Thursday, February 03, 2011

CHILLY START FOR PHOENIX OPEN

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
By Gary Van Sickle, Senior Writer, Sports Illustrated
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — Tom Gillis played hockey on a frozen Michigan lake when he was home for the Christmas holidays. The opening round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open here Thursday was nothing like that, of course.
"This felt a little colder today," Gillis said.
Welcome to the place known as the Valley of the Sun. It's Super Bowl week, and you'll keep hearing about the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field because the Green Bay Packers are playing in the big game Sunday, but here they're talking about the frozen tundra of the TPC at Scottsdale.
The Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce doesn't want you to hear this, but yes, winter does come to the Phoenix area every so often. Wednesday it was wicked cold for the desert, with temperatures in the upper 30s and biting, 30mp winds that caused the cancellation of the pro-am tournament.
On Thursday, sub-freezing temperatures caused a 4hr delay until the frost faded and the greens thawed out. The delay meant that the afternoon wave of players, none of whom got in more than nine holes on Thursday, were looking at a long Friday.
The players who did finish Thursday may not get their second rounds going until late Friday or, more likely, Saturday because another cold-weather delay is expected. Gillis was one of those who finished the first round Thursday. He's tied at six under with Bill Haas, Tom Lehman and Jason Bohn.
It was still chilly when play began Thursday. "It was 32 or 33 it seemed like when we were getting ready to tee off, maybe a little more than that," Gillis said. "But it just seemed colder than 15 degrees up there [in Michigan], that's all I know."
Gillis said he wore the same clothes Thursday as he did for his hockey outing. Never mind Jhonattan Vegas and his victory at the Bob Hope Classic — the surprise of the year on the US PGA Tour so far is the Phoenix freeze the last two days. The fountain in front of the entrance to a nearby Courtyard Marriott, where some players stayed, looked more like an ice sculpture.
"I never even came out to the course Wednesday," said Lucas Glover, a former U.S. Open champion. "I don't think anything thawed out yesterday."
Glover looked prepared for the conditions after his round. (He shot 66, by the way.) He wore a thermal layer and sported a relatively new, thick beard that's drawing a lot of comments.
Justin Rose recently tweeted, "winning a U.S. Open is so easy a caveman can do it," and linked to a photo of Glover, nearly unrecognisable with his new facial hair. It's the leader in the clubhouse as the golf Tweet of the Year.
The beard, Glover said, was two months in the making. He doesn't have plans for it. "I was just lazy; it was something (not, as in shaving) to do," he said.
Glover said he got comments about his beard on every hole. "I get a lot of Grizzly Adams and Brian Wilson."
The cold air affected everyone and caused adjustments. In desert conditons, Joe Ogilvie normally hits an 8-iron 165 yards. "Today, I hit 8-iron about 145 yards," he said. "By the time I get to play here Saturday afternoon, it'll probably be going 165 again."
Apparently, Ogilvie made all the right adjustments. He shot 67.
Bohn said the key to his round was spending 90min warming up, 40 minutes more than he normally does. "My body moved well in this cold weather, which is unique for an old guy like me," the 37-year-old said. "So I was very pleased."
Glover played in a ski hat. So did Ben Crane, Bohn and a number of other players. Phil Mickelson, a former Phoenix resident who now lives in San Diego, seemed to bask in the cold, according to Haas, who was in his group.
"I had four layers on; it was tough to get going," said Haas, who shot 31 on his second nine. "Phil was in short sleeves. I don't know how he was doing it because I don't think it was that warm."
After Wednesday, however, Thursday felt almost balmy. "I expected the course to be frozen and balls bouncing on the greens quite a ways," said Mickelson, who finished second last week at Torrey Pines and opened with a solid 67.
"Actually, the greens were receptive. When the sun came out, I started to get a little bit warm. It felt great out there. For as cold as it's been, we had a great day to play."
The afternoon highs on the weekend are expected to return to normal, the low 70s.
LEADERBOARD

Round 1 still to be completed
Par 71
65 Tom Gillis, Bill Haas, Tom Lehman, Jason Bohn.
66 Chris Couch, Ben Crane, Lucas Glover.
Selected scores
67 Phil Mickelson.
70 Jhonattan Vegas (Venezuela), Bubba Watson, Brian Davis (England).
72 Michael Sim (Scotland/Australia)

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ALAN LOCKHART WINS AGAIN AT MIDLANDS ALLIANCE

Today's Midlands Golfers Alliance, sponsored by William Hill, in very windy conditions at Arbroath was won by the man in form, Ladybank assistant professional Alan Lockhart (pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency) with a magnificent score of two-under-par 66. He also won last week's competition.
The handicap honours were shared by five players with net scores of 71.
The team prize was won by the trio of A Lockhart, S Clark and L Cargill with a score of 61.


