CURRIE HOT START TO SCOTTISH ALLIANCE GOLF

                         By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Tartan Tour professional Christopher Currie (Caldwell) had the lowest score on the opening day of the 54-hole Scottish Golfers' Championship. Currie, pictured, shot a four-under-par 67 at Fortrose and Rosemarkie to lead at that venue by one shot from fellow pro Neil Henderson (Renaissance).
Defending champion John Henry, the Clydebank and District professional, shot a 74 at Fortrose and Rosemarkie.
Over at Nairn Dunbar, the venue for the final 18 holes on Thursday after the competitors have switched courses for Wednesday's second round, Buchanan Castle pro Keith Baxter and former British boys champion Jordan Findlay (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) shared a two-stroke lead on one-under-par 71.
Preferred lies in operation so scores do not count for handicap.

TOP SCORECARDS

Par at Nairn: 443 444 435  35  434 543 545 37 = 72

Par at Fortrose and Rosemarkie: 444 535 443 36 444 444 443 = 35 = 71.

 

NAIRN DUNBAR

Baxter 344 544 434 35 434 544 444 36 = 71

Findlay 343 544 535 36 334 544 543 = 71 (18th into what wind there was).

McNicoll 443 434 433 32 435 633 575 41  73

 

FORTROSE and ROSEMARKIE

Currie  334 534 353 33 444 543 343 34 = 67

Henderson 444 434 453 35 444 334 443 33 = 68.

Macdonald  444 546 453 39 334 434 433 31 = 70

 

FIRST-ROUND SCORES  
NAIRN DUNBAR
Par 72. SSS 74. Yardage: 6,765
71 K Baxter (Buchanan Castle) p, J Findlay (Paul Lawrie GC) p.
73 A Rothney (Ratho Park), J Duff (Newmachar), K D McNicoll (Gullane) p,  T Dingwall (Nairn Dunbar) p.
74 B Fotheringham (Inverness)
76 S Mackie (Auchmill)
77 F Bisset (Banchory)
78 D Leslie (Northern)
79 G Wither (Lothianburn), R Harrower (Boat of Garten) p.
80 J Kinloch (Cardross), K Thomson (Moray)
82 J Duncan (Newburgh)
83 L Reid (Fortrose and Rosemarkie)
84 J K England (Moray), J Kerr (Deer Park),
85 S Davidson (Dundas Parks), D S Bisset (Banchory), D Fleming (Portlethen)
86 H McNaughton (Cruden Bay)
87 D Mackay (Newmachar), J D Murray (Banchory), P B Kinloch (Cardross), B Lumsden (Northern)
88 P Leggate (Musselburgh)
89 D Spaven (Pitlochry)
90 R G Macpherson (Moray), A Boxx (Boat of Garten)
91 P Cornfield (Auchmill), C J M Brindley (Banchory)
93 S Duncan (Moray), R S Coupar (Boat of Garten)
94 N Chisholm (Kemnay), D Randall (Banchory)
95 M Winton (Caledonian), S I Thomson (Caledonian)
98 A Douglas (Caird Park), G Homer (Northern),
99 A Glass (Alloa)
101 J Junor (Hilton Park)

FORTROSE and ROSEMARKIE
Par 71. SSS 69. Yardage: 5,890
67 C Currie (Caldwell)
68 N Henderson (Renaissance) p.
70 M Macdonald (Fortrose and Rosemarkie)
72 B Webster (Edzell), P Mclean (Paul Lawrie GC) p.
73 K Bruce (Edzell), D Munro (Kingsknowe),
74 J Henry (Clydebank and Dist) p.
75 W Donnelly (Fortrose and Rosemarkie), C Cassie (Nigg Bay)
76 P Brookes (Pitreavie) p, B Nicolson (Auchmill), J White (Harrison),
77 J Smallwood (Affordable Golf) p, B Stewart (Tulliallan), A Gall (Deeside), R Stewart (Nairn Dunbar), D Mitchell (Monifieth)
78 D Rodger (Windyhill) p.
79 H Roulston (Stonehaven), A J Webster (Edzell) p, A J Graham (Aboyne)
81 C Westland (Alloa), A Cowie (Moray)
83 W Skene (Deeside), A P Thomson (Inverness) p, J R Ingram (Boat of Garten), J Wilson (Dunfermline)
84 J Hamilton (Murcar Links)
85 D Nelson (Aboyne), P Walker (Cruden Bay), R Carr (Fortrose and Rosemarkie), S Taylor (Boat of Garten)
86 G I Allan (Newmachar)
87 G Knapp (Muir of Ord), H Cowbrough (Muckhart)
91 G W Miller (Monifieth), M Rendall (Stonehaven), G W Paton (Dalhousie), W H Miller (Monifieth)
92 J Leddy (Bathgate)
94 R S Lamont (Bathgate), K Thomson (Alloa)
99 A Devlin (Pumpherston)
 
