WOODS KEEPING BUSY WHILE OUT OF GOLF ACTION

TIGER WOODS HAS FLAIR FOR 

ENTERPRISING COURSE DESIGN


FROM GOLF DIGEST WEBSITE 
By John Strege
Tiger Woods’ golf course design business finally is making progress, despite news that last month’s Hurricane Odile has jeopardised the December opening of the Diamante El Cardonal course he designed in Cabo San Lucas.

 Last week, Woods made a site visit to Bluejack National, a private course he has designed northwest of Houston, and he signed off on the front nine there. The course is expected to open in early October, 2015, and would be his first design to open in the U.S.
“Our opportunity to work with Tiger has put us really close to Tiger Woods’ imagination in what he sees when he’s looking at golf holes,” Michael Abbott, a partner of Beacon Land Development, said. 
“He’s combined great elevation changes with his great imagination. From that, he’s creating this look and corridors that can really strike some emotion. People maybe don’t see Tiger Woods as an emotional golfer, but he’s definitely an imaginative golfer.
“It is refreshing for us to be with Tiger Woods as he explores all the different options around the green to tap into all levels of players. How he’s making sure holes have movement left to right and right to left. 
One of the characteristics of a Tiger Woods' golf course is that you should be able to play in front of the green. There are no forced carries in front of the green.”

Abbott said Woods has taken a page from the Augusta National playbook, with only one cut of turf. When you miss the fairway your ball will settle on pine straw. “You can still find it,” Abbott said.
“He’s really opened up the corridors, beautiful alleys,” Abbott said.
 “He’s done a fabulous job. We didn’t know Tiger could draw, but he can draw. To see him with paper and pen in hand is special. It’s a pretty hands-on project for him. This is more than just Tiger Woods coming in for a drive by.”
Photos of Woods’ site visit have been posted at his Facebook page.
As for El Cardonal, “Diamante said it is still trying to determine if it will be able to maintain the scheduled December opening, and expects to make a decision early this month.”

WINNERS AT MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION PRO-AM AT PRESTWICK

NICOL AND WM TRACEY GROUP RING 

DOWN TARTAN TOUR 2014 CURTAIN

David-Ross Nicol (Dundonald Links) and the William Tracey Group's amateur trio of Kevin Tracey (handicap 7), Michael Tracey (3) and Danny Strachan (6) rang the curtain down on the Tartan Tour's 2014 season by winning the Mental Health Foundation pro-am at Prestwick Golf Club today (Monday).

They combined better than any other team to chalk up a 12-under-par total of 59.

The professionals' scores were not officially recorded in this event - each was paid £150 for taking part - but it can be taken as read that pro Nicol had played his part in leading the team to victory.

They won by a single shot from Carluke pro Craig Ronald and the Salt House Team.

Two other teams finished on the 60 mark/
Beaten into third place by the runners-up on a countback, were Stephen Gray (Hayston) and the Barclays team and, placed fourth, were Nicky Sinclair (Prestwick) and the MacLeod Hotels' team.

TOP TEN TEAM TOTALS
Prestwick Golf Club.
Par 71. Net scores
59 David-Ross Nicol (Dundonald Links) and Wm Tracey Group Kevin Tracey (7), Michael Tracey (3), Danny Strachan (6).
60 Craig Ronald (Carluke) and Salt House team; Stephen Gray (Hayston) and Barclays team; Nicky Sinclair (Prestwick) and MacLeod Hotels team.
61 Scott Herald (Mearns Castle) and Arthur J Gallagher team.
62 Craig Gordon (Edinburgh GC) and Hillhouse Quarry team; Gareth Hardy (Ayr Belleisle) and Wallace McDowell team.
63 Robert King (Carrick on Loch Lomond) and Neil Howie team; David Fleming (Prestwick) and Prestwick GC team.
64 Campbell Elliott (Haggs Castle) and Peacock Salt team.

ABERDEEN JUNIOR PENNANT LEAGUE'S INDIVIDUAL MATCH-PLAY

STONEHAVEN BOY WINS SPENCE TROPHY 

Stonehaven's Keifer Brown beat Ben McIntosh (Peterhead) in the final of the Aberdeen and District Junior Pennant League's individual match-play golf tournament for the Spence Trophy at Peterhead (on Sunday).

Brown won by 6 and 4, having squeezed past Keifer Spence (Peterculter) at the 19th in the morning semi-finals.

McIntosh beat Jack Pirie (Hazlehead) in the other semi-final.

Spence beat Pirie by 3 and 1 in the play-off for third place.

