Patrick Reed coming over for European Masters

EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

US PGA Tour winner Patrick Reed will make his first competitive appearance in continental Europe when he tees up in this summer’s Omega European Masters.
The 24-year-old Texan, who became the youngest winner of a World Golf Championship when he claimed the WGC-Cadillac Championship in March 2014, was one of America’s star players when he made his debut in The Ryder Cup at Gleneagles last year.

He had played in Europe as a youngster - as a United States representative at the RandA Junior Open at a Lancashire venue.
Reed, who secured his fourth US PGA Tour at the 2015 season-opening Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii (pictured above with the trophy) will go in search of his first victory in a regular European Tour event at the stunning Crans-sur-Sierre, which will host the €2.7 million tournament from July 23-26.
The World Number 15 will be joined in a stellar line-up by several Ryder Cup opponents, including Frenchman Victor Dubuisson, Spaniard Sergio Garcia and Englishman Lee Westwood./news/newsid=255723.html#jK1YyM6Y5tozjh3V.99

Labels: EUROPEAN TOUR

Report: Tiger admits to Vonn about another woman

+scroll down past the first story to read about Woods' nicer side

Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn. ( Getty Images )

By Golfweek Staff

Tiger Woods' three-year relationship with Lindsey Vonn ended when the US PGA Tour star confessed to the Olympic skier that he had cheated on her, according to a story today by The Daily Mail of London.
Dailymail.com cited an anonymous source whom it described as "a close friend" to the golfer. Woods and Vonn mutually announced the end of their romance May 5, with each citing demanding schedules. A few weeks earlier, Vonn had accompanied Woods to the Masters in Augusta, Georgia
According to the Dailymail.com report, Woods admitted to Vonn of a dalliance after having been spotted with another woman in February, after he withdrew 12 holes into his round at the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego.
Woods, 39, was married to former swimsuit model Elin Nordegren, the mother of his two children, before the union unravelled after Woods crashed his SUV into a fire hydrant Nov. 27, 2009, under mysterious circumstances outside the couple's home in Windermere, Florida.
He later admitted to serial infidelities and sought treatment for sex addiction.
Woods, who since has moved to Jupiter Island, Florida, shares custody of daughter Sam, who will be 8 next month, and son Charlie, 6.
Woods, whose 79 US PGA Tour victories include 14 major championships to rank second in both categories, hasn't won since the 2013 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. He has made two cuts in four starts this season, including a tie for 69th in last week's Players Championship.
He is not expected to play again until the June 4-7 Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, two weeks before the U.S. Open.

THERE IS ANOTHER, NICER SIDE TO TIGER:

