courses in the West of Scotland to help improve their game and meet other fellow young golfers.

Now in year 3 there are 2 competitions available.
Firstly is the Flag Competition open to children 5-12 years who do not have a Congu handicap. Children play a shortened course where holes are no longer than 150 yards. Each child has 36 shots to get as far around the course as they can. The fun factor in our competition means fresh air shots don’t count, a maximum of 10 is recorded against each hole, a maximum of 4 putts on the green and 2 attempts at getting out of the bunker and it can be placed on the other side! Points are awarded as to where each child finishes at each of the 6 golf courses. Prizes are awarded at each course but also the overall order of merit prize will go to the person with the highest 4 out of 6 scores.
Last year we added in the 2nd competition: a 9 Hole Stableford open to children up to 16 years, who have a Congu handicap. This was introduced because some of the children who played in year 1 had got their handicaps and really wanted to still play the tour! The children will play the same Order of Merit format as the flag challenge where their stableford points will be recorded and again the best 4 out of 6 scores count.
The top 3 children in each age category will go on to play in a fun event at Trump Turnberry.

We have also introduced 2 free, fun events which will run over the summer holidays, one is the adult child event at Playsport Golf and the other is a Junior Texas Scramble at Whitecraigs Golf Club.

The total cost to play in all of the following events is £50.

Event Dates:
Broadlees Golf – 23rd April
East Kilbride Golf Club – 30th April
Mearns Castle Golf Academy – 14th May
Fereneze Golf Club – 28th May
Cathcart Castle – 4th June
Playsport Golf – 9 July (Adult/Child)
Whitecraigs Golf Club – 6th August (Texas Scramble)
Paisley Golf Club – 3rd September

To enter please go to www.juniorflagchallenge.co.uk and if you enter before Friday 17th March you will be entered into a prize draw for the Golphin GFK+ clubs, that are yet to actually be released!

CLUB HIRE SCHEME PROVES TO BE A MASTER STROKE

 What a great idea from Iain Butchart of Strathmore Golf Club.......

I thought you might be interested in a unique Scheme I set up 4 years ago which is making Golf more affordable for Juniors. Last year we attracted 15 New Junior Members

I have been Junior Convenor at Strathmore Golf Club for the past 8 years and over that time have seen some of our youngsters progress beyond my wildest expectations - 2 PGA Assistant Professionals, 2 current Scottish Junior Internationalists, 3 American University Scholarships, 3 current Scottish Academy players and various County Champions at both junior and adult County level.
Strathmore Golf Centre supports the Junior Section by paying a PGA Professional to provide 17 hours of free coaching to our Juniors over the season and annual fees have been kept affordable to encourage membership.

The other cost parents face is buying clubs. I have watched them arrive with adult cut down, ill fitting and heavy clubs and kids growing up so quick that between the ages of 5 and 15 they may need to replace their sets on average 5 times at an average cost of £750 over 10 years. Bearing this in mind and trying to think of a way to assist parents with this expenditure and to make sure Juniors were using appropriate equipment 5 years ago I had a brainwave and it appeared feasible as long as  I could raise some capital to fund the scheme. SSE Drumderg Wind Farm Community Fund Scheme were looking for local projects to sponsor so I completed their application form and was delighted when they agreed to invest and so I set up the scheme and waited to see what would happen.

Initial Investment
Drumderg          £1,500
Quiz League.        £225
Junior Section        £75
Total                   £1,800

Initially I bought 12 Junior sets for ages 5 to 7, 8 to 10 and 11 and over for £660.60 and 2 Ladies sets for £438.05. Then 2 years later had to add another 3 Ladies sets at £178.56, £134.98 and £229.99. And last year added £60 for 4 trolleys and £25 for re-gripping repairs being a total expenditure to date of £1,727.18. I set hire charges at £25 per annum per set and recently added trolley hire at £5 per annum

In year 1 - 2 joined      £50
            2 - 4 joined    £100
            3 - 9 joined    £225
            4 - 17 joined  £430
Income to date          £805
Current Balance   £877.82 - plus we have the original 17 sets and another 10 sets which have been donated.

