Hugh Hunter tees off his 2009 Clackmannan County news

Callum Macaulay and his dad - and the Eisenhower Trophy men's world amateur team championship trophy - at the Clackmannan County Association dinner (image by courtesy of Hugh Hunter).

Scottish Golf Union, Scottish Ladies Golfing Association combine

for club membership promotion week in April

The fixture lists are ready, the golf courses are moving towards the opening events of the new golf season, and the golf clubs, both local and national, are doing their financial sums for 2009. Many golf courses throughout Scotland are finding their membership numbers in decline, and to address this, the Scottish Golf Union and the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association are both making efforts to attract new golf club members with a golf promotion week in April throughout Scotland.
It is anticipated that the six Clackmannan county golf clubs will participate in the initiative with details to follow.

CLACKMANNAN COUNTY GOLF UNION

The County Golf Union have produced their 2009 fixture list in line with previous years, and the County meetings continue to provide good value for money at £8 per entry. The highly popular Spring Meeting is set for the 25th April at Tulliallan (Div 1) and Dollar (Div 2). Entry forms will be in the Golf Clubs shortly, and 2009 President Sam Kinnaird (Tillicoultry) expects the usual good entry.
The County Golf team are in action early with three Provan Salver matches against Fife (away at Burntisland), Angus (home at Tulliallan) and Perth & Kinross (away at Craigie Hill). There is also the local derby against Stirlingshire at Braehead on the 12th April.
All these matches give valuable preparation for the area team matches later in the season. For 2009, Clackmannan have one home match at Braehead against Fife on the 17th April, with away matches against Argyll & Bute (at Millport) and Renfrew( at Erskine).
County Juniors have an early season start with the County Boys Championship at Dollar on the 26th April followed by the Boys Match play over Tillicoultry, Alloa and Alva). The top boys will go forward to represent Clackmannanshire in the Boys’ Area Team Championship at Ballumbie Castle Golf Club on the outskirts of Dundee on the 7th June.
All these fixtures along with local Club Open events and Invitations are all on the County fixture card, and a stock of these has been placed in each of the six County Clubs.

COUNTY GOLF DINNER

The second County Golf dinner was held recently in Braehead Golf Club where around 70 local golfers gathered to celebrate the achievements of Callum Macaulay who retained his Scottish Golfer of the year title and Bob Stewart who won the 2008 Scottish Seniors Championship. County President Sam Kinnaird spoke highly of the two … “ Callum must be thanked for making a special effort to attend the dinner, and we would all wish him well for his career in professional golf. Bob is also a great credit to County golf with his 2008 achievements, and hopefully he can keep up the good work in 2009.”
A special guest for the evening was the Eisenhower Trophy won by Scotland in the World Amateur Team Championship where Callum produced an outstanding performance.
During the evening, 2008 trophies were presented to Robert Lyons (Tulliallan), the County Match Play Champion, and Steven Horne (Tulliallan), the Order of Merit and Harrower Trophy winner.
County Champion Scott Borrowman (Dollar) was unable to be present because of his attendance at the Spanish Amateur Championship. Scott no doubt will be hoping for a good 2009 season after some good performances over the last two years.
Said Sam Kinnaird: “It was a good evening. 2007 was a good season for Clackmannanshire, little did we believe that 2008 would be even better, so here’s hoping for 2009”