East Lothian Junior Golf League

Supporting junior golf in East Lothian, Scotland

Pinehurst 2023 trip completed!

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The following is a press report which was distributed  on the 6th March to all parties concerned about the recent trip to Pinehurst and has appeared in the Edinburgh Evening News here.

This photo below was taken outside one of the best Clubhouses in the world of golf, at Forest Creek Golf Club, where all the Players and Leaders enjoyed a courtesy round of golf. We were joined by one of the hosts for the day – JJ Jackson, on Dave’s left. A resident of Pinehurst, JJ is a Forest Creek and North Berwick member and is a long time supporter of our League.

“Dear Members of the Press, Sponsors, Scottish Golf managers, East Lothian Golf Club Managers and Convenors, East Lothian Juniors and Parents, and friends in Pinehurst, North Carolina, 20 Junior golfers from various East Lothian Clubs have recently arrived home safely after the East Lothian Junior Golf League’s annual 10 day trip to Pinehurst. All the Players are now raring to go in the upcoming 2023 season!

Attached is the group photo of the 20 Juniors involved, assembled by the 18th green at the famous Mid Pines course in Pinehurst North Carolina. Their names, from left to right, are back row:- Ava Simon, Struan Murdoch, Robbie Landles, Scott Porteous, Connor McCarthy, Adam Macdonald, Daniel Moos, Sean Gallacher, Adam Nichol, Harry Dunkinson, Andrew Irvine, Jackson Gray, Ben Churn, Evie McCallum, Ellie Bent, Molly Chapman. Front row, Tobin Witt, Jack Collingswood, Charlie Cuthbert, Ben Austin. The group were accompanied by 5 volunteers – all current or recent Junior Convenors in East Lothian, Shona Paton of Gifford, Gareth Jack of Longniddry, Steve Austin of Haddington, Helen and Stuart Findlay of Royal Musselburgh. They devoted most of their time to ensuring everything worked well on the trip for the biggest group of Juniors to ever go on one of these trips. However, they also enjoyed some excellent golfing experiences themselves. The trip was organised by the League’s Secretary and Treasurer, David Warren, of North Berwick Golf Club. David is an overseas member of Pine Needles and Mid Pines in Pinehurst, and his contacts there include some great friends who regularly host our Teams and provide excellent Southern hospitality! Some of them are overseas members of North Berwick and Tantallon Golf Clubs and are frequent visitors to the County. 
 
The Team enjoyed rounds at Mid Pines, Pine Needles, Forest Creek South, Pinehurst No 4, Pinehurst No. 8, and at Longleaf, which is the home of the US Kids Golf organisation, who are one of the League’s sponsors. The Juniors also played at the 9 hole Cradle course where Scott Porteous of Longniddry had a hole in one! They were accompanied by the short game coach at Pinehurst, Kelly Mitchum, a visitor to North Berwick in 2022, who recently had an “Ace” at the 90 yard 5th hole, which gives him an unbeatable course record eclectic score of 9,  having holed in one now at all 9 holes! Photo below.
 
 
Our Boys Team played a match against the Pinecrest School Boys Team over Pinehurst No. 4 which the local Team won narrowly 3.5 – 2.5 on a fourball better-ball format. The Girls were treated to a 2nd round over Pine Needles, the wonderful venue of several US Womens Open. 
 
All of our Players, representing “Scotland’s Golf Coast” competed in two “Winternational” events against a large field of Juniors from North and South Carolina and from elsewhere in the USA. Our Team Members Evie McCallum and Sean Gallacher finished 3rd in their respective sections and both won prizes.
 
Air fares, meals and a 3 night stay in the 5 star Carolina hotel were funded by the Players’ families. After those 3 nights, subsequent accommodation was provided for our party of 26, for 7 nights, in the beautiful village of Pinehurst, which was supplied free of charge by local families, either in their homes or in their rental properties. Local transport firms provided ground transport to the various venues. Excellent sit-in cooked breakfasts were enjoyed at two local establishments, and on many evenings, a restaurant in the area would be visited. 
 