What an amazing success, my dream has come true, the Scheme will self perpetuate ad infinitum, meaning juniors can try Golf with a minimum cost by hiring and not buying clubs and if they continue playing they can potentially save themselves at least £500 over 10 years. Last year of the 15 new members (9 boys and 6 girls) 8 of them joined the Club Hire Scheme. Also we now have a total of 15 girls at Strathmore which certainly bucks the trend as many clubs throughout the Country don’t have any. 

Iain Butchart – Junior Convenor – Strathmore Golf Club

[Editor:  Maybe other clubs could do the same... it certainly seems to work at Strathmore]

Eight-year-old bags hole in one in Christmas Competition

Evan Walker

Many golfers can only dream of scoring a hole in one, but for eight-year-old Evan Walker, the dream has already become reality. Evan achieved the notable feat at Newmachar Golf Club in Aberdeenshire, when he took part in the club’s junior Christmas competition – his first ever competition at the club!

Evan played his perfect shot at the second hole on the Newmachar Swailend course. The hole had been shortened for the juniors to 130 yards. He teed off with his driver, the frost making it difficult for him to see where the ball ended up. Several people helped him look until the father of his playing partner, Joel Mustard, spotted it in the hole. Evan said: “We were looking for a while before we realised it was in the hole. I couldn’t believe it! It was brilliant and what’s really great is that I’m the only one in my family to have had a hole in one. Not even my dad has had one and I’ve beaten my older brother too.”

It’s traditional for any golfer recording a hole in one to stand their hand at the bar at the 19th hole. Evan’s age restricted him from this privilege. Instead he left a jar of sweets behind the bar for members to enjoy.

Evan, who lives in Balemdie in Aberdeenshire, has been playing golf for as long as he can remember. He regularly visits the driving range with his father, Grant Walker, and brother, Owen Walker. At the age of five, he started receiving group coaching with Alan Stuart at the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre and has been playing ever since.

The junior section at Newmachar Golf Club has been significantly growing over the last couple of years. Membership has increased in the last year by over 30%. Junior Convenor, Gordon Forbes, comments: “The club has been doing a lot to encourage the juniors to participate and it’s great to see the membership grow so much as a result of these efforts. When you see an eight-year-old having a hole in one, it makes it all worthwhile and it helps to encourage more kids to get out there and take part. We’re delighted for Evan and we hope that he continues to take part in our competitions for years to come.”

For more information on Newmachar’s junior section contact Gordon Forbes on 01651 863002 or visit www.newachargolfclub.co.uk

