HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNAN COUNTY NEWS

  SUPPORT YOUR GOLF FIXTURES IN 2011!

The Wee County Golf Club members have plenty of competitive opportunities—each of the six Clubs in membership has a substantial golfing calendar of both men’s and ladies events.  As well as catering for their own membership, Clubs run Open events of all descriptions, and these competitions give local golfers the chance to play different courses at reasonable cost---for this staying in Clackmannanshire, the travelling costs are also low---- an important factor in times of escalating fuel costs.

The County Golf Union runs an Order of Merit at both Men’s and junior levels covering the top County and Club events.  County Junior Convenor Sam Kinnaird (Tillicoultry ) is hoping for better participation in the Boys’ events—“ In 2010, the entries for the County Boys’ events was very much on the low side plus some Clubs had to cancel their Boys Opens----the County really hope for better entries in 2011.  We are also hoping for another good performance in the Scottish Boys Team Championship, we were so close to a medal in 2010 with a fourth equal performance from the 16 teams”

Well, that’s a clear message to County Junior golfers---get a handicap if you don’t have one, and join in the County Junior golf scene.

it was the starting point for Callum Macaulay who reached the highest levels in the amateur game before becoming a professional golfer.

CLACKMANNAN COUNTY JUNIOR FIXTURES 2011

Stroke Play Championship: Alloa 24th April

Match Play: May 2^nd (Tulliallan). 5^th (Semi-finals Braehead). 12^th  (Final  Dollar).

Scottish Boys Area Team Championship: Sunday June 5^th Hayston.

COUNTY SUCCESS IN MIDLAND ALLIANCE.

The first two events of 2011 played in the Midland Alliance produced more success for Clackmannan County golfers. 

Star of the Drumoig event (and whisper it: in his seventh decade of competitive golf!) was undoubtedly Alloa’s Michael Niven. He was seventh equal in the scratch scoring, first equal in the handicap prize list with a net 73 and a member of the Pitlochry team that finished runners up in the team event with a net score of 63, one shot behind the winning Scotscraig team.

In the Lundin Links event it was Alloa’s Chris Westland making full use of his handicap to win the top handicap prize with a score of 74-10 =64.

 WORLD AMATEUR RANKINGS

The three local golfers are still in the Amateur World rankings, although a fair way down. Dollar’s Scott Borrowman is at  1505,  a good bit down from his best position a year or two back; Lawrence Allan (Alva) is at 2994 and Jamie Aitken (Alloa) at 3740.

It would be nice to see some new names joining them!!  .

Lawrence is in the top Boys development squad of 15 players, and will be hoping for some good golfing form in  to have a chance of representing Scotland at top boys level in 2011. We will all be wishing him well.

 AMALGAMATION OF THE SGU AND SLGA

Golf Club members should be aware of the amalgamation talks between the Scottish Golf Union and the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association. Several meetings have been held throughout the country. 

Last month a joint meeting was held at Falkirk Golf Club (Carmuirs) with Stirlingshire Golf Union; there was a good turnout of Area officials, and it was pleasing to see ten  keen delegates from Clackmannanshire out of the seventeen.

The main discussion focussed on governance issues, and the delegates were pretty unanimous that a monitoring/accountability body of Area representatives should be set up to assist communication with any new Board. Further meetings are planned in February.