Dave Warren | East Lothian Junior Golf League

MD2 at Dunbar – Skeleton draw

March 15, 2026 By Dave Warren

The “Skeleton” draw for MD2 at Dunbar is published here, and the span of tee times can be seen. Entries will close at 6 pm on Monday the 23rd March. Use the Golf Genius App to enter. Any requests for early or late tee times, or requests to be near travelling companions in the draw, please email the Secretaries on [email protected] The draw will be made on Tuesday the 24th March and will appear here. Please access your Golf Genius App then click on “Events,” “MD2 at Dunbar” “Portal,” and then – on the dropdown menu, click on “Players.” You can then see all the entrants, and you can then sort them by their Affiliation. Later you can view the Tee Sheets and Leaderboard on the same menu. Dave Warren. Joint League Secretary. 07595 301425

Girls’ Junior Framework!

March 12, 2026 By Dave Warren

Scottish Golf have recently announced by email their new funded pathway for “Girls to enter, stay and thrive in Golf.” All Convenors should have received this through their Clubs, but I have sent it to all our Convenors just to be sure they see it. The complete information on how to apply for funding etc is at this link

ELJGL Girls vs St Andrews!

March 11, 2026 By Dave Warren

Thanks to a former League Junior Kate Thomson, our League girls are going to play the St Andrews University Ladies’ Team over the Jubilee Course at St. Andrews on Saturday the 28th March at 1230. The Girls who have been selected to play are Phebe and Lydia Pickett, Louise Martin, Chloe Adam, Maisie Witt and Anna Zonova. This “friendly” match will be fourball better ball, with a handicap strokes to be given or received. There will be soup and sandwiches after the match in the One Under Bar, in the Rusacks Hotel. Jennifer Pickett, Mhairie Witt and Dave Warren will provide transport to and from the venue. Push trolleys will be available. Our golf is complimentary. A return match will be arranged in the Autumn. These matches will give our Girls a taste of Student life at St Andrews! Dave will meet with Gareth Jack, former Junior Convenor at Longniddry, now working in St Andrews, and they will also have a game, but not quite as “friendly!”

MD1 at Gullane No.3 on 22/3/26

March 10, 2026 By Dave Warren

As we start to look forward to a full season ahead, here are some notes on the process of managing all our events. Attached is a “Skeleton” draw for MD1 at Gullane No. 3 on Sunday 22nd March 2026. It will be replaced on Tuesday 17th March at 1800 with the actual draw. The draw will be emailed from Golf Genius to all Players and Convenors. Any changes to the draw will appear only on the Golf Genius App and not on this website so please check your GG App regularly.

This event is closely followed by 2 more MDs on other great links courses at Dunbar and North Berwick. The “Skeleton” draw for MD2 at Dunbar is published in another Post on this website, and the span of tee times can be seen.

The fixture list for 2026 has now been published and appears on this website in the right hand column, as does the League Table for 2026.

The entries for the first 3 Match Days were opened on Golf Genius on the 20th January, and Players registered their names using the Golf Genius App, which should be downloaded onto your mobile phones. Please access your Golf Genius App then click on “Events,” “MD1 at Gullane” “Portal,” and then – on the dropdown menu, click on “Players.” You can then see all the entrants, and you can then sort them by their Affiliation. Later you can view the Tee Sheets and Leaderboard on the same menu.

More information on the process for adding Reserves to the draw will be sent to Convenors before MD1. Dave Warren. Joint League Secretary. 07595 301425

ELJGL County Cup 2025/6 – Final!

March 10, 2026 By Dave Warren

The final of the 2025/6 County Cup is being played on Sunday 15th March at Kilspindie at 2 pm. The finalists are Gifford and Gullane. Sadly there have been several walkovers this year, due to shortages of Players but, given the recent increase in Players joining the League, and a slight change to the commencement date of the event in 2026, hopefully walkovers are a thing of the past! The Teams in the final are set out below, together with the complex calculation of handicap allowances! The result is that, subject to any last minute changes to handicaps, there is only stroke being given, and that is in the second match. This should make for a very even match. Spectators are welcome. There will be sandwiches for the Players and Convenors after the round, and a brief prize giving. Thanks to Chris Stirling for organising this again and to Kilspindie for hosting the final.