The trip was subsidised by the League, through several donations from some kind sponsors and friends to whom we are extremely grateful. Another kind sponsor paid for the Team clothing supplied from a major golf apparel company. These generous donations to the League ensure that these trips can take place, and the League is extremely grateful to these donors.
 
League Players only get to go on these trips once, so plans are now being made for the February 2024 trip for which more Players will be invited to go, based on their ages, their frequency of appearances in League events, and on their golf handicaps. Some past and present Junior Convenors will also be invited to join the next trip.
 
It was a great pleasure to lead such a fine group of young Players, who didn’t know each other well at the start of the trip, but by the end of the trip, great fun and many new experiences were had, so many lasting friendships were formed. The Players truly had a “trip of a lifetime” and returned home with fresh views perhaps, on what is possible in this great game called Golf.

 

A pre-Pinehurst trip lunch was held at The Glen GC on Saturday the 28th January at which 53 people attended. The group comprised 19 of the 20 Players who are going, there being only one absentee due to another commitment. See photo below. This is the largest group to ever go on this annual trip, leaving on the 9th February. Players only get to go once on this trip of a lifetime! They will play 9 rounds in 9 days on some wonderful courses! All 6 Leaders and plenty of Parents made up the rest of the attendees, together with special guests, Catriona and Graeme Matthew.

The Glen was a superb venue in a private dining room area, so I was able to tell all the group about the impending trip. The food was excellent too! Thanks are therefore due to the Glen F&B Manager Clint, and to the chefs and the waitresses Lauren and Claire. The Players and their East Lothian League Teams are: Andrew Irvine, Ben Churn, Jack Collingswood, Harry Dunkinson, Jackson Gray, Robbie Landles, and Connor McCarthy, all of West Links Juniors, Molly Chapman, Evie McCallum, Ellie Bent, and Ava Simon of East Lothian Girls, Ben Austin, Adam MacDonald, and Adam Nichol, all of Haddington, Charlie Cuthbert, Sean Gallacher, Scott Porteous, Tobin Witt and Daniel Moos of Longniddry, and Struan Murdoch of Musselburgh Toun.

The Leaders are Junior Convenors from our Clubs – Stuart and Helen Findlay of Royal Musselburgh, Steve Austin from Haddington, Shona Paton of Gifford, and Gareth Jack, formerly of Longniddry and now the Assistant Tournament Director in the Scottish Junior Team Championship, which is organised by our League. 

If our other League Players are thinking of going in future years, to be offered a spot, you have to turn out and support your Club regularly in our 10 League Match Days and in our other League events. 

There is an Instagram account using this hashtag #eljglpinehurst23 which is the official ELJGL account edited by Gareth Jack where he will be posting from. That way all our photographs will be pulled together in the same place for everyone to view. There is also a blog here, created by Shona Paton, so following all the news should be easy. Don’t forget to tell your parents so they can keep track of you! Gareth and Dave also pictured below with Catriona.

 

Junior Ryder Cup 2023

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Stephen Gallacher has been appointed as Captain of the European Junior Ryder Cup Team for the match in Italy in September 2023. The press article here, gives details of all the qualifying events which will count for selection of 6 Boys and 6 Girls for the mixed Team to play the USA. The singles matches will be played on the Marco Simone course where the actual Ryder Cup will take place. We are hopeful that Grace Crawford a West Links (North Berwick) Junior play her way onto this Team by right, or by way of a Captains pick. 

Festive Greetings!

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The Secretaries would like to wish all Players and Convenors a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We look forward to an active year of competitive golf for you all in 2023. You can plan your own golf from the Calendar on this website. Sadly, we have to say goodbye to regular Players who have become 18 years old in 2022. They are Ryan Yuill, Luke Greig, Euan Cooper, Molly Nicholson, Freya Constable, Callum Waugh, Jamie Napier, Jamie MacPhail, Ryan Gallagher, and Connor Cook. We wish them all the best of luck in whatever you choose to do in future, and fervently hope that you will remain in the game of golf for the rest of your lives! At some stage, please find a way to put your knowledge and expertise back into the game to help it grow.  Thanks, Dave and Jack.