RESULTS

Semi-finals - Ben McIntosh (Peterhead) bt Jack Pirie (Hazlehead) 3 and 2, Keivfer Brown (Stonehaven) bt Keifer Spence (Peterculter) at 19th.

Final - Brown bt McIntosh 6 and 4.

Third place play-off - Spence bt Pirie 3 and 1.

THIS WEEK'S MENA TOUR EVENT IN DUBAI

HOT STUFF IN DUBAI LEAVES KAY AND


DOHERTY IN JOINT 12TH PLACE

Two-under-par 70s were good enough to pt Paul Doherty and Dunbar amateur Danny Kay only as high as a share of 12th place at the first round of this week's MENA Tour event, the Ras Al Khaimah Classic at Tower Links Golf Club, Dubai.
They are two shots behind the leading trio, Toni Ferrer (Spain), Ashley Rees (England) and Abdulrahman Sihag (UAR). Seven players are sharing fourth place on 69.
Portlethen rookie pro Sam Kiloh had a 72 to share 35th place with ex-pat Simon Dunn.
Bothwell Castle amateur James Steven is joint 51st on the 73 mark.


LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72
68 T Ferrer (Spa), A Rees (Eng), A Sihag (UAR)
69 C Mills (Wal), A Marjane (Mor), J Salcedo (Mex), C Hinton (Eng), B Neumann (Ger), J Heraty (Eng), P Stojanousk (Macedonia).

SCOTS' SCORES
70 P Doherty, D Kay (am).
72 S Dunn, S Kiloh (T35)
73 J Steven (am) (T51)
75 T Innes Ker (T74)
77 C Lutton, T Buchanan (T86).

MY GOLF RANKING INTERNATIONAL

MyGolfRanking International, Week 2014/39

1 James Lownie (Montrose Mercantile) 1400 points,

2 Colin Campbell (Aberdour) 1317,

3 *Graham Clarke (Mortonhall) 1258,

4 Alasdair Hastie (Prestonfield) 1208,

5 Christopher McQuillen (Carrickfergus) 1189,

6 Roddie Cherry (Torrance Park) 1183,

7 Jim Hopes (Balfron) 1168,

8 Jill McIlroy (Bushfoot Ladies) 1161,

9= Gary Dunbar (Dollar) 1156, Barry Logan (Dunnikier Park) 1156,

11 Craig Pettigrew (Doon Valley) 1154,

12 *Ross Millar (Kirriemuir) 1150,

13 *Lorraine Daw (Blairmore & Strone Ladies) 1143,

14 Joan Rea (Carrickfergus Ladies) 1142, 

15 Sue Parsons (Aqualate Ladies) 1133,

16 David Matheson (Fort William) 1121,

17 Gwen Lambie (Blairgowrie Ladies) 1113,

18 Gary Sharp (St Andrews GC) 1110,

19 *James Hoyle (Ravelston) 1104,

20= Amanda Brown (Niddry Castle Ladies) 1100, *Paul McElroy (Kirkcudbright) 1100, John Murray (Balbirnie Park) 1100,

23 Karen Marshall (Baberton Ladies) 1097,

24 Shona Croy (Orkney Ladies) 1093,

25 *Matthew Graham (Carrickfergus) 1090,

26 Jane Whiteford (Leven GS Ladies) 1089,

27 Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth Ladies) 1086,

28 *Neil Forsyth (Allendale) 1083,

29 *S Wilson (Massereene) 1077,

30= Ross Burnett (Scotscraig) 1075, *Katie Wright (Stranraer Ladies) 1075,

32 Elaine Thom (Port Bannatyne Ladies) 1071,

33= David Leith (Downfield) 1067, *Peter McClelland (Newton Stewart) 1067, *Lynn McDonald (Strathtay Ladies) 1067, *Andrew Milne (The Hirsel) 1067,

37 Lorna Bennett (Leven GS Ladies) 1066,

38 *David Warcup (The Hirsel) 1065,

39 *Nick Wain (Aberfeldy) 1064,

40 Douglas Waugh (Baberton) 1063,

41 Lindsay Thear (Prestonfield Ladies) 1061,

42 Walter Orr (Larkhall) 1060,

43= Michael Henderson (St Andrews GC) 1058, Steven Manning (Pollok) 1058,

45 *Tom Cooper (Abbey Moor) 1057,

46= John McCallum (Glencruitten) 1050, Edith Mathieson (Aigas Ladies) 1050, Tracey Nicholson (Castle Douglas Ladies) 1050, Alexander Simpson (Galashiels) 1050,

50= John Cowan Jnr (Taymouth Castle) 1044, *Alan Mackay (Kingsknowe) 1044.