Former stutterer Tiger Woods writes letter to young boy being bullied

FROM GOLF DIGEST.COM
By Ron Sirak

This is a story that writes itself. All I have to do is brush away the tears and type. Let me start by saying thank you to Sophie Gustafson and Tiger Woods for having kind hearts.
And let me follow that with a word of admiration for my new friend Dillon who, like Sophie, struggles with a stutter and, being a teenager, the hurtful taunts of classmates who bullied him.
A week ago Sophie, who has been mentoring Dillon, told me the cruelty of other children had driven Dillon to attempting suicide. I wrote that story, not using Dillon's name at the time, and mentioned that he is a huge Tiger Woods fan.
Immediately I heard from the Woods camp, asking for the boy's address. Then, on Sunday, I got this text message from Sophie:
"Tiger sent Dillon a letter and told him he also stuttered when he was younger," Sophie wrote. "He's ecstatic. We did good, Ron."
Sophie did good. Tiger did good. I did my job. I gather information and tell stories.
And this story needed to be told. Bullying of people -- children and adults -- who are different in any way is a serious problem that must be addressed. Here's Tiger's letter:
That Tiger responded so quickly was the act of not only someone who knew taunting when he was a child -- both because of his stutter and his race -- but it was also the act of a father of two who understands how we need to protect our children.
"It was real class to get that out so fast," Sophie said about Tiger sending the letter immediately.
She got that right.
And you want to hear about some more class -- and maybe shed a tear or two? Let me share with you the email from Dillon:
"Thank you for having your friend share my story. Please thank him for me. I really appreciate all the support and help you are giving me. My mom and I saw all the support on twitter. I know that I have a lot of support thru this challenging time. I just want to fit in. I just want to find true friends who will accept me and not make fun of me when I talk. It gets so frustrating when you have things to say and people just don't give you a chance to get it out."
Then Dillon added this:
"On Saturday, I got a letter from Tiger! He told me that he used to stutter too. We are going to frame the letter. We have never seen a golf tournament in person, only on TV. I told my mom that when my leg gets better (he fractured his leg in his suicide attempt) I think that would be a fun thing to do."
And then, showing that he gets that this story is bigger than just him, Dillon said:
"I hope that maybe one other person out there that is also having struggles, will hear my story and realise suicide is not the answer and maybe it can help them. I just acted on impulse and now wish that I hadn't. I was just tired of feeling small and like I didn't matter. I know that I do matter with the help of my family and friends like you to support me. So thank you and please thank Ron. You are a really great person."
Later we received an email from Dillon's mother.
"Dillon has made copies of the story and passed it out at his Day Treatment program, hoping that it will help another kid," Angie wrote. "I honestly can say, that there are no words that I could ever use to thank you Sophie."
Let me try these words:
Thanks Tiger and Sophie for showing the true heart of golf. Thanks Angie for being a great Mom. And thanks Dillon for not only being brave, but also acting as a leader of others in your situation.
And thanks to all of you out there who responded in such a positive way in such overwhelming numbers to let Dillon -- and others like him -- know they are not alone.
Bullying is a battle we can win.

Labels: GOLF NEWS

Twenty Scots in field for first £50,000 EuroPro

Tour event of season at Celtic Manor

There are 20 Scots in a field of 168 players for the start of the PGA EuroPro Tour season - a 54-hole stroke-play evening beginning tomorrow (Wednesday) at the Montgomerie Course, Celtic Manor Resort, Newport in Wales.
On top of a mandatory PGA membership fee, the entrance fee to each event is more than £250 but the attraction for the pros is an increased prize fund of £50,000 every tounament week with £10,000 going to the winner.
The added incentive to do well is the fact that the leading five in the tour's order of merit will gain automatic promotion to the Challenge Tour next season.
The Scots in the field are Lloyd and Zack Saltman, Sam Kiloh, Craig Lawrie, Chris Robb, Greg McBain, Paul Doherty, Kris Nicol, Mark Rae, Neil Fenwick, Paul Shields, Michael Patterson, Michael Stewart, Neil Henderson, Danny Kay, Paul Robinson, Jordan McColl, Scott Borrowman, Jake Hogg and Craig Sutherland.
One innovation on the 2015 schedule is a 72-hole tournament.
The EuroPro Tour will call in at Newmachar at the end of June fot the Paul Lawrie Foundation Granite City Classic over three rounds.

Labels: EUROPRO TOUR

The 102nd City of Aberdeen Foursomes for the Maitland Shield at Hazlehead next week

Kevin Kisner's caddie has calves

on top of calves

FROM GOLF DIGEST.COM
By Steve Hennessey

In this day and age, you know you've arrived when a fake Twitter account is created in your honor.
That's the case for Devin Bock, who received a lot of TV time as Kevin Kisner's caddie on Sunday. A Twitter account -- @BocksCalves -- was created yesterday after Bock's calves generated some buzz during the final round of The Players.
We'll most likely be seeing more of Kisner on golf telecasts. The 31-year-old was the "other guy" in the epic play-off at the Players with Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia.
He's also the guy who lost in a play-off to Jim Furyk at the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head three weeks ago.
Today, Kisner is known as the guy whose caddie has massive calves. Look at those things! You can tell this guy ate his Wheaties growing up!

Kevin Kisner caddie's well-developed leg muscles

Labels: PRO GOLF

Sutherland Chalice 2015

72-hole men's open tournament

Dumfries and Galloway Golf Club

JULY 18-19

Entries forms are available for the SGU Order of Merit Sutherland Chalice at Dumfries and Galloway Golf Club on July 18-19 on the link below.

The event is sponsored by ATLAS ICT of Dumfries.

Anyone requiring information can email: sutherlandchalice1@gmail.com or call 01387 263848.