LEADING SCRATCH
Par 68
66 Alan Lockhart (Ladybank) ap.
74 Paul Brookes (Pitreavie) p.
75 Neil Cameron (King James), Martin Brown (Monifieth)
76 Donald McKay (Wellsgreen), Paul Wytrazek (Burntisland) p, Jim Roy (Panmure).
77 Lindsay Cargill (Arbroath), Grant Jenkins (Crieff).
LEADING HANDICAP
71 Jim Roy (Panmure) (5), George Lyall (Downfield) (4), Dennis Redford (Murrayshall) (7), Neil Cameron (King James) (4), Doug Sievwright (Drumoig) (13).
72 Lindsay Cargill (Arbroath) (5), Alex Smith (Edzell) (6), Dave Black (Dunfermline) (11)
73 Bob Redpath (Scotscraig) (7), Charlie Wallace (Caird Park) (10).
74 Ewan Rae (Arbroath) (4), Grant Jenkins (Crieff) (3), Jim Muir (Scotscraig) (11).
TEAM TOTALS
61 A Lockhart, S Clark, L Cargill
62 R Baldie, G Jenkins, J S Miller
63 P Brookes, C Westland, D Black.
 Qualifiers for the JTC Interiors Express championships at Arbroath in April:
Neil Cameron, Jim Roy
Qualifier for the McQueen Shield at Arbroath, also in April:
Jim Roy (better inward half)


+Next meeting is at Carnoustie over the Buddon Course on Thursday, February 10 (Tee reserved from 8.30 am to 12.30).

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PAUL O'HARA WELL DOWN THE FINISHING FIELD IN TURKEY

Motherwell's Paul O'Hara had a tournament to forget very quickly this week. He finished joint 39th - almost last - in the EPD (PGA of Germany) Tour's Sueno Pines Classic at Belek in Turkey's southern Antalya region.
Paul had rounds of 76, 75 and76 for an 11-over-par total of 227. That earned him 294 Euros.
The winner of the 5,000 Euros first prize was Germany's Max Glauert from Dusseldorf who scored his maiden victory. He beat compatriot Alexander Knappe and Frenchman Damien Perrier at the second extra hole of a sudden death-play-off.
They had tied on three-under-par 213, Glauert with rounds of 74, 69 and 70, compared with Knappe's 74, 68 and 71, and Perrier's 71, 69 and 73. The beaten play-off participants each earned 2,500 Euros.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
213 Max Glauert (Germany) 74 69 70, Alex Knappe (Germany) 74 68 71, Damien Perrier (France) 71 69 73 (Glauert, 5,000 Euros, won sudden-death play-off at second hole, Knappe and Perrier 2,500 Euros each).
216 Gareth Davies (England) 73 71 72, Daniel Wunsche (Germany) 75 75 66 (1,425 Euros each).
Selected score:
227 Paul O'Hara (Scotland) 76 75 76 (jt 39th) (294 Euros).

TO READ ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

CLICK HERE

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RENFREWSHIRE FOCUS ON YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY RENFREWSHIRE GOLF UNION Don Bremner: e-mail- donbremner@ranfurly9.freeserve.co.uk
In an exciting and progressive move, Renfrewshire Golf Union has decided to start its coaching programme with boys as young as nine years old who meet the handicap criterion.
The group of 17  youngsters will start their programme with a Strength and Conditioning presentation early this month. This will be delivered by Steve Paulding, Scottish Golf Union’s Performance Manager, and will cover both exercise and diet.
The group will then attend a series of technical sessions at Mearns Castle Golf Academy, starting in April and running through to September. At the end of the programme, it is anticipated that some of the boys will have made sufficient progress to elevate to the under-14 squad and eventually, perhaps, to the SGU training programme.
The youngest squad members are nine-year-old Alistair Taylor from Gourock Golf Club and 10-year-old Tom MacKenzie from Whitecraigs Golf Club.
The full squad is:
Ibrahim Hussain, Eastwood
Matthew McAuley, Greenock
Jack Cowan, Kilmacolm
Jack Jamieson, Paisley
Jack Poynts, Caldwell
Robbie Fulton, Paisley
Tom MacKenzie, Whitecraigs
Jamie Sinnamon, Whinhill
Andrew Thomson, Kilmacolm
Dylan Ferguson, Kilmacolm
Euan English, Erskine
Innes Martin, Ranfurly Castle
Cameron Lyle, Paisley
Campbell Gibson, Kilmacolm
Alistair Taylor, Gourock
Kieran Maule, Old Ranfurly
Josh Coyle, Elderslie













