US TYCOON TO MOVE HIS MONEY INTO DEVELOPING IRELAND'S DOONBEG

Donald Trump cuts the tape to open his new course at the Menie Estate, Balmedie, 12 miles north of Aberdeen. That's Colin Montgomerie on the left and, on the extreme right, PGA supremo Sandy Jones who wrote recently that he had never met Donald Trump. Well, here's the photographic evidence, Sandy, that you have met him, at least once. Flashback picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency.

 

TRUMP PULLS PLUG ON SPENDING ANY 

MORE MONEY ON NORTH-EAST LINKS

FROM THE ABERDEEN PRESS AND JOURNAL
By SHONA GOSSIP

Donald Trump said last night he would not invest a penny more in developing his Aberdeenshire golf resort as he turned his focus to a new project in Ireland.
The US businessman vowed to turn the prestigious Doonbeg course in Co Clare into an "unparalleled attraction" after a court setback in his effort to block a North-east offshore wind development.
Hours after the Court of Session upheld a Scottish Government decision to approve the 11-turbine scheme at Aberdeen Bay, Mr Trump announced he would put all his "investment and energy" into his new Irish venture - leaving a questionmark over the future of his Menie Estate plans.
Mr Trump had previously warned he would walk away from his Aberdeenshire project - if the windfarm plans were approved, taking £1billion of investment and potentially 4,000 jobs with him.
Trump does not own Doonbeg Golf Resort which is on the southwest coast of Ireland but he is the favoured bidder for the bankrupt venue which had to call in the Receivers.
 
EDITOR COMMENTS: 
No permanent clubhouse, no four-storey hotel, no
holiday villas, no second course, no bid to stage a future Ryder Cup or get Trump International Links on the Open roster -  all spiked because of the Scottish Government's belief that wind turbine farms are the way ahead.

LEE RETURNING TO EVENT HE WON IN 1997

WESTWOOD to play in MALAYSIAN OPEN

 NEWS RELEASE

 Former champion Lee Westwood of England has confirmed his entry for the Maybank Malaysian Open 2014.

Westwood, a former world number one, signalled his rise in the world of golf by winning the 1997 Malaysian Open and has gone on to win titles on every continent since turning professional in 1993.

Other big names will be announced shortly by title sponsor Maybank as the excitement for one of Asia’s leading national opens heats up.

The Maybank Malaysian Open has always attracted high-calibre golfers from around the world including Major winners such as Louis Oosthuizen, Rory McIIroy, Martin Kaymer, Charl Schwartzel, Todd Hamilton, Michael Campbell, Retief Goosen, Bernhard Langer, Padraig Harrington, Vijay Singh and Sir Nick Faldo.

Notable Asian players who have competed in the Maybank Malaysian Open include Thongchai Jaidee, a three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, last year’s Order of Merit champion Kiradech Aphibarnrat and and South Korea’s K.J. Choi. Thongchai has won the tournament twice while Kiradech triumphed in 2013.

Westwood, McIIroy, Kaymer, Singh, Langer, Faldo and Luke Donald are also among the former world number ones who have featured in the Maybank Malaysian Open.

 

