East Lothian Junior Golf League

Supporting junior golf in East Lothian, Scotland

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.

 

East Lothian Junior Golf League News

Schools Winter Foursomes

Kate Green has just set up a new winter Competition for Players who attend East Lothian Schools. This event involves a lot of our present and future Players in the East Lothian Junior Golf League. This may be the first time that some of you play under the Foursomes format! It requires a totally different mindset to that required for individual golf. Good luck to all! Thanks Kate!

Kate also advises you all have a look over the rules of Foursomes and Match Play in advance of your match… any questions let Kate know and she will try to help!

–          Foursomes (Also Known as Alternate Shot) (randa.org)

–          Match Play (randa.org)

All players should download the R&A’s rules app on to their phones if they can as you can type questions into the app and hopefully find guidance if you need it:  Rules of Golf App (randa.org)

 

County Cup 2023/24

County Cup 2023/24 – This year the County Cup for 2023/24 will again be staged over the winter months and the final must be completed before the end of March 2024, just in time for the new League season starting. The draw and amended rules have been prepared and now appear below. Please read them. Each Junior Convenor has been sent an email containing the information. NOTE – an example for calculating the strokes to be given in any match can be seen on this page after the Rules.  See recent change to Rule 14.

 

RULES FOR THE COUNTY CUP 2023/24. (AMENDED 15/11/2023)

  1. ELIGIBILITY – Golf Clubs situated in East Lothian, who have Junior Sections, and who have playing rights on courses in East Lothian, and have paid their annual subscription to the League, may play in this Team competition.  Clubs in East Lothian currently not in the League, may enter a Team by invitation, on payment of a £30 entry fee.
  2. Team Members must be under 18 years of age on the 1st of January 2023 for the purposes of this competition which will run from when the draw is published until the event is completed, which must be by 31st March 2024 at the latest.
  3. The seeded draw has been made with reference to the finishing positions in the 2023 League, so the 4 leading Teams have been given “Byes.” 
  4. A “Player” may play for any League Club where the player is a bona fide member but will be “Cup Tied” for the remainder of the event once they play for any Team.
  5. FORMAT – Each “Team” will consist of 4 players. The format is Double Aggregate Handicap Foursomes (alternate shot) so each Match will involve two Foursomes “Games.” 
  6. The two lowest handicapped Players in each Team, MUST play in the first game. If Players have identical Handicap indexes on the day of the event, the Convenor may choose who will play in the first game.
  7. VENUE – Matches are to be hosted by the Team first named in each tie, and courtesy of the Course will be given to the visiting Team. In the case of Musselburgh Toun being the host Team, their Matches can be played at either of the Musselburgh courses, at any stage of the competition. 
  8. Matches will be played as per the conditions in place at that venue e.g. fairway mats, preferred lies etc.
  9. TEES – These will be the Mens and Ladies “Medal Tees” or any Mandatory “Winter Tees” unless both Junior Convenors mutually agree that another set of Tees will be used. Convenors can agree that each Game might be played from different Tees. 
  10. If any Girl plays in a foursome, the Girl will drive off the Ladies’ medal tee when the playing order dictates. Rules Note – any “”Provisional Ball” MUST be played by the partner from the SAME tee where the original ball, which might be lost or out of bounds, was played from. 
  11. RESULT – The winning Team is decided by aggregate “holes up” over both Games. 
  12. TIES – In the event of a tie on aggregate after 18 holes, both Games must complete extra holes until a clear aggregate result is obtained. For example if in Game 1, Team A wins the 19th hole, and in Game 2, Team B wins the 19th hole, then both Games have to proceed to play the 20th hole etc etc until a winning aggregate is evident. Handicap strokes will again be given at extra holes where the stroke indices dictate.
  13. HANDICAPS – Both Games will be handicap Games in which the maximum handicap allowed for any player is 24. Players off higher handicaps may play, but they will be limited to a handicap of 24 before any calculation of handicap strokes to be received is made.
  14. CALCULATION OF HANDICAP STROKES – Foursomes. Playing Handicaps for each side in Foursomes are 50% of the combined Course Handicaps of the two players concerned. If multiple tees are in use, then an adjustment for any difference in the C.R. is required. The first step is to calculate the allowance as 50% of the combined Course Handicaps and then to apply any adjustments using the different Course Ratings depending on which tee are being used. To achieve equity any adjustment is half the combined adjustments for each side. The Playing Handicap is always rounded to an integer value. (See example below.)
  15. STROKE INDICES – Handicap strokes are to be taken at the holes indicated by the Stroke Index for Men on the card of the course unless any Game involves only Girls in which case the Ladies Stroke Index will apply. 
  16. STROKES RECEIVED – Any strokes to be received by a Girl in a mixed gender game will be taken at the appropriate holes using the Mens’ Stroke Indices. In any all Girls match, the Ladies’ Stroke Index will be used.
  17. COSTS -The costs of catering and refreshments at a match will be shared by the two Teams involved. 
  18. FINAL – The Club hosting the final will provide soft drinks and a snack for the finalists after the final but this will be paid for by the League.
  19. REFEREE – The Referee will be the League Secretary who should be contacted on any Rules issue which cannot be resolved between the Players, or any attending Convenors. The League Secretary will be in attendance at the Final to decide on any rules issues or disputes. 
  20. PRIZES – Prizes in the form of vouchers will be awarded to the Convenors of the finalists for fair distribution to the Players who have represented their Team during any stages of the Competition.
  21. RULES – The Rules of Golf as approved by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, together with any Local Rules, will apply to the Matches.
  22. Distance measuring devices (DMD’s) which comply with the Rules of Golf are allowed in this Competition.
  23. No Caddies are allowed. 
  24. Junior Convenors, other Team Members or Reserves, Parents or Relatives or any other Club representatives, are not allowed to offer “Advice” to players in either Team during any Match. The definition of “Advice” is: – “Any counsel or suggestion that could influence a player in determining his play, the choice of a club, or the method of making a stroke.” BUT: – Information or interpretation of the Rules or on matters of Public Information, such as the position of hazards, or the flagstick on the putting green, or the shape of dog-leg hole, yardage from sprinklers, and encouragement etc IS NOT advice. In addition, Parents and Relatives are expected to keep a discreet distance from any Matches so as not to influence any Players in any way.

