Ross-shire golfers score in North Alliance at Wick

By ROBIN WILSON
Members of the North Golf Alliance were a bit lethargic about facing their first fixture of 2010 at Wick last Sunday, just six home club members present in the overall entry of 43, and only home club champion Ronnie Taylor able to break into the fixture's prize list.
Without a fixture since November 29, due to two months of unplayable weather, last Sunday's was favourable and the Wick course in surprisingly good order but when it came to getting swings back into shape Ross-shire golfers, with perhaps fewer days snowed off, were quicker off the mark.
Tain's Alec Gunn led a clean sweep of handicap prize winners in Class 1. With halves of 38 and 36, Gunn's outward 38 was recovered by seven par figures and an opening birdie after he took a triple bogey 8 at the par-5 third hole.
He had two inward half bogeys - at the 10th and 15th - for an equal fourth gross score of 74 but a winning nett 68 in Class 1.
In his section, the south of the Ord golfers revelled. Tarbat's Dave Mackay came second with nett 69, off 6, followed by Seann Sutherland (Bonar-Bridge/Ardgay), also net 69, but relegated to third place on countback.
In fourth place was Andrew Watt (Tain), who went looking for a fourth score to complete his MacKintosh Salver requirement and found it with a net 71, off 7.
Scratch winner by one stroke was Thurso's course record holder, Jim Sangster, who after beginning his round with a birdie 3, proceeded to match the Wick par of 69 with par halves of 35 and 34.
Sangster let slip his early birdie advantage for an even lower score with a bogey at the fifth hole, then, heading home, went two under par with birdies at the the 13th and 15th holes, only to return them to the course by taking two bogeys over the last three holes.
Local master of the course Ronnie Taylor birdied the par-3 ninth hole for 35, then immediately went over par with a bogey on the 10th. His second inward half bogey for a closing one over par 35 and 70 came at the penultimate hole to finish in second scratch place.
With current scratch aggregate leader Bryan Ronald (Thurso) not in the field, Quaich Trophy holder Munro Ferries (Tain) did nothing to make up ground with a gross 77.
But Ferries's travelling clubmate Ally Melville became Tain's second winner when he topped the Class 2 returns by matching Gunn's net 68 from the higher handicap of 11. Melville fell into trouble at the second par-5 hole on the outward half, a double bogey 7 at the eighth, but he also birdied the opening hole for his first half 36.
Slipping back to take 43 for the next nine holes, his net 68 brought him a season's first place after a previous second at Thurso last October.
Weather permitting the fixture list takes the members to Brora this weekend where local professional Brian Anderson is offering a free “Spring Swing Check” to Alliance and other club golfers throughout the remaining days of February and all of March.
Book a check time at 01408 621473 or E-mail broragolfpro@tiscali.co.uk to get your swing and equipment checked over for the coming season by one of the North's leading teachers.
Alliance results:
SCRATCH
69 J Sangster (Thurso).
70 R W Taylor (Wick).
74 A Swanson (Thurso).
75 D Mackay (Tarbat), J Harper (Wick).
76 J Maciver (Invergordon), A Gunn (Tain).
77 S R Sutherland (Bonar-Bridge/Ardgay)
HANDICAP
Class 1 – A Gunn (Tain) (6) 68; D Mackay (Tarbat) (6), S R Sutherland (Bonar-Bridge/Ardgay) (8) 69; J MacKenzie (Invergordon) (7) 71.
Class 2 – A Melville (Tain) (11) 68; I Ross (Reay) (11) 70; C Mackay (Thurso) (13) 71.