Link to entry form: http://www.scottishgolf.org/wp-content/uploads/2015SutherlandChaliceEnrtyForm.pdf.

Iain Urquhart

Dumfries and Galloway Golf Club.

Labels: WHERE TO GO

West Lothian Pro-Am Tee Times

West Lothian Golf Club
Friday, May 29 Tee Time Name

1 9:10 Alan Tait, Marriott Dalmahoy

  1   9:20  Gordon Law, Uphall
  1   9:30  Paul O'Hara, Clydeway Golf
  1   9:40  Andrew Marshall, Houston GR
  1   10:00 Alan Reid, West Lothian
  1   10:20 Graeme Brown, Montrose Links 
  1   10:30 Derek Watters, Gourock 
  1   10:50 Gareth Wright, West Linton 
  1   11:30 Stuart Morrison, Tain 
  1   11:40 Craig Matheson, Falkirk Tryst
  1   11:50 Craig Gordon, Edinburgh GC
  1   12:00 Robert Arnott, Bishopbriggs GR
  1   12:10 Christopher Currie, Caldwell 
  1   12:20 Stephen Gray, Hayston 
  1   12:30 Gavin Hay, Nairn Dunbar
  1   12:40 Greig Hutcheon, Paul Lawrie GC
  1   12:50 Scott Henderson, Kings Link
  1   1:00  Mark Kerr, Marriott Dalmahoy
  1   1:10  Jonathan Lomas, Caprington 
  1   1:20  Greg McBain, Paul Lawrie GC
  1   1:30  Craig Ronald, Carluke
  1   1:40  Paul McKechnie, Braid Hills GR
  1   1:50  Colin Gillies
  1   2:00  Stephen Craig, Craig Golf 79
  1   2:10  Ross Dixon, Renaissance 
  1   2:20  Paul Robinson, Largs 
  1   2:30  Chris Kelly
  1   2:40  Kenneth Walker

Complete information is available at

Tournament Information Page (TIP)

Labels: Tartan Tour

Amateur game losing too many players not

good enough to be pros but what's the answer?

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
It's time for someone to take the bull by the horns and shake sense into the army of players either wasting their time in the lower reaches of the professional game or heading there.
Once a step taken only by a selected few, there’s been a proliferation in recent years of amateurs making the switch to the paid ranks and, quite frankly, it’s getting out of control.
Take last month’s final qualifying stage of the PGA EuroPro Tour School, for example. Held at Frilford Heath, it involved more than 230 players as they scrapped it out over three rounds to get on to the British-based third-tier circuit this season.
By my reckoning, 85 gained proper playing privileges by making the cut, with the likes of Michael Stewart and Craig Lawrie, both of whom finished in the top 10, having reason to be heading into the opening event of the season at the Celtic Manor Resort in Wales this week with a spring in their step.
What about the other 150, though? And those who failed to get past the first qualifying phase? How many competitive starts will they realistically get this year?
This isn’t a dig at the PGA EuroPro Tour or the other third-tier circuits around Europe, including the Alps Tour and the Pro Golf Tour. They are now established as parts of a pyramid system responsible for making the European Tour as strong as it is these days, with a constant stream of new talent coming through the Challenge Tour after cutting their teeth at the level below.
The downside of such circuits – and this is what concerns me – is that they are also breeding grounds for players who want to carry the tag of “professional golfer” yet, in truth, are wasting their time because they aren’t close to being good enough to make the step up from the first level, never mind cut the mustard at the top of the ladder.
It’s becoming rare for players to find their feet instantly in the professional game and nowhere has that been more evident than in Scotland over the past five years. Hence why our youngest European Tour players are at present a pair of 31-year-olds, Richie Ramsay and Scott Jamieson.
At the same time, though, there has to be a cut-off in terms of showing progress and, in far too many cases, there simply hasn’t been any evidence of that. In short, they are going nowhere fast and something needs to be done because it’s a trend that is damaging the overall state of golf.
At the top end, the amateur game is losing players at an alarming rate, only a small proportion of whom have actually shown they have the game to win at that level. There will always be the odd exception –Paul Lawrie, of course, and Ian Poulter – but only those with a pedigree of winning regularly as amateurs can realistically have a chance of making the grade in the paid ranks.
Right now, for instance, Bradley Neil, Grant Forrest and Ewen Ferguson are the three Scottish amateurs who have a basis to be feeling optimistic as they all get ready to make the move. Yet, even in their case, a long and hard slog lies ahead because feats achieved by that trio were also accomplished by other promising youngsters, only for many of them to have struggled to make headway as professionals.
Somehow, we have to get back to the days when players leaving the amateur ranks are only ones with realistic hopes, not those with hollow dreams.
Career amateur Nigel Edwards, the Great Britain and Ireland captain, is singing from the same hymn sheet. “It’s not that we don’t want players to turn pro,” said the Welshman, who works as director of coaching for England Golf.
“We do and we want them to go on and become very successful. Players like Stephen Gallacher, Justin Rose, Danny Willett and Jamie Donaldson have all done that, as have some players on the ladies’ side. But the ones that are not successful are lost to the game, I’d say, so something – I’m not sure what – has to be done.”
In sports like football and rugby, tough decisions are normally made by other people, In an individual one like golf, dreams can be pursued as long as someone wants, provided, of course, they have funding.
Too many, unfortunately, are kidding themselves and we need to try to educate the next generation of Scottish golfers better and more constructively than is the case right now.