Dave Warren. 07595 301425.

Ava Paterson in Dubai!

January 26, 2026 By Dave Warren

Ava, a recent Junior at Kilspindie, and now a student at Heriot Watt University, was in touch with me recently. Ava told me she was heading to Dubai, where Heriot Watt have a Campus, for a semester from January till the Spring. Ava’s Mum Eleanor, asked me if I knew anyone in Dubai, as Ava had expressed the wish to help to coach Junior Golfers whilst she is there. I recalled that Euan Bowden, and Ryan Gallacher, both former ELJGL Juniors, were working in Dubai. I viewed the “Tommy Fleetwood Academy” website where I saw that both of them are working there as PGA Professionals – see their full Team here! So, I put them in touch with each other. I believe that Ava will be seeing both soon Ryan and Euan soon, but in the meantime, Ava has met the Boss! Good luck Ava!

Pinehurst trip 2026!

January 25, 2026 By Dave Warren

Press Release – 25/1/26. On Saturday the 24th January, the next group of 10 East Lothian Juniors going to Pinehurst and their Parents, met the Group Leaders for lunch at the Glen Golf Club. The meal was excellent, and was followed by a presentation about the trip by the League’s Joint Secretary, Dave Warren. Dave welcomed everyone and, assisted by the other Leaders, Chris Barker, Jim Wilkinson, and Sue Warren, Dave explained all the facets of the trip involving flights, baggage, ground transport, accommodation, finance, meals, equipment etc. Dave then covered the golfing aspects of the visit to the USA’s “Home of Golf” where, between Feb 14 and Feb 20th the 10 Boys will play 7 rounds of golf on top class golf courses. There will be 2 days of open competition with Juniors from all over North Carolina in the “Winternationals,” over the course at Longleaf, which is the HQ of US Kids Golf. Then there will be three days of golf over 3 courses, Mid Pines, Pine Needles, and Southern Pines. These are all famous courses, designed by Scots legend Donald Ross. Pine Needles is the only course to have hosted 4 US Womens’ Opens, all won by very famous golfers, and most recently by Minjee Lee. There will be a match versus the local High School over Pinehurst No. 4, a recent venue of the US Mens’ Amateur Championship. The Teams will play for the Duncan McLean Quaich, in memory of a former Gullane and League Junior who tragically died in his early twenties. Duncan had once visited Pinehurst to compete in the US Kids World Championships. And lastly, we will all be hosted at Forest Creek a very exclusive Club, on their fine North Course. This will be followed by a closing dinner for our group, courtesy of all the friends of the League in Pinehurst, four of whom are Members of either North Berwick or Tantallon Golf Clubs. Invitations to Juniors are issued based on age, participation in League events, and on ability, as these courses are tough! The 10 Boys invited on this trip, with the Clubs they play for in the East Lothian League, are Ben Harley, Seb Harvey, and Oscar Wilkinson, all North Berwick West Links Juniors, Finlay Perry and Cameron Brown, both Kilspindie, Jamie Sievwright and Daniel Hogg, both Gullane, Max Elgin of Musselburgh, and Shane Hay of Dunbar. Usually there are 4 Girls invited on each trip, but sadly, there are not many Girls currently old enough to go on this trip, but there will be opportunities for them on future trips. Dave and Sue issued Team Golf Bags, Team Kit, after which some photos were taken. Sadly, Shane Hay was on holiday and is not in the attached photo. The 9 Players, L-R back row, are:- Jamie Sievwright, Max Elgin, Ben Harley, Daniel Hogg, Oscar Wilkinson, Cameron Brown, and Finlay Perry. Front row L-R, Ewan Stone and Seb Harvey. Another golfing “trip of a lifetime” awaits the current group. This takes the total number of Boys and Girls whom the League has taken to Pinehurst since 2018, to 106. Thanks are due to our many generous sponsors for funding the League, from which funds the League provides substantial subsidies for the Juniors going on these trips. Dave Warren.