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LLOYD SALTMAN WINS IN SPAIN BY 13 STROKES

FROM THE SPANISH Hi5 PRO TOUR WEBSITE
Recent graduate to the main European Tour, Lloyd Saltman closed the deal today at Hacienda del Alamo with another fine performance.
Lloyd fired a fine six under 66 today for a final total of 21 under par 195 for the 54 hole event. His earlier rounds were 65 and 64, the second round lowering the course record held by former Hacienda del Alamo resident pro and European Tour stalwart, Miguel AngeL Jimenez. 
Saltman, who had a total bag of three eagles, 21 birdies, one double bogey (in his final round) and two bogeys, hopes to take his current form, where his next competitors ended up at least 13 shots behind, to Dubai next week when he hopes to resume on the European Tour.
”I am just waiting for the call. Dubai is a big event where a lot of top players come, but let us wait and see what happens," said the Lothians player.
“In any case it has been a great week for me here at Hacienda. The Dave Thomas course was fantastic and it is great training for both my game and confidence for my year ahead.”
In joint second were Joachim Hansen of Denmark and James Hepworth of England. Both finished at eight under par.
Saltman, who also won on the Hi5 Pro Tour last year, won the 3,900 Euros first prize and a famous Thomas Sabo winners watch.
There was a three-way tie for fourth place on seven-under 209 between Carlos Balmaseda from Spain, Lloyd Saltman's older brother Elliot (73-67-69) and Gareth Shaw from Northern Ireland.
Zack Saltman, the youngest of the three brothers, enjoyed one of his highest finishes as a professional. He finished joint ninth on five-under 211 with scores of 72, 70 and 69.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
195 Lloyd Saltman (Scotland) 65 64 66.
208 Joachim Hansen (Denmark) 70 70 68, James Hepworth (England) 71 68 69.
209 Carlos Balmaseda (Spain) 71 69 69, Elliot Saltman (Scotland) 73 67 69, Gareth Shaw (N Ireland) 72 66 71.
210 Jamie Abbot (England) 69 689 72, James Busby (England) 72 65 73.
211 Zack Saltman (Scotland) 72 70 69, Paul Grannell (England) 75 66 70, Seb Cargia (Spain) 71 69 71.