TOP ENGLAND SENIOR SMETHURST AWARDED MICKLEM TROPHY

ROY'S THE BOY REWARDED FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO AMATEUR GOLF IN ENGLAND Roy Smethurst, arguably the most successful senior amateur from England, has been awarded the Gerald Micklem Trophy for 2013. He was presented with the award, given annually to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to further the interest of amateur golf in England, at the England Golf Annual Meeting at Woodhall Spa. “I’m amazed to get this award but also delighted,” he said. “Basically, I’m accepting it on behalf of English senior golfers. I wouldn’t have got it if it hadn’t been for the rest of my senior colleagues. “Over the last ten years we have established senior golf in England with success in the Home Internationals and in Europe and it has been a privilege to have played with the guys over the past 15 or so years.” Smethurst (image copyright Tom Ward Photography), a member of the Crewe club for over 40 years and a past member of Sherwood Forest, was the Crewe captain in 2012 and is a Vice President of the Cheshire Union of Golf Clubs. The 71-year-old retired computer consultant has a string golfing successes to his name. He was British Seniors champion in 2003, European Seniors champion in 2005, has won the English Seniors title on four occasions, and was a senior international for England from 2001 to 2011. He has also won the silver medal as leading amateur at the Senior British Open four times, reached the semi-finals of the US Senior Amateur Championship in 2003, has twice been the French Senior Over-65 champion, while his successes at county level are even more numerous. He has been Cheshire county champion four times, Cheshire Senior champion ten times, six-in-a-row from 1998, helped Cheshire to the English Senior County Championship on three occasions, not to mention four Northern Seniors titles. His appearances for Cheshire total 186, he has played over 100 times for the county’s seniors and is still counting, while he played around 25 times for Nottinghamshire before moving to Cheshire. Obviously, it has been as a senior that Roy has become so successful but he made his England debut back in 1962 for England Youth against Scotland at Pannal. “I recall winning my foursomes but I lost to Scott McDonald in the afternoon,” added Roy. Their paths crossed again four years ago in the Senior Home Internationals at Crail when Roy gained his revenge with a victory. “Amazingly, Scott produced a photograph of the teams from 1962 but he didn’t recognise me,” added Roy. “It was probably because I had hair then.” Off the course, Roy’s interest include website design, gardening – he has a large garden where he grows his own vegetables - house maintenance – his timbered cottage dates back to the 17th Century – and cooking. He is a widower with a son, David, daughter, Catherine and four grandchildren. David Hamilton Press Officer England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 01526 354 500

LINK TO FIRST-ROUND SCORES IN PORTUGUESE MEN'S AMATEUR

TO VIEW all today's first-round scores in the Portuguese men's international amateur championship at the Montado Golf Resort, Costa Azul

CLICK HERE

ENTERPRISING AIRLINE BECAOMES ASSOCIATES OF PGA IN SCOTLAND

PGA in Scotland supremo Brian Mair (extreme left) and Tartan Tour supremo Greig Hutcheon with the Virgin Atlantic representatives at today's Press Conference at Gleneagles Hotel. Picture by Andy Forman.

 

The PGA in Scotland and Virgin Atlantic

NEWS RELEASE FROM 

THE PGA IN SCOTLAND

We are delighted to announce that Virgin Atlantic has been appointed Associates of The PGA in Scotland, commencing with immediate effect.

This partnership effectively means that Virgin Atlantic will be actively involved in all aspects of The PGA in Scotland’s activities throughout the year – including tournaments, order of merit support and member benefits.

Head of Specialist and Regional Sales at Virgin Atlantic, Kerry Douglas commented

“Virgin Atlantic is delighted to expand its partnership with the PGA and in particular supporting golf professionals in Scotland. 

2014 is an exciting year for Scotland and sport and we are extremely pleased to be part of that as we approach Virgin Atlantic Little Red’s first birthday. We continue to recognise the value of our golfing customers, both on Little Red and Virgin Atlantic, by ensuring golf clubs travel for free.”

Secretary of the PGA in Scotland, Brian Mair remarked

 “We are thrilled to have agreed this deal. To align ourselves with a world-class brand such as Virgin Atlantic represents a significant development for everyone involved in golf in Scotland and another milestone in a historic year”.

Virgin Atlantic Little Red is the airline’s new domestic service which was launched in March 2013 and now offers six daily flights between London Heathrow and Edinburgh and three daily flights between London Heathrow and Aberdeen. 

  Greig Hutcheon among the birdies as usual!

Picture by Andy Forman.