Lady Angela first woman to represent R and A

It took place without any fuss, focus or formality. “It’s how she’d have wanted it,” said someone in the know.
“She” is Lady Angela Bonallack and “it” was historic as the wife of Sir Michael became the first lady member to represent the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in a match.
Dubbed as a “friendly”, the Links Staff provided the opposition and this correspondent understands that Lady Bonallack was partnered by Rev Dr John Cameron.
I can’t report whether they proved a winning combination because The Scotsman respected the wishes of the R&A to stay away and, as with any matters regarding members, it declined to comment on the encounter and in all honesty, there’s nothing wrong with that.
Lady Bonallack wasn’t among the seven women handed honorary memberships earlier this year following the overwhelming vote last September to bring down the club’s all-male barriers after 260 years.
Instead, she was included in another seven women – the identities of whom have not been revealed through any communication, as per the normal procedure in such matters – to receive “ordinary” membership and, in a way, it was perhaps fitting that this latest historic occasion should befall to her.
With all due respect to the others to hold the post, her husband is arguably the best-known R and A secretary there has ever been and, like Sir Michael, Lady Angela’s golfing pedigree is pretty impressive, with six Curtis Cup appearances to her name and three national titles.
It remains to be seen whether Lady Angela or any of her fellow women members will compete in club competitions going forward, but I believe her presence on the first tee at some point during last week’s Spring Meeting was appreciated, especially as she was handing out the odd sweet to competitors.

Labels: Amateur Men, PRO GOLF

VSA Tartan Tour Pro-am tee times

DEESIDE GOLF CLUB
Thursday, May 14

8:30 Iain Donaldson (Meldrum House)
8:41 Joel Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen)
8.52 Malcolm Isaacs (Gamola Golf)
9:03 Ross McConnachie (Drumoig)
9:14 Graeme Nethercott (Deeside)
9:25 Lee Vannet (Craibstone)
9:36 Christopher McMaster (Panmure)
9:47 Chris Kelly
9:58 Graeme Brown (Montrose Links)
10:00 Gavin Hay (Nairn Dunbar)
10:20 Scott Henderson (Kings Links)
10:31 Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie GC)
10:42 Ryan Buckley (Royal Musselburgh)
10:53 Paul O'Hara (Clydeway Golf)
11:04 Craig Ronald (Carluke)
11:15 Jason McCreadie (Largs)
11:26 Christopher Currie (Caldwell)
11:37 Norman Huguet (Musselburgh)
11:48 Paul Wardell (North Berwick)
11:59 Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf)
12:10 Stephen Gray (Hayston)
12:21 Jonathan Lomas (Caprington)
12:32 Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst)

All pairings will begin on Hole 1

Labels: Tartan Tour

DRUMPELLIER SCRATCH CUP

36 HOLES MEN'S OPEN

Lanarkshire Golf Association Order of Merit event

Drumpellier Golf Club, Coatbridge, on Sunday, June 7

Entry fee £20 ( inc sweeps ) – handicap limit 5.

