East Lothian Junior Golf League

Supporting junior golf in East Lothian, Scotland

ELJGL Girls vs. St Andrews!

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On Saturday the 28th March, a Team of 6 Girls ventured to the Jubilee Course at St Andrews for a match vs. the St Andrews University Ladies Golf Team. The University Team were led by their Captain, Kate Thomson,  a recent ELJGL Player from Dunbar. The 3 pairings consisted of Anna Zonova and Lydia Pickett vs. Louisa Forman and Palakshi Siingh, Chloe Adams and Phebe Pickett vs Helen Boyd and Abi Mitchell, and Maisie Witt and Louise Martin vs. Clara Goldstein and Meili Fabre-Marques. The St Andrews University raised 8 Players so together with Gareth Jack, former Longniddry Junior Convenor, I played against Kate and Jemima Bullock. The overall result was 2 matches each. After a round played in very windy conditions, with sand from the beach stinging our faces, we adjourned to the One Under Bar in the Rusacks Hotel for soup and sandwiches. We were grateful for the support of several parents, George Adam, Chris Martin, David Witt and most of the Pickett family! We anticipate having a return match in 2027 in East Lothian. Photos attached in order as per the Teams listed above with a stand-in from another Pickett sister for a St Andrews Player who had to leave! Dave Warren, Jt. League Secretary.

 

 

 

 

MD1 at Gullane No. 3 Results

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Our 1st Match Day was successfully completed last Sunday at Gullane No.3. The weather was kind and the tee sheet was full but a few Reserves missed out!  We will request more tee times next year. The scoring was good as can be seen on this table of results. 

 

ELJGL County Cup 2025/6 – Final!

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The final of the 2025/6 County Cup was played on Sunday 15th March at Kilspindie. The start was delayed due to an atrocious squall which blew across the course. The few Members who were out on the course ran back to the Clubhouse! The finalists, 4 Players from each of the Gifford and Gullane Junior Teams eventually set foot on the course, and proceeded to fight the conditions with determined play, although survival was also a key motivation!  The Teams played alternate shot, foursomes golf, in two games with the aggregate score counting towards the overall result. Only 1 handicap stroke was given in a very even match on paper. Chris Stirling, the Kilspindie Junior Convenor, and County Cup Organiser, refereed Game 1 and I refereed Game 2. It was hard to keep score in the condition but the difficult 4th hole, played into the gale, was won in Game 2 with a 7 against a 9! The Gullane Team, whose Convenor, Barry Templeton, and a few hardy spectators, walked round supporting the Players. We sent out 8 Boys to play and they came back in as Men! Gifford, the holders, led ably by Junior Convenor Shona Paton, went into an early lead. Gullane took the lead on the back 9, and their first pair, Charlie King and Donald Templeton, won the 18th to finish 2 up against Ruaridh Clubb and Aaron Muldownie. Then the signal came from the 16th green that Aedan Halliburton and Adam Mungall of Gullane, had just gone 2 up against Calum Martin and Innes Logan of Gifford. So the aggregate score in Gullane’s favour was 4 up with 2 to play. There were excellent sandwiches and drinks for the Players and Convenors after the round, and a brief prize giving, at which both Teams received prize vouchers. Our thanks are due to Chris Stirling for organising this event again and to Kilspindie for hosting the final. Dave Warren, Joint League Secretary.
The Winning Team with the John Brown trophy are L-R Donald Templeton, Charlie King, Adam Mungall and Aedan Halliburton.
The losing side Gifford, soaked before they went out play, were represented by, L-R Callum Martin, Innes Logan, Aaron Muldownie and Ruaridh Clubb.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Girls’ Junior Framework!

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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

 

 

Ava Paterson in Dubai!

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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!

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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

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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!

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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.

SJTC 2025 – Results!

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Apologies, this post about the results of the SJTC on Sunday the 28th September has been delayed. But the following message was sent out later on the day of the event to all the participating Team Convenors. The individual scores were posted to WHS on the day of the event so Players’ handicaps were updated. The full prize list can be seen below. 

“Dear Convenors and others, thanks to you and all your Juniors for making the journey to compete in the 2025 SJTC.  It was great to meet you all and see your young Golfers enjoy their experience over the famous links of North Berwick.”

I attach the final Team results on Golf Genius here at this link. Click on the Team names and you can see how the Team scores were tallied. The individual Boys’ and Girls’ leading scratch and net scores can also be seen there. Well done to all the Teams and Individual winners who have been awarded prizes. Some Teams had to leave early so prizes not awarded on the day, have been delivered in person to local Clubs, or sent out by post to those further afield. Regards all, Dave Warren, SJTC Tournament Organiser.

The winning Team were Drumpellier, pictured below with the trophy. L-R Mason Angus, Declan Slavin, Carrick Watson, Matthew O’Neill, Dave Warren (ELJGL Secretary) Alexander Watson, and Kenny McLean (Junior Convenor, Drumpellier.) The individual scores were excellent with 3 scores exceeding 40 points.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo of the 3 All-Girls Team who participated from West of Scotland, East of Scotland, and Angus. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for all the positive feedback, which I copy below.

FEEDBACK – Many thanks for everything on Sunday! All our girls enjoyed their day!! Well done to you and all your team for an extremely well organised tournament. Amazing to see so many talented young players from all over Scotland. East of Scotland Girls.

Thanks for all your hard work David. The Borders team really enjoyed coming up  and playing such a great course and I have to say the event was very well run and organised. Borders. 

Many thanks for yesterday, the organisation was first class as always and the course was a fantastic experience for our boys who really enjoyed the day. Dumbartonshire

Really wonderful to see the young players-that is exactly what we set out at the Glen 12 years ago and you and your small team have given your all in taking this from strength to strength.—great work. Ian Howarth. Donor of the Trophy. 

I would just like to thank you and all involved, for having us. Our Juniors really enjoyed the competition and playing North Berwick golf course, great course! Superb job.You are doing thanks so much. Portlethen

Thank you for organising this amazing day. The Juniors loved it. Your hard work and efforts are thoroughly appreciated. Barassie. 

On behalf of the Boys and myself, just a quick thanks for yesterday. The Course was superb, made all the better by the weather, and the competition was so well organised. Thanks again. Great to meet you earlier and thanks for bringing the prizes from the weekend in for the team. Turnhouse.

Thank you for organising. The girls had a great day and the course was fantastic. Angus Girls.

Thanks to you and your team for organising today. Strathmore juniors loved the course and the condition it was in. Please pass on our comments to the North Berwick Golf Club and their green staff. We will certainly be desperate to win our League next season and make next years event.  Strathmore

Once again thank you for the invite and also your time and effort organising a wonderful event. Lenzie

 

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