Europe finalises Junior Ryder Cup

selection criteria for Gleneagles match

The selection criteria for the European team at the Junior Ryder Cup, the competition which helped launch the careers of Sergio Garcia, Rory McIlroy and Suzann Pettersen among others, have been finalised ahead of the contest at Gleneagles Hotel Resort on September 27-28, 2010.
The Junior Ryder Cup originated from an exhibition match between teams of boys and girls from Europe and the United States in 1995 before it was formally introduced in 1997. The match traditionally takes place just before The Ryder Cup and comprises six girls and six boys on each team.
Spaniard Garcia played in the first match in 1995 before qualifying for the full team four years later, while Northern Ireland’s McIlroy was part of the 2004 team. Pettersen, Norway’s top women’s professional, played in 1997 and 1999 before being part of five Solheim Cups.
For 2010, Europe’s selection criteria dictate that the team will feature three boys and three girls who were under 16 years on January 1, 2010, and three boys and three girls under 18 years on the same day.
The six under-16 players will be selected via the 2010 European Young Masters at Royal Balaton Golf Club, Hungary, from July 22-24 with the champion and runner-up from both the boys’ and the girls’ competition qualifying for the team.

Two more competitors in the European Young Masters field will be selected by the Captain, Gary Stangl, in the under-16s category.
All six under-18 players will be picked by a selection committee who will take into account performances in the European girls’ and boys’ team championships, national level junior championships and players’ standings in the European Amateur Golf Rankings (EAGR) and Ladies European Amateur Rankings (LEAR).
The complete European team will be announced following the European Young Masters on July 24.
In 2006 and 2008 Europe included under-16 players only, while the United States players were under 18, and Stangl believes the new criteria will make for an even match.
“Two years ago some of the American players were nearly 18 years old and were playing against Europeans who were under 16,” he said. “This year it will be more even in terms of ages and it promises to be an electrifying competition.”
The European youngsters will travel to Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, the venue for The 2014 Ryder Cup, on September 23 with the aim of regaining the Junior Ryder Cup, having lost to the United States at The Club at Olde Stone in Kentucky two years ago.

Prior to that Europe won the matches in 2002 and 2004, at The K Club in Ireland and Westfield Group Country Club in Ohio respectively, and the 2006 contest at The Celtic Manor Resort was tied.
Both the European and United States Junior teams will visit Celtic Manor after the Junior Ryder Cup has finished to play a nine-hole Friendship Match and to meet the players from Colin Montgomerie’s European Team and Corey Pavin’s American Team ahead of The 38th Ryder Cup.

Click on the image to enlarge it and try to work out what's what. The golf course will be through the dunes (dark green) on the strip between light green (practice areas?) and the beach.

Trump International submits detailed masterplan

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE TRUMP ORGANISATION
Following the Scottish Government’s decision to grant outline planning permission on December 16, 2008, Trump International – Scotland submitted its detailed masterplan for the entire site and designs for its championship golf course to Aberdeenshire Council today.
Commenting on today’s submission, Donald J. Trump, president and chief executive officer, The Trump Organisation, said “This is another significant step towards our goal of building the world’s greatest golf course and resort in Aberdeenshire.”
The culmination of more than twelve months of intensive analysis and input from a wide range of specialist consultants, working under the direction of Trump International – Scotland and project master-planners, Gareth Hoskins Architects, the application sets out the detailed masterplan for the land at Menie and establishes a framework for the overall phased development of the site.
The masterplan provides direction on how the project should be built and outlines the positioning, scale and materials of its buildings and spaces, and addresses landscaping, environmental and infrastructure requirements. As part of the master-planning process a large number of surveys and plans have been commissioned which form part of the submission. These include detailed environmental, landscaping, construction and infrastructure plans.
Gareth Hoskins, director, Gareth Hoskins Architects, said “The past 14 months have seen a huge amount of work and engagement with Aberdeenshire Council and both local and national consultees such as Architecture & Design Scotland.
"This has involved input from a wide range of specialist consultants to create an overall design strategy that works carefully with the different types of landscape setting found within the overall site.
"Importantly the masterplan establishes a framework for both the resort and residential community that is about creating well designed places and ensuring ease of movement and accessibility both for the surrounding communities and the wider public. The team is now looking forward to taking forward the detailed design of the different elements of the development.”
The first phase of the development is the championship golf course designed by Dr. Martin Hawtree, the detailed plans for which were also submitted today. Commenting, Dr Martin Hawtree, stated:
"The golf course follows a classic pattern of two out-and-back loops of nine holes. All 18 holes thread their way engagingly through the dunes, rising here to find views of the sea and coastline, plunging there into secluded valleys, offering a sequence of superlative topographies, landscapes, alternating between spaciousness and enclosure, then panoramic views, and the whole time a rich texture of vegetation and wild-life habitats surrounding the golf holes.
"The golf course will lack for nothing. The landscape framework of the site comes close to an ideal. There is nothing missing and the layout as conceived would contain no weak holes. It will produce simply the most dramatic, stimulating, invigorating stretch of golf anywhere I have seen in my career.”
Featuring the detailed drawings and plans from today’s submission, Trump International – Scotland is hosting a masterplan and championship golf course exhibition at the Udny Arms Hotel, Main Street, Newburgh from March 12 – 13, 2010.
The exhibition is open to the public on Friday, 12 from 10am to 7pm and Saturday, 13 from 10am to 5pm, and provides an opportunity for members of the public to view the latest plans and to take part in the pre-application consultation process for the detailed golf course design developed by golf course architects, Hawtree Limited.
Trump International – Scotland’s application will be determined by Formartine Area Committee later in the year.
Detailed plans for the phase two and three of the development (hotel and resort accommodation, and residential village) are currently underway and will be released in due course.

