Gairloch win Ross Singles for first time.

Gairloch team left to right, back Mark Dodd, Neil MacLeod and Brian Grant. Front - kneeling Peter Mitchell (left) and Peter Saggers. Picture by Robin Wilson

 

By ROBIN WILSON                    

The words of the traditional air “There will be dancing in Kyle” would also fit “Gairloch” when, on a  memorable day for the local golf club at Muir of Ord,  their five-star team brought home the Highland Fabricators Cup for the first time after the final of the 2015 Ross-shire Singles Golf League competition. 

In the early years of this men's inter=club team competition, which was started in 1980, Gairloch took part without much success, their small club with a nine-hole course unable to field a team to match the strength of the East coast clubs. 

Subsequently withdrawing for a number of years, Gairloch, after getting a representation on the North District Executive through club member Martin Robertson in the 1990s, the club rose in stature. 

Mr Robertson then served as President of the North District for two years, 2006 and 2007, and with his persuasion brought Gairloch back into the league although it took another ten years before they made an impact. 

Golfers from outside the village became members. Peter Saggers, better known on the East Coast as a member of Nairn Golf Club, raised the standard and locals aimed higher to a position that the club now has several Category 1 handicap holders.  

 A new greenkeeper from Newcastle was appointed three years ago and he now plays off two handicap. Local lads, both with single figure handicaps, Neil MacLeod (5),  Brian Grant (8), and club Captain Peter Mitchell (11)  completed the team for Muir of Ord.

Gairloch had not played a league game this season. In the May preliminary round at Strathpeffer their opponents, Tarbat, did not turn up and they went straight into the Muir of Ord semi-finals where they should have met Strathpeffer Spa. 

But Strathpeffer were unable to raise a team so Gairloch only had the final to look forward to, against either the hosts Muir of Ord or Tain.

Tain were a team desperate to overcome defeats in the previous two season's finals and despatched to Muir of Ord's strong squad of low handicappers featuring club champion Alan Everett, immediate past North District champion Dougie Thorburn, the Ferries brothers, Munro and Billy and David Vass.

 In a very close match they beat the hosts, Muir of Ord 3-2, with wins from Everett, Vass and Billy Ferries.

But in the final when Mark Dodd and Peter Saggers put Gairloch two games in front, Dodd beat Thorburn and Saggers beat Everett, Gairloch's tail was up. It drooped a little in the third game where Peter Mitchell lost to Munro Ferries but hero Brian Grant beat Vass 4&3 to swing the tie Gairloch's way and Neil MacLeod gave them a resounding 4-1 result to celebrate the length of Loch Maree on the return journey.   

Results 

SEMI-FINALS

GAIRLOCH w.o. STRATHPEFFER SPA scr

 TAIN 3, MUIR OF ORD 2

D Thorburn lost to J Forbes 1 hole, A Everett bt B Nicholson 5 and 4, M Ferries lost to S Forbes 3 and 2, D Vass bt R Moir 2 and 1, B Ferries bt D Hexley 5 and 4 

FINAL

GAIRLOCH 4, TAIN 1

 M Dodd bt Thorburn 2 holes, Saggers bt Everett 5 and 4, Mitchell lost to M Ferries 5 and 4, Grant bt Vass 4 and 3, MacLeod bt B Ferries 1 hole