p denotes professional

ROYAL DORNOCH CUT GREEN FEES FOR SGU CLUB MEMBERS

NEWS RELEASE

Royal Dornoch Golf Course, the spectacular links course on the Dornoch Firth, has entered into a partnership with the SGU to offer members of affiliated golf clubs in Scotland savings of 25% off green fees on its Championship course.

The offer, which is exclusive to full members of all clubs affiliated to the SGU, provides golfers with the opportunity to play on one of the world’s best courses, described by Tom Watson, five times Open Champion as “the most fun I’ve ever had on a golf course.” 

Neil Hampton, General Manager of RDGC, said: “We are delighted to work with the SGU through this exclusive offer to encourage Scottish club golfers to make the most use of our superb course.” 

Ross Duncan, Marketing and Sponsorship Manager for the SGU states:  “It is important to support your local golf club, where you play and develop your game week in week out, but it is something special to play one of the world’s best links courses like Royal Dornoch.  We are delighted that Royal Dornoch Golf Club are supporting The Scottish Golf Union club golfers offer, and give our members an opportunity to test themselves.”

The par 70 links championship course is set against a background of spectacular panoramic views of the Dornoch Firth and the Sutherland and Ross-shire hills and provides all the characteristics of the best of links courses, and most of the difficulties.  Steeped in centuries of history, its standards are those expected by the modern golfer.

RDGC’s Special Offer green fee is available from September 2013 and throughout 2014.  25% off the standard advertised green fee for any time booked on or after 2pm for members of SGU Clubs.

This offer is one of a number available to members of golf clubs in Scotland through the SGU, highlighting the benefits being a member of a golf club brings.  Previous offers through the SGU at the Open Championship venues of Muirfield, Royal Troon and Prestwick proved very popular over the winter.

Offer

To qualify for the SGU rate, the golfer has to be a full member of an SGU affiliated golf club and must bring photographic ID along with proof of full membership. This could be a club card or letter from the golf club - and we require this to be an original.

To accompany the proof of full membership, we also need photographic ID (e.g. driving licence, passport, etc) to match the name on the club card or letter. Please note that country, overseas, social or anything other than full membership do not qualify for this rate.

DAVID LAW POISED FOR VICTORY PUSH OVER FINAL ROUND IN DUBAI

David Law shot a two-under-par 70 to keep alive his prospects of winning the MENA Tour's Dubai Open with a final round surge on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old Aberdonian is on eight-under-par 136, level with Roland Spencer (Austria) and England's Zane Scotland, who had a hole in one in his first round, and two shots behind leader Jake Shepherd who is on 10-under 134 after a 69 which included double bogeys at the second and fifth or else he might have had an unassailable lead.
Law birdied the fourth, seventh, eighth and 17th, bogeying the third and 14th.
Scot Tom Buchanan, who is now based at Al Ain, UAE, part of the Abu Dhabi Emirate, and Grantown on Spey's Duncan Stewart matched the lowest second-round score, a 68. Buchanan is joint 11th on 140.
Stewart is tied 16th on 141 after a round which included eight birdies but also four bogeys.
DUBAI OPEN 
Al Badia Golf Club, Dubai
SECOND-ROUND LEADERS
Par 144 (2x72)
134 Jake Shepherd (Eng) 65 69.
136 David Law (Sco) 66 70, Roland Spencer (Aut) 68 68, Zane Scotland (Eng) 65 71
137 William Harrold (Eng) 68 69, Ian Keenan (Eng) 66 71