Pinehurst trip Feb 2026

January 1, 2026 By Dave Warren

It is not long now till some of our League Players leave on our annual trip to Pinehurst on February the 13th 2026. The group will be led by Chris Barker and Jim Wilkinson. Sadly, there are not enough Girls in the right age group to be considered this time. However, their opportunity will surely come round in due course. The 10 Boys going this year, and their affiliated Clubs are:- Dunbar – Shane Hay, Gullane – Jamie Sievwright, Daniel Hogg, Kilspindie – Finlay Perry, Cameron Brown, Musselburgh – Max Elgin, Royal Musselburgh Ewan Stone, West Links – Seb Harvey, Ben Harley and Oscar Wilkinson. They will be met at Raleigh Durham Airport by League Secretary Dave Warren and his wife Sue. This trip is slightly shorter than previous trips and will incorporate 7 rounds of Golf, 2 at Longleaf, and 1 each at Mid Pines, Pine Needles, Southern Pines, a match vs. the local High School on Pinehurst No.4 or No. 8, and the final round will be at Forest Creek North, followed by a dinner on our last evening there, hosted by all the friends of the League in Pinehurst. There will also be visits to the Cradle short course, the USGA Golf Hall of Fame etc etc. The photo is of the house where the group will be staying and it is a few yards from the centre of the village of Pinehurst, North Carolina.

Goodbye to 50Juniors in 2025!

November 30, 2025 By Dave Warren

The Secretary sent this note below to the 50 Golfers who will now be too old to compete as Juniors in 2026! It was copied to Parents and there have been some very nice responses from them, attached below, stating the effect the League has had on their sons and daughters.

Dear Players, the time is near when you are leaving Junior Golf and your time competing in ELJGL events is over! On behalf of the League and all the volunteer Junior Convenors and Helpers at our Member Clubs, I would like to thank all of you for your commitment to the League, and I hope you enjoyed competing in it. We wish you well in your further education and careers, and hope that you continue to improve your golf and become regular players in your Club Competitions, in Inter-Club matches, and compete in County and National events. Many of our recent Juniors are attending University or Colleges in the USA or in the UK. Good luck if you are planning a similar future.

I keep a record of attendances at League events and I mention below a few of those who are leaving the League. The most frequent participant was Harris Munro, with 55 appearances, followed by Jamie Barker and Rory Leishman 49, Ryan Pirie 45, Angus Waddell 39, Rory Leitch 38, Scott Porteous 37, James Hamilton 35, Harry O’Connor 31, Robbie Landles, Riley Porterfield, Rory McArdle and Ellie Bent on 30, Murray Bowsher 26, Liam Graham 21, Ava Paterson and Jamie McLaren 19, Kai Lang 18, Rory Burns and Josh Murray 16. All 20 of these Players, and some others, took part in one of our annual trips to Pinehurst. Hopefully, you all made long-term friends in our events and on our trips, and will remain so. Brodie Cunningham also made 31 appearances, but as he excelled at National level as a Junior, he was unable to continue in the League. Brodie is now off +3.8 and we will follow his career in golf in future. Good luck Brodie!

Jack Collingswood’s record of 81 appearances can still be beaten by a few of the really young Players who, like Jack, started early with their participation in the League. Contenders include Hudson Blair 39, Rory Papakyriakou 35, but my bet would be on Harvey Blair, still age 12, with 36 appearances from 2022 to date!

Regards to all of you, and to all the patient Parents who financed and encouraged you, and drove you to and from our events! Dave Warren.

P.S. Keep an eye on our website to stay aware of what we do in the League – still one of the best in Scotland – thanks to you. There is a “Roll of Honour” there, where, if you won any of our trophies, your name is there for posterity!

1 “Lovely to hear from you Dave and again thank you so much for everything you do for EL juniors.”

2 “You have been a very large part of my boys childhood and I know they will look back on their participation in the ELJGL events with a lot of affection. I know probably more than most the effort and energy you have put into running the league and the Pinehurst trips. Those trips to North Carolina will undoubtedly be a memory for the children that will last their lifetimes and something you should take so much pride and satisfaction from.”

3 “XXX would like to thank you and the entire ELJGL team for providing so many wonderful opportunities to play at amazing golf courses. These experiences have helped him improve his game and build many lasting friendships. A special thank you for giving him the opportunity to visit Pinehurst, it’s a memory he will cherish forever. What ELJGL does for all the juniors is truly remarkable. Lovely note Dave thank you.”

4 Sort of sad this is all over! We are so grateful for everything you have done.