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.