NEWS RELEASE

Superb prize fund with the winner receiving a £300 SGU voucher, down to 8th place voucher + nearest the hole prizes etc etc

Drumpellier is one of the best courses with a layout to match in the West of Scotland, and carries the prestige of having been redesigned by James Braid.

It's always in great condition, so attracts a quality field with many top County and Internationals competing . Over the years it has a long list of top Scottish amateurs who have won this event such as Charlie Green, Barclay Howard, Steven O’Hara, A D Ferguson, Brian Smith, Wilson Bryson, Allyn Dick, and Dean Robertson to name but a few.

Defending Champion : Steven Rennie (Drumpellier GC)

All entries via online site : http://www.brsgolf.com/drumpellier/opens_day.php

Entries close: Monday, June 1

Labels: WHERE TO GO

Belhaven Best Ben Pro-Am

Cardross Golf Club , Wednesday, May 20
   TEE TIMES
1A   12:30 Robert Arnott, Bishopbriggs GR
2A   12:30 Christopher Currie, Caldwell
3A   12:30 Cameron Farrell, Cardross
4A   12:30 Campbell Elliott, Haggs Castle
5A   12:30 Scott Costello, Strathaven
6A   12:30 Graham Fox, Clydeway Golf
7A   12:30 Jonathan Lomas, Caprington
8A   12:30 Paul Wardell, North Berwick
9A   12:30 Paul Robinson, Largs
10A 12:30 Keir McNicoll, Gullane
14A 12:30 Graeme Brown, Montrose Links
15A 12:30 Mark Kerr, Marriott Dalmahoy
16A 12:30 Chris Kelly
17A 12:30 Gareth Wright, West Linton
18A 12:30 Greg McBain, Paul Lawrie G C

Complete information is available at Tournament
Information Page (TIP)

Labels: Tartan Tour

Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Scottish Par-3

Championship over 36 holes, June 13-14

NEWS RELEASE
The Paul Lawrie Golf Centre in Aberdeen will host and co-sponsor a brand new tournament this year - the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Scottish Par 3 Championship.
Over the weekend of June 13 and 14, a field of around 40 professionals and amateurs will contest the inaugural event over the nine-hole course, laid-out along a stretch of the River Dee's southern bank, just a couple of miles from the centre of the Granite City.
The event will involve a number of Paul Lawrie Foundation supported players, invited professionals from across Scotland, as well as some of the most promising young talent in the Foundation. Tournament host Paul Lawrie will also vie to become the first winner of the newly-formed PLGC Scottish Par 3 Championship.
Played over two days, the 36=hole stroke play event will entail competitors playing 18 holes on the afternoon of Saturday, June 13 and a further 18 holes the following day.
The Championship prize fund (expected to be around £15,000) will mean a first prize of around £3,000
Speaking about the new event , Lawrie said: "It's exciting that the (Golf) Centre will stage the Scottish Par 3 Championship in 2015. I played in the British Par 3 for the first time last year, as part of my sponsorship agreement with Farmfoods, and really enjoyed the experience.
"That event has grown to be pretty big now and it's got a sort of mini Tour Event feel about it. We're obviously starting much smaller here but hopefully it's something that can grow over time.
"We'd welcome spectators to come down to watch the guys play. I think they'd enjoy what our 5 Star Visit Scotland Activity Centre facility has to offer and see some great golf."
With holes ranging between 103yds - 205yds, the course has plenty of variety. The combination of good bunkering, water-lined fairways and contoured greens provides an excellent test of Par 3 golf.

For more information about the PLGC Scottish Par 3 please contact Michael MacDougall - michael@paullawriegolfcentre.co.ukmichael@paullawriegolfcentre.co.uk
> 07919330130

Michael MacDougall
Corporate Manager
07803786423

Labels: GOLF NEWS

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Report: Tiger admits to Vonn about another woman

+scroll down past the first story to read about Woods' nicer side

Former stutterer Tiger Woods writes letter to young boy being bullied

Sponsored by Molly’s Bistro/Malones Irish Bar (Douglas Hotel)

Kevin Kisner's caddie has calves

on top of calves