Emily Price and Charlie Thornton are England’s leading junior golfers

Issued 21st November, 2016  Price and Thornton are England's leading junior golfers Emily Price and Charlie Thornton are England Golf's top junior golfers of 2016, having respectively won the girls' and boys' Orders of Merit. Price, from Cleobury Mortimer in Worcestershire & Herefordshire, won the English women's stroke play, among other titles. Thornton, from Fulford in Yorkshire, impressed in his final season of boys' golf with many high finishes, notably reaching the quarter finals of the Boys' Amateur Championship. "Winning the Order of Merit does mean a great deal to me," said Price, 17. "It's great to know that all my hard work throughout the season has paid off. It shows me just how well I performed throughout the whole year, which is a real confidence boost and also motivation to do it again next year." Her year got off to a fast start when she had three wins in two weeks, including the Scottish U18 championship. GCSE exams then took priority but she returned in the summer to win the women's stroke play and to represent England in the European and world girls' team championships "Playing with other girls at such high levels is really motivational and helped me to understand what I need to do to become better," she said. "Overall this season has been brilliant and I have really enjoyed it with playing in events, travelling to different countries and playing with Team England." Next year, Price wants "to improve on everything I have done this year. So, I would like to win more of the bigger events and improve my average score per round as I would also like to reduce my handicap to plus-4 by the end of the season." She added: "Every year I want to become a better golfer." Charlie Thornton's win in the Boys' Order of Merit was the perfect ending to his junior career and the 18-year-old said: "It means the world to me. "It's an endorsement of all the hard work me and my coach, Steve Robinson, have put in over the years. I've been with Steve since I was six years old and getting the basics in place has taken many hours of practice - but it's helped create a solid foundation and I've had a consistent year with lots of good finishes." Thornton's best moment was reaching the quarter finals of the Boys' Amateur Championship at Muirfield, where he was beaten only by the eventual champion on the 18th green.  Representing Yorkshire in the English Boys' County Finals was another highlight for the teenager, who won all six of his games. Now, he's planning to push on and make inroads in the men's game. "It's a big step up, but I know I have the credentials to give a good showing and I'm really looking forward to the new season. "Between now and then, I'm going to make sure I put in the hours of practice needed to be ready when the new season kicks-off. What I'm not looking forward to is the cold weather!" Leading final placings Girls: 1 Emily Price (Cleobury Mortimer, Worcestershire) 94656.875 pts 2 Cloe Frankish (Chart Hills, Kent) 80506.250 3 Bel Wardle (Prestbury, Cheshire) 76343.300 4 Lily May Humphreys (Channels, Essex) 76103.500 5 Annabell Fuller (Roehampton, Surrey) 51916.667 Click here for the full table Boys: 1 Charlie Thornton (Fulford, Yorkshire) 43262.083 pts 2 Angus Flanagan (St George's Hill, Surrey) 41381.500 3 Jake Bolton (Ogbourne Downs, Wiltshire) 40776.417 4 Oliver Clarke (Hillside, Lancashire) 40095.792 5 Danny Daniels (Essendon, Hertfordshire) 38448.083 Click here for the full table

Images copyright -  Leaderboard Photography

Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer: England Golf

Qualifying process for the Junior Solheim Cup Selection begins in January

The Qualifying for the 2017 PING Junior Solheim Cup begins in January, with the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Championship being one of the ranking events where the top girl golfers from Europe can earn points.

The Portuguese International Ladies’ Amateur Championship at Montado Golf Resort, in Portugal from 25 to 28 January 2017 is the first of nine qualifiers for the biennial match to be played at Des Moines Golf & Country Club in Iowa next August.

The qualifying process runs from January until mid-July, following the European Girls’ Team Championship. The first six players in the PING Junior Solheim Cup European ranking will earn an automatic place on the European team, with the team being completed by six Captain’s picks.
All amateur events and the European Women’s Amateur Ranking will be taken into consideration when deciding the Captain’s Picks.

 To qualify for the European team, participants must be girls aged 12-18 years old (born 1999 or later) and must not have reached their 18th birthday prior to January 1 2017. Prospective team members must be amateurs and cannot be members of a competitive collegiate golf programme. They must also be European citizens.

 The inaugural PING Junior Solheim Cup was staged in 2002 at Oak Ridge Country Club in Hopkins, Minnesota, and has been competed for eight times, with five wins to the United States, two wins to Europe and one tie. Solheim Cup stars including Paula Creamer, Azahara Munoz, and Brittany Lang played in the inaugural match with Charley Hull, Anna Nordqvist, and Lexi Thompson among those who have competed more recently.

 John Solheim, PING Chairman and CEO and Founder of the PING Junior Solheim Cup, said: “Our vision for the PING Junior Solheim Cup is for it to continue to help advance girls’ golf around the world by bringing together the top juniors from Europe and the United States on an international stage. “Since starting the event in 2002, we’ve been delighted with the results as the interest and excitement from the golf community has exceeded our expectations. The players on each side strive to make their teams for the honour of representing their countries and come away with lifelong memories and friendships. “We’re looking forward to the 2017 event at Des Moines Golf & Country Club. It marks the second straight time the PING Junior Solheim Cup will be played at the same venue as The Solheim Cup, bringing participants in both events closer together as they experience their lifelong dreams of playing golf for the honour of their continent and country.”