CLICK HERE TO READ ALL THE SCORES, CHECK THE CARDS

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DESIGNER FAZIO THUMBS UP FOR PORTUGAL RYDER CUP SITE

NEWS RELEASE
Tom Fazio has completed the routing plan for his long-awaited first course in Europe and the renowned American course architect believes Comporta Links – the focal point for Portugal’s bid to stage the 2018 Ryder Cup – has the potential to rival anything he has created over the past 40 years.
“It’s an incredible piece of land, but I knew that before I saw it,” said 66 year-old Fazio, who has designed over 200 courses in his native country and also works as the Course Consultant for Augusta National, Pine Valley, Oakmont, Merion, Cypress Point and several other leading American golf clubs.
“My son, Logan, who is now President of Fazio Design, came over for a preliminary visit and when he came back I couldn’t get him to stop talking about it.
“The land, with its impressive sand hills and its sandy sub-soil, reminds me of Pinehurst and as far as I’m concerned there is no bigger compliment than that.
Fazio and his team have made several visits to the site, and, together with co-designers, European Golf Design, the company behind the TwentyTen course at Celtic Manor, they have mapped out a spectacular 7,867- yard lay-out specifically designed to stage a Ryder Cup.
It features a diverse collection of par-3s, par-4s and par-5s and a strong closing stretch built in a natural amphitheatre and capable of accommodating crowds of up to 50,000 a day.
“It’s a great opportunity for us and a wonderful place to build our first course in Europe,” said Fazio, whose career as a course designer started back in the 1960s when he teamed up with his uncle, George, an acclaimed Tour player in the Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Jimmy Demaret era.
“It would be fair to say that everyone at Comporta, from the owners, the Espírito Santo family down, will do anything in their power to win the bid to stage the 2018 Ryder Cup. That’s what we’re all working towards.”
“I genuinely believe we have the opportunity to build something special here... something that will still be around long after we’ve all gone.”
The new Comporta Links course is built on rolling land at Herdade da Comporta, about 110km from Lisbon and 140km from the Algarve in an area of known as the Alentejo Coast. It is part of a €1 billion tourist development which is owned by the Espírito Santo Group, one of the largest corporate groups in Portugal, and the owners of the country’s second largest private bank, Banco Espirito Santo. The resort will also feature a second golf course, designed by David McLay Kidd, the architect behind the new Castle Course, as well two 5-star hotels, two Apart-Hotels and a wide variety of real estate all built to the highest environmental standards.
Fazio said that the commitment shown by the Espírito Santo Group was the clincher when it came to his company accepting its first course commission outside America and the Caribbean. He also went on to explain why in the past he had been so loath to work in other areas of the world.
“There are some people who will tell you that the land is the most important factor when it comes to building a golf course but that simply is not true. We have got a great piece of land here but that wasn’t the No. 1 reason why we chose Comporta to build our first course in Europe.
"The No. 1 factor is who you work for and here at Comporta the Espírito Santo family tick all the boxes. Right from the start, we’ve been impressed by the stability, the commitment, the dedication and the support of the Espírito Santo family. When Logan came back from his first visit he said, ‘Dad, that’s the group, that’s the family we want to work for’. So that’s why (we’re doing it) now, that’s why here.”
Fazio went on to explain why it has taken him 40 years to build his first golf course in Europe.
“The reason is simple,” he said. “I have always had a plan in my life. I wouldn’t travel far from home while I had my children but, now they have grown up and left home, I’m free to travel the world and to accept some jobs I would have turned down in the past.
“My family has always come first, and you’d have to say I didn’t have much incentive to travel, either,” he added.“I’d have to check the actual figures, but my house in Asheville, North Carolina, is about two hours from New York, two hours from Chicago, two hours from Dallas, two hours from Palm Springs and in that area I’d guess there has been around 4,000 course built since I started out in the design business back in the 60s.
“I have probably built about 150 courses within two hours of my home. There was no need to travel, but now there’s no reason to stay home which is why I’m here at Comporta and why we’ll probably do other overseas projects in the future.
“We’re going to put our name in Europe, put our name in Portugal. The time is right. We’re lucky to be here.”
Portugal is one of five countries bidding to host the 2018.
The bid has the full support of Portugal’s Prime minister, José Socrates, and the Portuguese Government and is designed to leave a lasting legacy for Portugal, the Portuguese people, the European Tour, the PGA of GB, the PGA of Europe and the 300,000 visiting golfers who already flock to the country each year.
The Portuguese see the Ryder Cup bid as the catalyst to launch the Alentejo coast as the country’s third top-quality golf destination, alongside the Algarve and the Lisbon coast.
The €1 billion Herdade da Comporta project is designed to be in harmony with its environment and has already received several prestigious environmental awards in recognition of its promotion of sustainable practices and environmental concerns.
The development of the Herdade da Comporta resort is part of a wider plan to build eight golf courses, 32 hotels and apartment hotels, fine restaurants and a wide range of other tourist amenities on the Alentejo Coast – all designed to enhance Portugal’s well-deserved reputation as a high quality tourist destination.
Ultimately, the development of the Alentejo Coast will create an estimated 14,000 jobs in the area. Deloitte estimate a successful 2018 Ryder Cup bid will result in a €550 million boost to the Portuguese national economy, three times greater that the impact of the Euro2004 football event.

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BIRTHDAY BOY GOOSEN LEADS IN QATAR MASTERS WIND

                                                                         FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
South African Retief Goosen celebrated his 42nd birthday with a pace-setting, three-under-par 69 in the windswept opening round of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy.
Without a European Tour victory since the same event four years ago - and without a title anywhere for nearly two years - the twice US Open Champion shone in conditions that caused real problems for many of the star names in the field.
As the round drew to a close in fading light Goosen, pictured today, held the clubhouse lead by one from defending champion Robert Karlsson, 2003 winner Darren Fichardt and England's Richard Finch.

