Changes to the Rules of Golf for 2012
There are significant changes to the Rules of Golf beginning on 1st January 2012. The changes are designed to make the game fairer and swifter. On the R&A site there are excellent video clips detailing the changes, and why the changes have been introduced. So, make sure you are aware of these come the New Year. New rule books are available free of charge at all golf clubs. http://www.randa.org/
EL Players in Scotland Squads!
The SGU have just announced their squads for 2011-2012. Grant Forrest and Danny Kay have been selected for the Mens squad, whilst Calum Hill and Anthony Blaney have been selected for the Boys squad. This means that they will take part in the warm weather training events currently being held in Abu Dhabi. Well done to all! http://www.scottishgolf.org/
Tantallon win the League 2011!
Craigielaw defeated Gullane 4 – 2 in the final match of the season. Craigielaw finished 2nd in the League, but only on goal difference over Gullane. This leaves Tantallon as Champions, and both Tantallon and Craigielaw went forward to the Home Nations Scottish Final at Cardrona on Monday the 3rd of October. See separate article. An interesting end phase involving 3 strong teams, with Royal Musselburgh also showing well. Table and full results for the year below.
Read more: Tantallon win the League 2011!
British Boys Championships at Burnham and Berrow
Grant Forrest and Anthony Blaney recently competed in the Boys’ Home Internationals at Royal St David’s in Wales. Grant scored 2.5 points and Anthony 1.5 points but Scotland finished in 3rd place. Grant then competed in the British Boys’ Championships at Burham and Berrow in Somerset along with Fraser Thain and Ewen Donaldson, but Grant was the only EL player to make the cut. Scores – Grant 77 & 71, Fraser 79 & 83, Ewen 82 & 73. Grant was defeated at the last 32 stage.
British Girls Championship at Gullane 1
144 players competed in a 36 hole qualifying event over two days. Lesley Atkins scored 79 and 73 to make the top 64 but in the matchplay Lesley lost to fellow Scots International Alyson Mckechin. Clara Young just missed the cut with 74 and 79, and Gabrielle MacDonald was further back after a 79 and a 78. See – http://www.lgu.org.
Alexander Wilson wins St Andrews Boys Open!
Alex Wilson of has won the final of this event with a 1 hole win over Willem Kerr of Craigielaw. Euan Bowden led the qualifiers with a 67, to top a field of 150 players of 6 handicap or less. Alex then progressed through the 32 qualifiers to the final where he recorded a great win. Well done to all of them. For more details see the Gullane Juniors blog. http://www.gullanejuniorgolf.blogspot.com/
Danny Kay in sensational Scottish Amateur final
Dunbar’s Danny Kay, a former EL Junior, had a great run to the final of the 2011 Scottish Amateur Championship at Western Gailes, but was beaten by former Champion David Law. David scored magnificently with 8 birdies and an eagle in the 36 holes final. On the way there Danny only narrowly beat another East Lothian player, Neil Henderson, by just 2 holes, in the quarter final. Danny had previously beaten No 3 seed Kris Nicol, and then he beat the No 2 seed James Byrne. A great week Danny, well done. Former Juniors from EL also playing were Grant Forrest, Myles Cunningham, Ewen Donaldson, Michael Bacigalupo, Alexander Culverwell, and Greg Smail.
Charlotte sparkles in Highland Spring!
Charlotte Munro of Gullane Ladies tasted success in the the recent qualifying event for the Highland Spring Junior Masters at Whitecraigs Golf Club nr. Glasgow. Charlotte scored an excellent 37 points and she will proceed into the Finals to be held at The Queens Course, Gleneagles on the 9th October. A more local qualifying event is to be held at Turnhouse on 2nd August in which many EL players are competing – see draw below. For scores see – http://www.scottishgolf.org/
Lesley and Clara in Home Internationals at Gullane
Both Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies) and Clara Young (North Berwick) have been representing the Scotland Team in the Girls Home International Matches being played at Gullane No 2. Clara won 2.5 points with 2 foursomes wins and a singles half to her credit. Scotland beat Wales in the final match to move into 3rd place. For full match details see Kirkwood Golf. http://www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk/
Alex Hay – Golf Pro and Commentator
County Juniors and Organisers will be sad to learn of the recent passing of Alex Hay, the well known golf commentator. Alec was a native of Edinburgh, educated in Musselburgh, Pro at Woburn GC, and a frequent visitor to East Lothian courses. His entry on Wikipedia is worth viewing. Alex was a great supporter of Junior Golf and was ever present at the Finals of the Home Nations Junior Championships in Spain where he presented the prizes. The Secretary had the pleasure of playing with him at La Manga on one occasion.
Scottish Girls’ Close Championship
Clara Young and Lesley Atkins were both defeated in the quarter finals. For full scores, draw, and live scoring see:- http://www.slga.co.uk/
ProdreamUSA List – Grant and Greg USA Bound!