AYRSHIRE WINTER GOLF ASSOCIATION REPORT, SCORES

A GRAY DAY AT TROON PORTLAND AS 

STEPHEN WINS AWGA PRIZE BY FOUR

At a cold and windy Royal Troon (Portland course) Stephen Gray showed a clean pair of heels to the field with a bogey-free 66 in the Ayrshire Winter Golf Association competition..

The Hayston pro won by four shots from Craig Ronald (Carluke). 

This win gives Stephen a seven-shot lead with 41 points in the order of merit over second-placed Graham Fox on 34 with one remaining fixture at Old Prestwick to come on March 12.
"Beware the injured soldier comes to mind" when talking about The Kernel Rosebowl amateur prize winner.  Home player Ian Wallace, who is currently awaiting a new hip, had the winning score with a net 66 off six.

Full results can be found at www.ayrshirewintergolfassociation.webs.com.

	ROYAL TROON-PORTLAND	PAR 71
	PROF/TRAINEES	CLUB	PRO/TRN	SCORE
S	GRAY	Hayston	PRO	66
C	RONALD	Carluke	PRO	70
P	MCKECHNIE	Braid Hills	PRO	71
G	FOX	Clydeway Golf	PRO	72
N	WALTON	Glasgow G C	PRO	72
A	BROWN	Archerfield	PRO	73
J	MULLANEY	Unattached	PRO	73
P	ROBINSON	Largs	TRN	73
C	PORCIANI	Turnberry	TRN	74
J	McCREADIE	Buchanan Castle	PRO	74
J	MCBREARTY	Haggs Castle	TRN	75
A	FORROW	Whitecraigs	PRO	76
D	ROSS-NICOL	Dundonald	PRO	76
C	BEVERIDGE	West Kilbride	TRN	76
C	MCMANUS	Barassie	TRN	76
M	PATTERSON	Kilmacolm G. C.	PRO	78
P	WILSON	Cawder	PRO	79
D	ADDISON	Kilmarnock (Barassie)	TRN	79
F	THOMSON	Turnberry	TRN	83
	KERNEL ROSEBOWL
	AMATEURS	CLUB	NET	HCAP
I	WALLACE	Royal Troon	69	6
J	DEVLIN	West Kilbride	70	4
C	PEDDIE	Kirkintilloch	70	2
F	CRAIG	Hamilton,Carluke	71	11
E	EWART	Royal Troon	71	12
J	LAPPIN	Portland  Troon	71	6
D	WORDSWORTH	Irvine G. C.	71	7
S	RITCHIE	Cathcart Castle G.C.	71	18
G	CREE	Troon Welbeck	71	4
B	LAMB	Bogside Irvine	72	17
C	McLATCHIE	West Kilbride	72	9
A	PATERSON	Glasgow G C	73	11
G	SMITH	Royal Troon	73	3
B	ANDERSON	ROYAL TROON	74	6
G	CLARK	Irvine G. C.	75	13
A	CONNELL	Crowwood, Cawder	75	8
T	FARREN	Barassie	75	13
D	COOPER	Cowal G.C	76	11
J	d'AGUILAR	Glasgow G C	76	7
S	FORREST	East Kilbride	76	7
G	HIGGINS	West Kilbride	76	2
M	LIRONI	Cathkin Braes	76	7
D	ROBERTSON	Cochrane Castle	76	6
A	KERR	Barassie	77	14
I	McCONNOCHIE	Western Gailes	77	6
T	ROGERS	Caldwell	78	13
C	GLENNIE	Barassie	79	18
J	RUSHBURY	Rowallan	79	3
T	McGILL	Glasgow G C	80	6
P	WALSH	Ardeer	80	12
A	FALLIS	Cowglen	82	17
G	MCINTOSH	EastRenfrewshire	82	8
S	MILLER	Royal Troon	82	8
J	WATT	St Cuthbert	82	15
R	KERR	Troon Welbeck	83	6
R	SHORT	Barassie	84	6
T	CROZIER	Abbotsford	88	13
G	JENKINSON	Cathkin Braes	88	7