 The list of qualifying events for the 2017 PING Junior Solheim Cup, to be held on August 14-15, 2017 at Des Moines Golf & Country Club, are as follows:

Portuguese International Ladies’ Amateur Championship, Montado Golf Resort, Portugal (Jan 25-28)
Spanish International Ladies’ Amateur Championship, Sherry Golf Jerez, Spain (March 1-5)
French International Lady Junior Championship, GC St Cloud, France (April 13-17)
Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Championship, Troon GC, Scotland (April 21-23) 
Allianz German Girls’ Open, GC St. Leon-Rot, Germany (June 2-4)
Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship, Pale & Kenfig CC, Wales (June 13-17)
ANNIKA Invitational Europe, Halmstad GK, Sweden (June 20-22)
European Girls’ Team Championship, St Laurence GC, Finland (July 11-15)
European Ladies’ Team Championship, Montado Golf Resort, Portugal (July 11-15)

JACK AND JASMINE WIN JUNIOR CHAMPION PLAY-OFFS

Jack Currie (Greenock) and Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead) won the Scottish Junior Champion of Champions' boys' and girls' titles, both after play-offs, at The Duke's Course, St Andrews.

Currie and Callum Bruce (Duff House Royal) tied on level par 71, Bruce running up a double bogey 7 at the 11th but finishing strongly with birdies at the 13th, 14th and 18th to force a play-off.
Currie, who had only two deviations from par, a birdie at the third and a bogey at the 11th, won the sudden-death play-off.
Graeme Greer (Carluke) finished third on 72.
It was the same story in the girls' competition.
Jasmine Mackintosh and Jennifer Rankine (Haggs Castle) tied with two-over-par 73s. Jasmine  birdied the first, 14th and 18th in halves of 37-36. Jennifer birdied the 14th and 17th but bogeyed the eighth, ninth, 10th and 18th in halves of 38-35.
Three players tied for third place on 74 - Louise Duncan (West Kilbride), Kirsten Brown (Strathaven) and Joanne Free (Gullane).

SCOREBOARD
BOYS
par 71. CSS 73
71 J Currie (Greenock), C Bruce (Duff House Royal). Currie won play-off.
72 G Greer (Carluke).
74 D Howie (Peebles), J Paterson (St Andrews New).
75 K Bowman (St Andrews New)
76 A O'Hagan (Old Ranfurly), A Moir (Elgin).
77 S Sandin (Dunblane New), A Shaw (Port Bannatyne).
78 E McBride (Lenzie), C Blair (Musselburgh), J Duguid (Dunbar, D Walsh (Lochgelly), M Watt (Inverallochy).
79 E Ferguson (Turnberry)
80 G Cessford (Balbirnie Park), C O'Hara jun (Palacerigg), A Smith (Edzell).
81 N Watson (Kirkcudbright), C Fraser (Oldmeldrum), J Williams (Sandyhills).
83 C Gray (Kirkcudbright).
84 G Dalziel (Airdrie), C Adam (Royal Burgess)
86 G Johnston (Dunblane New)
88 B Wright (Hirsel)
91 B Roger (Clober).
No show: L Irvine (Kirkhill).

GIRLS
Par 71. CSS 72.
73 J Mackintosh (Hazlehead), J Rankine (Haggs Castle). Mackintosh won play-off.
74 L Duncan (West Kilbride), K Brown (Strathaven), J Free (Gullane).
77 K Brodie (Strathmore).
78 E Hynd (Balbirnie Park).
79 C Griffiths (Aboyne)
80 F Rattray (Douglas Park)
82 M Richmond (Strathaven).
83 E Morrison (Craigmillar Park), L McClymont (Milngavie).
84 H Darling (Broomieknowe).
92 K Scott (Strathaven).
101 A Malcolm (Prestwick St Cuthbert)
No show: E Crawford (Baberton).