Players and parents might be interested in seeing this list of GB&I players destined for Golf Scholarships in the USA this coming year. See:- http://www.prodreamusa.com/
Our own Craigielaw players Grant Forrest (San Diego) and Greg Smail (Kentucky) are included. Good luck to both!
SGU Junior Tour 2011 Event 3
This 72 hole Boys’ event at Cardrona has finished with Anthony Blaney, of Liberton and Gullane, in 2nd place, and Alexander Wilson of Gullane in 9th place, Fraser Thain, Calum Hill, Euan Bowden and Ewen Donaldson also competed. Congratulations to Anthony for being selected for a Scotland Boys Team to play in the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters later this month. For all details see:- http://www.scottishgolf.org
Honours for Clara! Success for Keren!
Congratulations to Clara Young who has been selected to represent Scotland in the European Young Masters, Royal Balaton GC, Hungary on 21-23 July 2011. Clara has received an invitation to represent the GB&I girls team against the Continent of Europe girls at Royal Porthcawl at the end of June in the prestigious Junior Vagliano Trophy. For a full report, visit:- http://www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk/
Clara has had a slight reversal of fortune however – having won the North Berwick Ladies’ Championship for the last two years, she was beaten in the 2011 semi final by Keren Ward, another Junior, who drove the 18th green and holed the putt for an eagle 2 to win by 2 holes! Keren then went on to win the Ladies’ final. Well done both of you!
2011 Scottish Boys final video
The SGU have published their film of the highlights of the Scottish Boys’ Championship at Dunbar. To view the 15 minute video see:- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V989feyRkGg Our own Grant Forrest, Anthony Blaney and Calum Hill (briefly) feature, but the incredible final where David Wilson won at the 38th hole after being 8 down, rightly takes centre stage.
How to take 16 strokes on one hole!
US Tour Pro takes 16 strokes on one hole! http://americangolf.globalgolfpost.com Page 28. Always consider going back to the tee and take your penalty, as not doing so might lead to such an outcome! This blog is the best for worldwide Pro/Amateur golf results for men, women and juniors.
Boys’ U16 Quadrangular Matches 2011
The Royal Musselburgh Golf Club was the host course of the recent Under 16 Boys’ International Match involving Scotland, Ireland, Wales and the Netherlands. Scotland defeated Wales 7 – 5 and The Netherlands 10 – 2. Then they tied 6 – 6 against Ireland, who won the trophy on a countback. Alexander Wilson of Gullane and Euan Bowden of The Glen represented Scotland and playing together, won 2 of their 3 foursomes and they each won all 3 of their singles. Well done.
Abu Dhabi Junior Golf Championship 2011
All Convenors please note that you can now register one of your Club Events, or your Junior Open, as a qualifying event for this tournament, co-sponsored by the Daily Telegraph. There were 41,000 entries last year, and you can register your interest at www.telegraph.co.uk/abudhabijuniorgolf or call the Championship Hotline on 0161 2148098. The East Lothian Junior Championship will be registered as a qualifying event.
Andrew Coltart mentoring some EL Juniors!
Some of our EL Juniors are receiving invaluable advice from former Ryder Cup Player Andrew Coltart. See link to the report on the Lothians website.
http://www.lothiansgolfassociation.org.uk/ClubNews.asp
The Core Values of Golf
The “First Tee” programme is a Junior Golf initiative based in the USA and has around 5 million Junior golfers involved. Have a look at their website, in particular this link which goes direct to the “Nine Core Values.” These are positive values which if adopted by all Juniors will have a beneficial impact on the future of our game. http://www.thefirsttee.org/club/scripts/view/view_insert.asp?IID=64763&NS=PUBLIC
Repairing Pitch Marks!
At this time of year, think about the quality of Greens you wish to play on this season. We can all do our bit to keep our Greens in the best condition possible if we all fix our own, and one other pitchmark, on every Green you visit. To that end, please see the advice on the best method of repairing pitchmarks below. Images below.
Read more: Repairing Pitch Marks!
Cruden and Golf Foundation contribute funds to 2011 Coaching for Juniors
Cruden Investments Ltd and the Golf Foundation, through “Golf Roots,” have each generously contributed to the cost of the 2011 coaching programme. Our thanks are due to both these benefactors and we will keep them informed. Ric Foulner and Lesley Nicholson will soon be contacting Convenors looking for names.
Willie Rodgers retires
Willie Rodgers, of Royal Musselburgh GC has retired after 25 years as Junior Convenor. To mark this remarkably long period of dedicated work to Junior Golf, on behalf of the EL Junior Golf League, Secretary David Warren presented Willie with a gift, an excellent golf book, entitled “A Swing Through Time: Golf in Scotland 1457-1744,” signed by all the Convenors of the other member Clubs. At a later function at Royal Musselburgh GC, the League Secretary was present when Willie, now President of the Club, was presented with a medal to mark the 25 years as Convenor.