Meanwhile, Santa has delivered the clothing for the upcoming trip to Pinehurst of 26 Players and Convenors!

Dave receives an award!

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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.

 

Review of 2022 ELJGL season

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Here is a lengthy annual report on the League’s activities for 2022, and a remarkable series of results and some wonderful Players’ performances are all included. If you have time to read it, thank you. It may give you a perspective on the role the League plays in growing the game. Dave Warren, Joint League Secretary.

Secretaries report

The Nine Core Values of Golf

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A reminder for all our Juniors when the 2026 season starts. “The First Tee” is a Junior Program in the USA. They promote these 9 core values to which all of our Junior golfers should aspire!

SJTC 2022 – Results!

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We are grateful to all the Junior Team organisers for giving their time to arranging for their Players’ attendance and participation in the SJTC event at Stirling. There were 120 competitors representing 20 Teams and Areas/Counties from across Scotland, in the recent 5th playing of the Championship. 24 Girls competed, the highest number ever. 

Our thanks go to all at Stirling Golf Club for hosting this event. Their welcome, hospitality and assistance, was truly fantastic, and the names of all concerned were mentioned at the prize giving. And thanks are also due to Scottish Golf for supporting this event.

Excellent assistance in setting up this complex event was received from Jenny Potter at Golf Genius. The smooth running of the day could not have happened without the assistance of local Starter Robbie Roy, Assistant Directors Sue Warren and Gareth Jack, and local Junior Convenors Fiona Kelly and Angela Dickson. Our thanks are due also to our Patron, Catriona Matthew, to friends at the R&A for donating prizes, and to some American friends who obtained prizes for the event from the US Masters and from the US Womens Open.

Please see attached list of winners and prizes. The scores can be seen on the Golf Genius App using the access code QXFSEQ. No other info is required to access it. All prizes have now been awarded, some by post to the winners.

Congratulations to the Team from Swanston (photo attached) who, led by David Morrans their Junior Convenor, (photo attached) in their first appearance in the Competition, won the trophy, donated by Ian Howarth, with the best 5 out of 6 points total of 186, narrowly beating Drumpellier and Dumbartonshire on 184 and 183 points respectively. The 3 all-Girls Teams present representing the East or West of Scotland were led by the West of Scotland Girls (Blue) team with 182 points. They were awarded US Masters visors signed by Catriona Matthew, one of our Patrons.

The best individual net scores were 51 points by Olivia Thompson of East Girls, and 48 points by Owen Hayward of Swanston. The best gross points scores were 37 by Jamie Gibb of Aboyne, and 29 by Ava Graham of West Girls.

We look forward to seeing you, or other Teams from your Leagues, at the 2023 event which will be held at Elderslie Golf Club on Sunday September 24th.

Regards, Dave Warren
SJTC Tournament Director.
07595 301425

Photos from recent events!

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The following photos show the winners in our recent events. Below, some of the Craigielaw winning Team in the League – L-R, Corey Hagan, LewisRussell, Craigielaw Club Captain John Murdoch, Magnus Braby, Daryl Yuill, Diarmuid Slavin, AdamMcLean, Declan Slavin. The Junior Convenor, Gordon Smith was not available. 

Hudson Blair of West Links Juniors with his coach Katy McNicholl, and the Handicap Order of Merit Trophy.

Fergus Brown of Gullane with the Boys Scratch Championship Trophy for Boys U18/U16.

Rory Leitch of Haddington with the Boys U16 Net Trophy.

Corran Fraser of Dunbar with the Boys U18/U16 Handicap Championship Trophy.

Declan Slavin of Craigielaw with his prize as runner-up in the Boys U12 Handicap Championship.

Rory Papakyriakou of West Links Juniors with his trophy for winning the U12 Boys Handicap Championship.

Alex Martin with his prize as runner-up in the Boys U12 Scratch Championship.

