Stewart McCulloch, with the Phillips Trophy, standing beside Laurie Phillips, grandson of Ally Phillips, right seated, whose father donated the magnificent trophy to the North-east District in 1947.

So why do so many fit, young golfers

use power trolleys these days?

ASKS STEWART McCULLOCH
Sunday winner of the Phillips Trophy at Cruden Bay
As a regular and interested visitor to http://www.scottishgolfview.com/ I thought I'd drop you a line about the Phillips Trophy on Sunday.
Obviously I am delighted to win this prestigous competition and I played very solidly all day in a strange wind to the one I grew up battling against at Cruden Bay.
I am not old at 28 but I am alarmed at the amount of young fit men using power trolleys etc these days. When I was younger and competing more regularly on the local and national amateur circuit, it was unusual to see someone NOT carrying their bag.
Chris Gilbert (who also carried his bag for 36 holes on Sunday) and I were discussing this in the clubhouse afterwards. We counted only four players in the whole field carrying their clubs. Perhaps we just haven't moved with the times, yet we both picked up prizes.
I also received a familiar comment in the clubhouse at lunchtime from one of my playing partners. He said I obviously did not believe in modern technology such as the tee-peg!
I laughed as I recalled a time being publicly criticised by Colin Farquharson and others in local golfing circles for not using a tee-peg. It was "a sign of laziness, carelessness, lack of respect, backache even ..."
Well, I think I used a tee-peg on about five occasions during Sunday's 36 holes. I hit driver, three-wood and two-iron off the deck all the time, always have done. It's just the way I play - I don't feel the need for a tee as I am comfortable without one.
And here's a possible explanation...! Laurie Phillips and I grew up together at Cruden Bay golf course, playing golf together, practising together under the watchful eye of his grandfather Ally Phillips. Ally was inspirational for so many young Cruden Bay golfers of the time (Cassells, Bannerman, Docherty, Love, Bratton, Buchan etc).
A true gent with a love and appreciation for the game of golf played in its true-est form. His knowledge and ability to coach a young golfer was incredible. He made it simple, was strong on ball-striking and we used to love long summer nights at Cruden Bay with Ali, just concentrating on striking a good golf shot from the fairway, from the rough, even from a divot!
So perhaps this is why I don't feel the need to use a tee-peg! I know for a fact that Laurie would also not be too handicapped if forced to play without a tee.
So winning the Phillips Trophy is an extra thrill for me. I saw Ally for the first time for years in the clubhouse for the prizegiving and got a photograph with him and the next generation Phillips.
He no doubt had an influence on Laurie and myself both winning the very trophy his father Jocky Phillips donated all those years ago. It was a great moment for me. I'm sure I would have been Ally's second favourite person to win!
I didn't get the chance to thank him in my speech as I was trying to do the usual thanks before sitting down quickly. I will do so in letter this week though.
Stewart McCulloch

Editor's Note: Great stuff, Stewart! I wish all tournament winners would E-mail me with their golfing thoughts on this and that as you have done. In days gone by, I would have attended competitions like the Phillips Trophy and spoken to the leading competitors but now, with advancing years, it is easier to stay in front of a PC and let all the news come to me. Well, not all the news, as Stewart's E-mail reminds of the clubhouse "chat" I am missing now that I am "retired."
By the way, I don't remember criticising Stewart for not using a tee-peg!
Colin Farquharson