Midland Alliance switched to Drumoig on Thursday

The Midland Golfers Alliance meeting scheduled for Aberdour Golf Club meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) has been moved to Drumoig Golf Course and put back a day to Thursday, February 18 (tee reserved 8.30am to 12.30).

North-east Alliance definitely on at Murcar Links tomorrow

North-east Golfers' Alliance secretary Ron Menzies reports that tomorrow's competition at Murcar Links is not in doubt. Any snow that has fallen in the Aberdeen area has not affected Murcar Links.

Royal Liverpool will

host Open in 2014

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R&A
The R&A has announced that Royal Liverpool Golf Club will host The Open Championship in 2014. It will be the 12th time the Hoylake links has hosted golf’s oldest Major.
The venue has witnessed a string of unique Open Champions: in 1907, Arnaud Massy became the only Frenchman to have won the title; Fred Daly became the first Irishman to do so, in 1947; and Argentine golfer Roberto De Vicenzo became the first South American to win a Major when he lifted the Claret Jug in 1967.
When The Open returned to Hoylake in 2006 after a 39-year absence, Tiger Woods became the first back-to-back Open Champion since Tom Watson in 1983 in front of 230,000 people, a record attendance for the Championship in England.
Two of the three amateurs to have won The Open were Royal Liverpool members: Hoylake-born John Ball junior, the first Englishman to win The Open, lifted the Claret Jug at Prestwick in 1890; and Harold Hilton, who, on his home course in 1897, won his second title at the first Open Championship to be staged in the north west of England.
The only other amateur winner is Bobby Jones, who won his third Open at Hoylake in 1930: the second of four steps to his unprecedented and unmatched Grand Slam.
In 1885, Hoylake hosted the inaugural Amateur Championship – the first of 17 to date – and, in 1921, it staged the first international match between Great Britain and the USA, a contest which would later become the Walker Cup Match.
“We are delighted that The Open is returning to Royal Liverpool after a relatively short period of time,” said David Hill, The R&A’s Director of Championships. “In 2006, Hoylake showcased links golf at its best and players, spectators and officials were united in their praise for the course, and for the venue as a whole.
“We would like to thank the Club’s officials for their unfailing co-operation, which has enabled the Championship to come back to Royal Liverpool, a Club whose history is interwoven with both The Open and The R&A.”
Paul Cassidy, Captain of Royal Liverpool Golf Club added, “we are very proud of our Club’s rich heritage and the many memorable golfing moments staged at Hoylake since our founding in 1869 and are extremely thrilled to be again invited to host The Open Championship in 2014. We are thoroughly looking forward to working with both The R&A and Wirral Council in the planning, organisation and staging of another successful Major championship.”
With The Open Championship estimated to boost the local economy by £70m each time it is played in the northwest of England, the news has also been welcomed by Councillor Steve Foulkes, Leader of Wirral Council.
“This is fantastic news for Wirral. We look forward to getting ready to welcome new visitors to the Peninsula as well as returning golf fans who enjoyed themselves so much with us four years ago,” said Councillor Foulkes.
“The return of one of the world’s biggest sporting events to Royal Liverpool Golf Club is not only great for Wirral, but the whole of the North West. We are absolutely committed to ensuring local residents, businesses and golf fans alike benefit from this fantastic opportunity once more.”
Previous winners at Royal Liverpool
1897 - Harold Hilton (ENG) (am). 1936 - Alf Padgham (ENG)
1902 - Sandy Herd (SCO) 1947 - Fred Daly (NIR)
1907 - Arnaud Massy (FRA) 1956 - Peter Thomson (AUS)
1913 - J H Taylor (ENG) 1967 - Roberto De Vicenzo (ARG)
1924 - Walter Hagen (USA) 2006 - Tiger Woods (USA)
1930 - Bobby Jones (USA) (am)