Former Ryder Cup player Niclas Fasth, in the last group of the day, just had time to birdie the driveable 16th and join Goosen out in front on three under before play for the day was called off because of darkness.

Goosen was the only player to break 70, although Swede Fasth has a chance to join him in the morning.
Lee Westwood, who could lose the World No 1 spot if Martin Kaymer finishes in the top two on Sunday, managed a 73 and that was good enough for a place inside the top 20.
After only one bogey all week a fortnight ago, Kaymer dropped shots at the sixth and 12th and then drove into rocks three holes later en route to a 77.

The US PGA Championship winner tried to play his way out of trouble, but knocked the ball only a few yards and then took a penalty drop en route to a double bogey 6. He did not pick up a single birdie.

Goosen was joint third in Abu Dhabi two weeks ago, albeit ten shots adrift of Kaymer, and continued that form in the far more difficult conditions.

"I drove it nicely, but it was tough to get the ball close to the flags and when you were putting you were getting blown all over the place," Goosen said.

"It wasn't easy. I putted well in these conditions, made a few good putts and par saves and that kept my score together."

Fasth's last win was also four years ago and it is now nine years since he helped Europe win The Ryder Cup at The Belfry.

He made a 15ft birdie putt on the seventh, his 16th, in the fast-fading light to put himself and Goosen one ahead.

Karlsson scrambled brilliantly at times and the former European No 1 was pleased to be in contention for a third title in the desert in 12 months after winning the season-ending Dubai World Championship in November.

"The one on six was a bit special," he said. "To keep the round going, it's easy to get into if you're holing out well.

"I've played well here a few times and the year before I won. I like this golf course, it's always in great condition."

FIRST-ROUND LEADERS
Par 72
69 Retief Goosen (S Africa) 35-34.
70 Darren Fichardt (S Africa) 35-35, Robert Karlsson (Sweden) 36-34, Richard Finch (England) 38-32.
Selected scores:
73 Lee Westwood (England) 36-37.
74 Paul Casey (England) 40-34.
76 Steve Stricker (US) 36-40.
77 Martin Kaymer (Germany) 37-40, John Daly (US) 43-35.
SCOTS' SCORES
72 Stephen Gallacher 35-37 (T10).
73 Steven O'Hara 35-38, Gary Orr 37-36 (T18).
74 Andrew Coltart 36-38, Paul Lawrie 36-38 (T34)
75 Richie Ramsay 36-39, Peter Whiteford 37-38 (T52).
To finish: David Drysdale - level par with two holes to play.

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REPORT, SCORES FROM BANGLADESH MASTERS

