Dear Junior Golf contacts (all bcc’d) – THANKS FROM DAVE!
I was very honoured this year to receive the Sir Henry Cotton Award from The Golf Foundation for “meritorious services to Junior Golf over a sustained period.” I received the award at a golf day at The London Club in Kent, from Nick Dougherty, the new, and youngest ever, President of the Golf Foundation, who presented the trophy to probably the oldest ever winner! (TBC) Each Club in the East Lothian Junior Golf League would not function were it not for the dedication of their Junior Convenors who, by their often unsung efforts, have ensured that the future of their Golf Clubs and our League is secure. I would like to dedicate my award to all of them.
Needless to say, much has changed, for the better, since I was a Junior in East Lothian in the 1960s! The game of golf has given me so much enjoyment, and so many friends, over my 65 years of playing this challenging game.
I have been the volunteer Secretary of the East Lothian Junior Golf League for 18 years and before that I was Junior Convenor at The Glen Golf Club for 9 years. I was nominated by Ric Foulner and Douglas Connon, so I give my thanks to them.
It has been my absolute pleasure to have given my time and encouragement to the thousands of Junior Players who have participated in the East Lothian Junior League during my tenure. My role in the League gives me immense satisfaction in seeing young people enjoying playing golf and competing, making friends and socialising, and becoming healthy and mature adults. The League adheres to the Nine Core Values -see these on our website.
Frequent participation in our events, we hope, will ensure our Players will remain in the game of Golf for the rest of their lives, and easily return to golf if they ever have a lapse from playing it.
I would like to thank all our past and present Players who have taken part in our events, including those who represented us in the Watson Cup Matches and those who have been on trips to Pinehurst.
I am grateful not just to all the Junior Convenors, I have had the pleasure to work with, but also to the many Club Secretaries/GMs, Professionals, Members, and all the Staff at the East Lothian and other Scottish Clubs who have assisted me and who have hosted the 200+ events the League has run over the last 18 years. Without their commitment and assistance, the League would not have developed as it has, into one of the most competitive and successful Junior Leagues in Scotland. On my behalf, and on behalf of the League, I would like to thank all the above mentioned parties and also to the following groups:- Parents, Patrons, Webmasters, Auditors, Starters, Helpers at Host Clubs, Watson Cup Committees, Pinehurst Trip Leaders, and the Managers and Staff at Golf Genius.
We liaise with, and depend on many individuals who have supported and contributed to our League in various ways, including Paul Gibson, John McMillan, Ian Howarth, Karin Sharp, Fraser Munro, Stuart Clayton, Kate Green, Katy McNicoll, Gareth Jack, Eamonn John, Brendon Pyle, David Henderson, Douglas Connon, Scott Knowles, Stuart Johnston, Duncan Weir, Russell Shepherd, Dan van Horn, Chris Vonderkall, Russell Gray, Tom Watson, Ben Zeigler, Mike Whitaker, Catriona Matthew, DJ Russell, John Paramor, Andrew Coltart, Bernard Gallacher, Iain Holt, Chris Bridle at Adidas, and members of the Press, Cameron Ritchie, Martin Dempster, Ron Green Jnr, and all our many friends in Pinehurst and South Carolina. Apologies to any parties I may have missed out from this list. But if you have received this email, you know we also appreciate your support.
I would also like to express special thanks on behalf of the League to all our various Donors, some of whom prefer to remain anonymous. Having substantial funds mean we can provide, and subsidise, some fantastic opportunities for Juniors, such as taking part in the biennial Watson Cup Match vs. South Carolina Juniors, and in our annual trips to Pinehurst in February. With these funds, we can also improve our equipment, subsidise coaching, and increase all the other benefits and prizes for the Players who take part in the free-to-enter events in our League.
Thanks to all those who have complimented me on the work I do for Juniors golfers. My retirement beckons in 2025, the League’s 50th anniversary, when I will be donating a new Trophy for the League Championship, as the current trophy donated by the Ben Sayers Company, sadly needs replacing. Now that my role workload is shared with the (much younger) Jack Rogan, my role should be less time-consuming, and I am very grateful to Jack for volunteering.
An extensive report on the results in 2022, with details of some amazing individual and team performances, is attached, if you have the time to peruse it. There is a copy on this website.
Lastly, the award presentation! I have a memento which is now in position on display in our home.