New Zealander seniors lead at home against Aussies

New Zealand take a commanding lead into the final day of the Trans Tasman seniors golf international against Australia in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The New Zealand combination lead 8-1/2 matches to 3-1/2 after two rounds of foursomes and fourball play at Clearwater Resort.
New Zealand made a powerful start when they dominated the morning foursomes, winning 4-1/2 to 1-1/2.
New Zealand, who won the Sanctuary Cove Cup across the Tasman last year, rammed home their advantage with a 4-2 advantage in the afternoon four-balls.
The contest will be decided today with 12 singles matches, made in a special draw by Sir Bob Charles, with Australia requiring eight wins to take the cup back across the Tasman.
First day results (NZ names first)
Foursomes: New Zealand 4-1/2 Australia 1-1/2
Owen Kendall and Barry Shannon lost to Ross Percy and Brian Sams 2 holes.
John Sanders and Ron Olivecrona bt John Beaumont and Grahame MacDonald 1 hole.
Rodney Barltrop and Frank Borren halved with Stefan Albinski and Greg Corben.
Ian Donaldson and Eric Brodie bt Bill Banks and Ian Read 5 and 4.
Arthur Parkin and Andrew McKechnie bt Chris Coats and Denis Dale 5 and 4.
Phil Mosley and Murray Martin bt Tony Gover and Chris Tatt 2 and 1.

Fourball: New Zealand 4 Australia 2:
Sanders and Barltrop bt Beaumont and MacDonald 2 and 1.
Kendall and Borren lost to Percy and Sams 2 and 1.
Olivecrona and Shannon lost to Albinski and Corben 4 and 3.
Parkin and Martin bt Dale and Coats 2 and 1.
Mosley and Brodie bt Gover and Tatt 6 and 4.
Donaldson and McKechnie bt Banks and Read 1 hole.