*New entry this week

For up-to-date ranking lists of participating clubs, the full Regional, National and International Rankings and how it works, visit www.mygolfranking.net. The MyGolfRanking service is free to clubs and members. Clubs wishing to participate should register on www.mygolfranking.net or email info@mygolfranking.net for information.

MyGolfRanking International Clubs, Week 2014/39 (Scotland unless noted)

1	Carrickfergus (NI)	956
2	Galgorm Castle (NI)	921
3	Mortonhall	915
4	Dunfermline	894
5	Falkirk Tryst	883
6	Fortwilliam (NI)	880
7	Dunnikier Park	871
8	Blairgowrie	870
9	St Andrews GC	869
10=	Milngavie, *Nelson (ENG)	865
12	Montrose Mercantile	862
13	Balbirnie Park	861
14	Kingsknowe	860
15=	Alyth, Bangor (NI)	849
17	*Seacroft (ENG)	845
18	Carluke	844
19	Aqualate (ENG)	843
20	Baberton	841
21=	Pitlochry, *The Hirsel	837
23	*Wigtown & Bladnoch	835
24	Prestonfield	834
25	Larkhall	833
26	St Boswells	832
27	Holywood (NI)	831
28	Allerton Park (ENG)	828
29	Scotscraig	826
30	Swanston New	825
31	Kirkcaldy	824
32	Orkney	823
33	Downfield	821
34	Canmore	820
35	Stonehaven	818
36=	Kirriemuir, Niddry Castle	815
38	Ladybank	814
39=	Aberdour, Thornton	813
41	Burntisland GH	812
42	Gullane	811
43	Arscott (ENG)	809
44	Craigie Hill	808
45=	Forrester Park, *Grangemouth	806
47	Pitreavie	800
48=	*Callander, Glenrothes	799
50	Kinghorn	798

For up-to-date ranking lists of participating clubs, the full Regional, National and International Rankings and how it works, visit www.mygolfranking.net.The MyGolfRanking service is free to clubs and members. Clubs wishing to participate should register on www.mygolfranking.net or email info@mygolfranking.net for information.

WORLD-CLASS RESEARCH FACILITY

 Pictureque Kingsbarns setting for Testing Centre, planned to the north of the practice area.

 

 

THE R&A PLANS NEW EQUIPMENT TESTING CENTRE AT KINGSBARNS

NEWS RELEASE

 The R&A has unveiled plans for a new equipment testing centre at Kingsbarns Golf Links near St Andrews.

A planning application has been prepared by architects Wellwood Leslie and lodged with Fife Council. The new 22,750 sq. ft facility is to be located to the north of the practice area at Kingsbarns.

Utilising the latest technology, the building will provide a world class testing and research facility that will house The R and A’s Equipment Standards department, which currently operates from three locations, under one roof. 

It represents a major investment for The R and A that will enhance its ability to monitor and apply the Equipment Rules on behalf of its 152 affiliated organisations around the world.

The building has been designed in an energy efficient, environmentally sensitive manner. As well as maximising the use of daylight, it will incorporate a range of features, such as air source heat pumps, and use sustainable materials, including an extensive sedum roof that will allow it to sit comfortably in its setting at Kingsbarns.

Dr Steve Otto, Director – Research and Testing at The R&A, said, 

“The proposed new centre at Kingsbarns will deliver a number of benefits in terms of enhancing our research and testing capabilities. We currently deliver an extremely high standard of service to golfers, manufacturers and our affiliated bodies but we have to look to the future and developing a custom built centre will give us much greater scope to carry out this work efficiently and improve the service even further.

“We have worked closely with Kingsbarns Golf Links on the proposed development and we look forward to consulting with Fife Council and other relevant bodies on the application.”

Each year, The R and A’s Equipment Standards department tests thousands of golf clubs and balls to ensure they conform to the Equipment Rules. Together with the USGA, The R and A is responsible for making any revisions to these Rules if they are deemed necessary. 

The third part of its remit is to conduct fundamental research into the physics of golf.

The new centre will incorporate an indoor test range to evaluate golf balls. On the range side of the building there will be a biomechanics testing bay, equipped with golf-ball tracking radars and a marker-tracking system capable of producing three-dimensional videos of golfers’ swings. 

Two golf robots, which are used for both research and the testing of clubs and balls, will be housed at the centre.

It will feature specially-designed areas for the testing of clubs and other equipment, using a mixture of bespoke and other more standard pieces of equipment. 

The testing equipment ranges from a container full of water, which uses the Archimedes principle to measure clubhead volume, through to an optical metrology system for iron clubs capable of measuring to sub-micron precision.