Pinehurst trip 2020 news

Twelve East Lothian junior golfers from various Clubs in the County, comprising 4 girls and 8 boys, and their 3 Leaders, are about to embark on a wonderful trip to Pinehurst, North Carolina, where the Juniors will compete in International events in which they will represent their local Clubs, the East Lothian Junior Golf League, and “Scotland’s Golf Coast.” 

 

Between the 6th and the 16th of February the Juniors will play up to 10 rounds of golf in 10 days, visit an NHL Ice Hockey game, and visit the Campus at Duke University which has a superb golf scholarship program. Accommodation will be provided for the 15 strong group, partly in the 5 star Carolina Hotel in the Pinehurst Resort, and partly in the homes of three generous families who live in Pinehurst and who are also members of North Berwick Golf Club. 

 

The Juniors, who were offered the trip because they had played often and well in various League events, will compete against other Junior players from several States in the USA and golfers of other Nationalities, in two “Winternationals” events. They will be playing these firstly over Pinehurst No. 8 and No. 9, then on the 2nd weekend, they will play over No. 4 and the fabled Pinehurst No.2 – site of several Mens’ US Opens and a Ladies’ US Open. Other rounds have been arranged at Forest Creek Golf Club, and at Mid Pines and Pine Needles Golf Clubs, the latter of which has been the venue for 3 US Womens Opens and will host it again in 2022. The Juniors will also test themselves over a wonderful short course, called “The Cradle” which was recently added to the Pinehurst Resort by Gil Hanse, a world famous architect.

 

In addition to all the Players having practice rounds on Pinehurst No 4 and No. 8, the Boys squad will play against a strong Team from the local Pinecrest High School over the No.2 course for a trophy donated by the League in memory of one of its former players Duncan McLean, who tragically died aged 20 in 2016. Duncan had once played in the US Kids World Finals in Pinehurst. The 4 Girls do not miss out as they will visit and play at the home of the US Kids Golf, which is located at Longleaf Golf Club. The US Kids European Championships are held in East Lothian every year over 5 local courses, with up to 650 competitors, and US Kids kindly sponsors our League with donations, which the League uses to subsidise these visits to Pinehurst, of which this is the 3rd in successive years, with future visits to come we hope. The Juniors only get to go on one trip each.

 

The League offers a big thanks to the parents for funding the trip, and to North Berwick Golf Club for hosting the recent lunch for Players and Parents, and for providing a wonderful meal. Guests included the Provost of East Lothian John McMillan, representing the East Lothian Council who sponsor the annual League Championships. Also present was Bob Gunning representing Scotland’s Golf Coast.  The photos below show the Team in their team shirts, with their East Lothian Clubs in brackets. Girls L-R, Freya Constable (Kilspindie), Natalie Fowler (Castle Park), Annie Wilson Castle Park), and Grace Crawford (Gullane and North Berwick.) Boys L-R Niall Holman (Haddington), Ryan Yuill (Craigielaw), Gregor Thomson (Craigielaw), Neil Canavan (Longniddry.) Back Row L-R Jamie Grainger (Haddington), Angus Mather (West Links), Carl Schmidt (Gullane), Calum Robinson Gullane.) The Leaders will be Shona Paton (Gifford) David Canavan (Longniddry) and Secretary Dave Warren. Slideshow below will be updated daily with photos from Pinehurst.

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