End of First Day scoreline: New Zealand 8-1/2 Australia 3-1/2

David Drysdale has reasons to be cheerful

FROM THE SCOTSMAN.SPORT.COM WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Before anyone starts getting the wrong idea, David Drysdale definitely doesn't lack bottle. You don't bounce back from some of the knocks he has taken in his career without having the stomach for a fight.
He's now gone agonisingly close to recording a maiden European Tour win on four occasions in just over a year, the latest flirtation with success coming when he finished third in the Avantha Masters in India on Sunday after leading with seven holes to go.
Don't be fooled, though, into thinking that Drysdale is one of those players who becomes scared about the prospect of winning, as nothing could be further from the truth. It was only natural that he felt disappointed yesterday as he made the long journey home from New Delhi to Cockburnspath in Berwickshire via Dubai.
But, at the same time, the 34-year-old had cause to feel upbeat about the rest of his season. Scotland's leading light in the Race to Dubai last season, few players can have found it more difficult to adapt to the rule regarding club grooves that was introduced at the start of the year than Drysdale.
And, when you've played with the same trusty set of irons for five years, it can't be easy suddenly having a new set of tools thrust into your hands. It's been suggested by some people that the likes of Drysdale should have ensured they were better prepared for something they had known was going to happen for some time, but what was he supposed to do?
At a time when he was trying to stay in the top 60 in that Race to Dubai and therefore secure a place in the season-ending Dubai World Championship, is someone seriously saying he should have been practising with a new set of clubs?
Due to the fact his 2009 campaign crept into December as he tried to secure a first appearance in a WGC event through the Sunshine Tour, the first chance Drysdale got to look at his new clubs was when he arrived home from South Africa just before Christmas.
He hadn't had much chance to practise with them before he was back in action in the Joburg Open and, by the time he arrived in India early last week after stops in Abu Dhabi, Oatar and Dubai, the Scot had moved on to his third set of the year.
In truth, Drysdale surprised himself in New Delhi as he almost added to the successes of Martin Laird and Richie Ramsay in recent months before "a couple of poor shots and a few poorish putts" on the back nine saw him come up just short.
Last season, he finished second in the Andalucia Open and third in both the Joburg Open and the Madrid Masters. These are experiences that may knock the confidence of some, but not Drysdale. They'll help him develop into a better player over the next few seasons and, at the same time, make him all the more determined to secure that breakthrough.
As the European Tour prepares itself for a quiet spell by its manic standards, Drysdale's next chance is likely to come in Malaysia early next month before he heads for the Iberian Peninsula for events in Spain and Portugal, followed by a trip back out to the Far East to play in China and South Korea.
He'll keep knocking at that door and, before too long, there's an excellent chance it will finally open for him. One thing for sure is that he won't shy away from other opportunities like the one that he created in India.
Drysdale, partly due to all his visits to the Tour School, has become a tough cookie on a golf course. He's certainly not a bottle merchant.
+The full article above appears in The Scotsman newspaper today.

Gavin Dear tees off 2010

on the Road to Morocco


FROM THE SCOTSMAN.SPORT.COM WEBSITE
By Martin Dempster
Gavin Dear, one third of Scotland's Eisenhower Trophy-winning team of 2008, has found out quickly that being a professional golfer is not necessarily as glamorous as some might think.
The Murrayshall man launches his 2010 campaign today on the Alps Tour in Morocco and has discovered that life on one of the third-tier circuits in Europe is a far cry from the main Tour. "Morocco is an interesting country to have travelled to and the drive down from Casablanca to Essaouira was different, it certainly wasn't like driving to Lytham Trophy," said Dear (pictured by Tom Ward Photography).
"A lot of people will think that it's a fabulous life being a professional golfer. It can be, but out here this week it's not particularly fabulous. Myself and Steven Hume, who also qualified for the Alps Tour, hired a car as there was no other way to get to the tournament venue.
"This car wouldn't pass an MOT back home and I spent the drive dodging horse and carts, chickens, sheep and dogs."
Dear, who won the Alps Tour qualifying school in November, has spent a month in Florida preparing for the new campaign and is looking to get off to a flying start in this week's £50,000 Open de Mogador.
The winner of the event gets in to the European Challenge Tour's Moroccan Golf Classic in April and the 25-year-old from Scone, Perthshire is hoping that can be one of a handful of appearances on the second-tier circuit.
"I have spent a lot of time with my management group working out strategies and finding out bits of information to help formulate a schedule," he said.
"For instance, I have entered the qualifying for the Allianz Tour, a French circuit run by the French Federation. At the Tour School, if you finish in the top five you receive an invite into the four Allianz Challenge Tour events in 2010."
While Richie Ramsay, for one, believes that a negative attitude has held some Scottish golfers back in the past, Dear, who is delighted to be representing Murrayshall House Hotel and Golf Courses this season, says that won't happen with him.
"The advantage of going to America (he went to Lynn University, Boca Raton in Florida) is that I became more of a positive person," he said. "I really have a 'can do' attitude these days. Most importantly, though, I expect more of myself these days. I am still able to remain level headed and that will undoubtedly be my biggest strength."