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
140 Tom Buchanan 72 68 (T11)
141 Duncan Stewart 73 68 (T16)
144 Conor O'Neil 72 72, Fraser McKenna 73 71 (T29)
148 Greg Nicolson 73 75 (T55)
159 Ted Innes Ker 78 72 (T66).
156 Clarke Lutton 77 79 (T95)
166 Graeme Stewart 82 84 (112th).

FINAL STAGE OF MAJOR PITLOCHRY GOLF DEVELOPMENT BEGINS

NEWS RELEASE

Work has begun on the third and final stage of Pitlochry Golf Club’s ground-breaking Centre for Excellence project, with a new 6 hole short course due for completion this month.

The scenic course below Ben Y Vrackie is undergoing the biggest development in its history; adding practice facilities that will make Pitlochry one of Scotland’s leading golfing destinations.

Earlier this year a new driving range was opened with 6 indoor and 5 outdoor bays, teaching bays and target greens. 

That facility, built with financial assistance from Perth and Kinross Council, Sportscotland and landlord Charles Butter, has already proved to be a magnet for Highland Perthshire golfers.

Now the Club’s Directors have brought forward the timetable for the remaining sections.

Contractors, Landscapes Scotland, and Old Faskally Farming Co are now at the club to complete the 6 hole Par 3 short course which will enable players at all stages of development to hone their skills.

It is expected this final stage will be completed this month, with an opening of Autumn 2014.

Next Spring, a new short game practice area will also be opened, complete with a range of bunkers.

With this revised timetable in place, the entire development will be complete by Autumn 2014, just as Ryder Cup fever grips Scotland.

“This is another vital phase and it is great we have been able to bring the timetable forward,” said Director Stephen Carruthers.

“On completion, you will be able to practice every element of your game, from driving and long game work right down to the shortest putt. You will even be able to practice fairway bunker shots.

“The new short course, under construction just now, will be a great way to introduce kids and beginners to the game, as well as fine tune the short game of more experienced players.

“With this facility, families who are maybe visiting Pitlochry will be able to come up and play for an hour or so giving the town another holiday activity. It means everyone can get involved in golf here.

“The developments are creating a real upsurge of interest in the club. There were people before who didn’t even know Pitlochry had a golf club. Now they do and they are aware of the standard of facilities we are creating.”

As a direct result of the investment programme, Pitlochry Golf Club will be able to provide junior lessons all through the winter of 2013/2014.

Creating future generations, Directors believe, will be one of the legacies of the project.

“No matter the weather now, we can give the kids lessons inside. Having a junior programme all winter will be great for us,” added Stephen Carruthers.

“It will enble us to retain the kids and bring others in to practice here. Over the winter, there is less competition from other sports so it can only benefit the young players’ game, which is one of our goals as a club.”

At present, officials and members are mulling over names for the new short course.

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT PITLOCHRY

• Pitlochry Golf Course was designed by famous golf architect of the day, Willie Fernie of Troon, in 1908 and opened in 1909.
• Famous names to play the course have been Harry Vardon, Walter Hagen, Max Faulkner, Bob Charles and John Panton.
• The course sits amidst spectacular highland Perthshire scenery, with excellent views over the Tummel Valley, Craigower and Ben Y Vrackie.
• Part of the course lies on a site of historic interest, with the outline of an ancient Pictish fort clearly visible.
• There is an abundance of roe deer, otters and birdlife nearby and the picturesque town of Pitlochry was once described as the ‘Switzerland of Scotland.’
• Pitlochry Golf Estate provides luxury 4-Star self-catering accommodation at Drumchorry Cottage and Upper Balghulan.

Press Release issued on behalf of Pitlochry Golf Course by Kenneth Stephen, Heartland Media and PR.

www.heartlandpr.co.uk