NEWS RELEASE FROM ASIAN DEVELOPMENT TOUR
Dhaka: Local hero Siddikur led the home charge by taking the opening round lead at the Grameenphone Bangladesh Masters on Thursday.
Siddikur, the first player to play and win on the Asian Tour, wielded a hot putter as he returned with a sizzling six-under-par 66 at the US$75,000 Asian Development Tour event.
Bangladeshis Md. A. Motin and Md. Liton Howlader occupied second and third placing with a solid 68 and 69 respectively while Japanese duo Hirotaro Naito and Yosuke Tsukada, Malaysian Rizal Amin and Md. Sayum Miah of Bangladesh shared fourth place with identical 70s at the Kurmitola Golf Club.
Siddikur lived up to his billing as the top player in the event where he made 24 putts, highlighted by five consecutive one putts from the 11th hole, in a round of seven birdies against one bogey.
“I couldn’t control my emotions last week (in the Bangladesh Open) and that led to some silly mistakes. It was much better today as I was able to maintain my composure and remain focus,” said Siddikur who won the Brunei Open on the elite Asian Tour last season.
He believes the Grameenphone Bangladesh Masters, which is the curtain raiser for the Asian Development Tour season, will inspire and act as a learning curve for budding golfers in Bangladesh .
“There are many things our professionals need to learn and through the Asian Development Tour, they will be able to develop their game and continue to improve,” said the 26-year-old, who started golfing with a makeshift seven iron head stuck to a metal rod.
His compatriot Motin surprised even himself when he returned with five birdies against one bogey. A former ball boy at Kurmitola Golf Club, Motin started golfing by practising his golf swing with a tree branch but believes golf in Bangladesh has taken a turn for the better.
“We could not afford to buy golf equipments last time and had to rely on items such as tree branches or second hand golf clubs. Golf is 100% different now compared to last time. It is much popular and many younger children are taking up the game. In time, with more professional events, I think golf will be even more popular,” said the 39-year-old, who plays competitively in Nepal .
Former Asian Tour champion Bryan Saltus of the United States, who played with Siddikur today, hopes to revive his career as he seeks to return into the elite Tour. The top three players on the Asian Development Tour Order of Merit at the end of the season will earn 2012 Asian Tour cards.
Saltus endured a slow patch after winning the 2007 Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open where he lost his Asian Tour card for 2010 and failed to finish in the top-40 of Qualifying School last month as he struggled with injury.
“I’m going to play more on the Asian Development Tour as I had an unsuccessful qualifier ( Asian Tour Qualifying School ) because of a back and wrist injury. It was pretty disappointing but I guess I’m just getting old,” said the 39-year-old, who shot a 71 today.
He played in two professional events last year but believes his desire to succeed has not wane. “I’ve won out here before and playing on this Tour I believe I can win again. I told myself that 2010 was a wash. I’m not going to even think about last year,” he added.
The Asian Development Tour, structured along the lines of the Nationwide Tour in the United States and European Challenge Tour, was launched in 2010 with tournaments already staged in Myanmar , Malaysia , Indonesia and Chinese Taipei.
LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 72
66 Siddikur (Ban)
68 Md. A. MOTIN (Ban)
69 Md. Liton HOWLADER (Ban)
70 Hirotaro NAITO (Jpn), Yosuke TSUKADA (Jpn), Rizal AMIN (Mas), Md. Sayum MIAH (Ban)
71 Justin BRINK (Irl), Bryan SALTUS ( Usa ), Md. Jakiruzzaman (A) (Ban), Ross CANAVAN (Eng)
72 Md. Milon AHMED (Ban), Neil REILLY (Eng), Md. Zamal Hossain MOLLAH (Ban), Lindsay RENOLDS (Can), NAY Bala Win Myint (Myn)
73 Takafumi KAWANE (Jpn), Javed INAYAT (Pak), Naoto NAKANISHI (Jpn), Danyaal JEHANGIR (Pak)

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LETHAM GRANGE GOLF CLUB MEMBERS BID TO SAVE COURSES

Playing a shot to the 18th green on the main course with the Letham Grange Hotel building in the background (image by Cal Carson Golf Agency).

FROM THE SPORT.SCOTSMAN.COM WEBSITE
http://sport.scotsman.com/
By Martin Dempster
Golf club members of Letham Grange, which sits a few miles inland from Arbroath, are facing a race against time in a bid to take over the running of the two courses at the Angus venue after it became the second Scottish golf resort to shut down in the space of a few weeks.
Hot on the heels of the Machrie Hotel and Golf Links on Islay going into liquidation, the doors have also been closed at Letham Grange due to an ongoing legal dispute over ownership that has resulted in the resort's management being unable to secure investment to keep trading.

The two courses, one of which was designed by leading golf course architect Donald Steel and opened by Sir Henry Cotton, the three-times Open champion, shortly before he died in 1987, have lain dormant for nearly a fortnight and now the club's 450 members are actively trying to come up with a proposal to rescue them.

"They (the resort management) have already invested a lot of money and are aware it will take another substantial investment if the courses are left to rack and ruin and then have to be brought back up to the current standard," the club secretary, Gardiner Arthur, told "The Scotsman."
"We have held a couple of meetings to see if it is possible if we can operate the courses on behalf of the members, hopefully for potential visitors as well, as we have two magnificent courses here. We are polling members for ideas. To make a full commitment in terms of fees (for a year) is possibly a hard thing to do. It could be we try and support things on a monthly basis at first. But it will depend on favourable things going our way."

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+At least two representatives of clubs/parties who have made bookings for outings at Letham Grange later in the year have contacted Scottishgolfview.com, asking if they are going to lose their desposits. These bookings, of course, would be handled by the Letham Grange Hotel management not by the golf club which is based there.

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