Dave Warren and Jack Rogan, Co-Secretaries. 21st October 2023.

Golf Sixes League – final results!

Please see the following from Katy McNicoll and Kate Green – Golf Sixes Leagues A and B results.

League A had their final day at Wee Course. Their Match day 5 results and final league placings are below.

League B had their final match at Longniddry Gullane and Musselburgh have both qualified for the regional final.

The final placings can be seen on Scottish Golf’s website here. Well done to both Gullane and to Musselburgh, and good luck to both who will be playing in the Regional at Dundas Park Sunday 17th Sept.

. The Regional Final and National final are as follows:-

Golf Sixes Regional Final      
Dundas Park Golf Club – 17th of September   
 
Golf Sixes National Final
Gleneagles – 1st of October

LEAGUE A Final Table

1st – Gullane 23 points
2nd – Glen 17.5 points
3rd – Craigielaw 15 points
4th – WLJ – 13 points
5th – East Lothian Virtual – 6 points

LEAGUE B Final Table

1st – Musselburgh 20 points
2nd – Royal Musselburgh 19 points
3rd – Haddington 15.5 points
4th – Longniddry 10 points
5th – Musselburgh Old GC 9.5 points

LEAGUE A Match day 5 results

Gullane 133
Glen 128
WLJ 127
East Lothian 126
Craigielaw 125

Nearest the pin winners
1st – Brodie (Craigielaw)
8th – Bella (East Lothian Virtual)
9th – Harry (Glen)

Champion at North Berwick!

I had the pleasure of a game with at North Berwick with the new Scottish Mens’ Amateur Champion, Cameron Adam, whose home club is at Royal Burgess. Cameron is connected to East Lothian by being involved in the Watson Cup matches v. South Carolina in 2022, when Players from both East Lothian and Edinburgh Junior Leagues combined. For the full story of Cameron’s great win in the Scottish, see Martin Dempster’s reports here and here. 

Before the game at North Berwick, Cameron was welcomed by Pro Martyn Huish, who was a Vice-Captain in the Watson Cup. Martyn, who was aware that Cameron had broken both Course records at Dornoch and Tain with rounds of 63 during the qualifying rounds for the Scottish Amateur, reminded Cameron that the course record at North Berwick was 63. OK then, that was the challenge for Cameron! 

Cameron and I, both wearing our Watson Cup kit, played against another of my guests, a USGA Rules official and scratch Player, Bryan Lewis, and NB member Kerr Docherty.  Handicap strokes had to be negotiated, and as Cameron was off +6, Bryan received 5 strokes, whilst Kerr and I each received 12 strokes. After a birdie 3 at the 1st hole, a visit to the beach on the 2nd hole brought Cameron an up-and-down par. A bogey appeared early in the round at hole 3, but with birdies at holes 5 and 9, Cameron had scored 34, 2 under par on the front 9. There was a gentle following wind for the back 9, so Cameron reached the par 5 11th with a drive and 8 iron, and then holed a chip from the edge of the green. Cameron’s drive over the hill to the 14th green led to an easy birdie but this was cancelled out by a 3 putt at the 15th on the slick downhill green. After 2 great birdies with putts from close range at the 16th and 17th, Cameron was asked how he was scoring. He said immediately that he needed an eagle 2 at the 18th to score 63 but his long iron tee shot, drilled low, ran off the back of the green. After a poor chip by his standards, Cameron holed a 20 footer for a birdie and a back 9 of 30. So his total was 64! Well done Cameron. 

Cameron has now returned to Chicago where he attends Northwestern University. We wish him luck in his future golfing exploits. Dave Warren, League Secretary.

Photos below:- Cameron on the 1st Green just before his 1st birdie.

Cameron, Bryan and Dave with Martyn.

Cameron’s scores.

Cameron, with Dave, Kerr and Bryan.

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