Cameron Brown of Musselburgh with his prize as runner-up in the Boys U14 Handicap Championship.

Ryan Killorn of West Links Juniors with his trophy for winning the U12 Boys Scratch Championship.

Charlie Mack of Royal Musselburgh with his trophy for winning the U14 Boys Handicap Championship.

Angus Hill of Gullane with his prize as runner-up in the Boys U14 Scratch Championship.

OOM 2023 and 2022 prize lists

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Attached is the list for Team Winners and the Orders of Merit in the East Lothian Junior League, for 2023. In total, 110 Players took part this year but this number was slightly down on previous years. Congratulations to Jack Collingswood who scooped the top Scratch Prize with an amazingly consistent run of scoring with four 1st places. at MDs! Rory McArdle topped the Handicap OOM but was only 4 points ahead of Kole Henderson and Sam Ratcliffe. Both OOM lists, scratch and handicap, can be seen on the Golf Genius App, under “Member Portal,” and then “Season Points.” Choose Scratch or Handicap season standings.

 

Attached is the prize list for the Orders of Merit in the East Lothian Junior League, for 2022. In total, 113 Players took part this year but this number was slightly down on previous years. Congratulations to Sean Gallacher who scooped the top Scratch Prize with an amazingly consistent run of scoring. Hudson Blair, aged 11, astonished everyone, with totals of 49 and 44 points at the last 2 Match Days, to win the Handicap OOM. He even caught the Secretary napping, as he had assumed that Cameron Brown had won this, so this error has now been rectified. Both OOM lists, scratch and handicap, can be seen on the Golf Genius App, under “Member Portal,” and then “Season Points.” Choose Scratch or Handicap season standings.

Junior Golf East Lothian OOMs

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Please see the following note from Kate Green. Playing in these events through the Autumn to the Spring will be good to keep your game in shape! You must attend schools in East Lothian to qualify. Dave Warren.

“Just a quick reminder that the closing date for our first Order of Merit event next Friday 2nd of Sept @ Musselburgh Old is 26th August. Thanks to those that have confirmed they would like to play already. I plan to do the draw on Monday and confirm with the club how many tee times we will require so please could let you me know if you’d like to play next Friday asap. You can enter all the events as a block booking or you can enter them individually by a week prior. You can also enter them all and let me know by a week prior if you can’t play.

2022/23 Junior Golf East Lothian Order of Merit Events (formerly East Lothian Schools Order of Merit).

These events are free to enter and count towards handicap. We use the East Lothian Junior Golf Order of Merit to select players for opportunities such as performance squads and teams for Pro event Pro Ams etc. They are a great opportunity to play with golfers from across East Lothian on a variety of local courses free of charge.”

To enter just email Kate confirming:

–          Name

–          CDH Number

–          Current handicap

–          Home club

–          School

–          Date of Birth

2022/23 Junior Golf East Lothian Order of Merit Events

Format:  Stableford (Handicap counting)

Criteria:  players must have a handicap and live in East Lothian

Divisions:  Scratch and Handicap

Max handicap:  36

Price:  FREE

To enter email:  kgreen@eastlothian.gov.uk

Closing date for entries:  1 week prior but please book further in advance if possible as times are limited

Tee times from :  1330

2022/23 Order of Merit Events

  1. Fri 2nd September  @ Musselburgh Old GC
  2. Fri 9th September  @ Longniddry GC
  3. Mon 19th September @ Musselburgh GC
  4. Fri 30th September @ Winterfield GC
  5. Fri 7th October @ Royal Musselburgh GC
  6. Fri 28th October @  Craigielaw GC
  7. Fri 4th November @ Haddington TBC
  8. Fri 11th November @ Gifford TBC
  9. Fri 27th January @ Venue TBC
  10. Fri 27th January @ Venue TBC
  11. Mon 13th February @ Venue TBC
  12. Fri 3rd March @ Venue TBC
  13. Fri 17th March @ Kilspindie GC
  14. Fri 31st March @ Venue TBC
  15. Mon 1st May Final @ Venue TBC

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