Designer Shoes www.footjoy.co.uk If you get a moment, you should check out the range of ‘Design Your Own Shoes’ by Professional Footjoy, called MyJoys. You can choose a style SPRING NEWS of shoe, a base colour, saddle colour and any additional pictorial detail or personalised February 2009 Here we are at the start of another golfing logo to make them totally unique. season. We should forward to the glorious Masters at Augusta with the woes of TUITION Amen Corner and of course, in July, just down the coast at 6 for 5 Package . I hope it is a prosperous season Book a series of 6 lessons and only pay Although the first green shoots of growth may not yet be evident for all. for 5. The package can be adapted to suit in the economy, nature has started to herald that Spring is just E-mail Newsletter the individual. This can include short The Pro Shop email newsletter is now up game, long game and putting lessons. round the corner and with it the advent of a new golfing season. and running and I would like to say a big This will be an ongoing offer In fact Members with an e-mail address will have already thank you to all those who have given me throughout this year. feedback. It is much appreciated, and so far, received an e-mail newsletter from Kieron Stevenson, the Club response has been favourable. It goes out weekly and contains results, information, As we get closer to the start of the new Professional, to whet their appetites with tempting offers and competitions and articles that I am sure you season we will introduce some new solutions to all their golfing problems. will find interesting. For those of you who packages, for example, a short game package have not received the Pro Shop newsletter, and Portland package. Information regarding Juniors and would like it, please drop by the Pro these will be available shortly. Shop and pass your current e-mail Blair Gavin - most promising Junior in 2008 address. Individual lessons are available at a cost of £25 for 30 mins and £50 for 60 mins. New Clothing Ranges The Season’s Events We will be stocking new clothing ranges Vouchers are also available – an ideal gift for The 2009 Junior season gets underway on from , Calvin Klein, Belinda family and friends. Sunday 5 April with a tour of the Clubhouse Seasonal Festivities groups. During his four years at Macdonald In view of this, a small Sub-Committee has followed by the first in a series of six The social season is now a distant memory Pittodrie House near Iverurie, the hotel won been formed under the convenership of Robertson Cashmere (both gents and ladies) KNOW YOUR RULES? coaching sessions scheduled for the first two but the Annual Dinner Dance, the Members’ the Country House Hotel of the year award. Dr Des Bancewicz to appraise and review the and Lyle and Scott Green Eagle. These will 1 A player may remove a movable months of the season. These sessions, taken add depth to the already extensive ranges obstruction at any time, True or False? Christmas Luncheon and the New Year Day Early in his career he worked as a commis Royal visitor package in parallel with a available. We are also expanding the range of by our Professionals, will be of great benefit Cocktail Party proved to be very popular chef and has retained a keen interest in good marketing initiative currently being prepared 2 A and B are to play C and D in a four-ball Members’ logo exclusive products to include to all Juniors, but are specifically targeted at occasions and thoroughly enjoyed by all food and wine. Niall is also a member of the by Golf Tourism Ayrshire. The main thrust of match. However, A arrives late - after B, C such items as golf bags, cufflinks and shirts. the younger Junior members to improve who attended. Many thanks are due to Scottish Malt Whisky Society. the initiative is the development of a website and D have teed off at the third hole! A is their skills and knowledge of the game at the Mr and Mrs Maddison and all of our staff. focusing on the promotion of golf on the This Year’s Products prohibited from joining the match until Niall will be responsible for all areas of the start of the season. Full details of all the west coast. The participating courses are Royal The next couple of months is always an the fourth hole, but gives advice to B 2009 Junior events are posted on the Junior After the Christmas Luncheon many Clubhouse operations and will lead and Troon, Prestwick, Turnberry, Irvine Bogside, exciting time for us as the new products during the playing of the third hole. What notice board. Members gathered in the Smoke Room to develop the existing team with a view to Gailes, Western Gailes, Dundonald arrive and the shop starts to take a fresh is the ruling? attend a presentation to Linda Kerr and enhancing the Clubhouse experience for summer look. This year we will be stocking New Members Members, their guests, and visitors. Links, Kilmarnock Barassie, and Prestwick 3 In a match between A and B, A has played Mary Ann Fraser who have been with the new clubs from Srixon, and Cobra in The Junior section is actively seeking new St Nicholas. 3 strokes and B has holed out for 5. A putts Club for twenty years. Their contribution Club Secretary addition to the existing ranges from Taylor members for 2009. Junior membership is and his ball apparently comes to rest, but over the years is hugely appreciated by the The Committee has also been considering the Scottish Amateur Championship Made, , , Nike and Cleveland. available to sons and grandsons of Royal is overhanging the hole. Within five Club, but it’s not just what they do, it’s how Royal Troon is delighted to welcome the Demo products will always be available to try Troon and the Ladies’ Golf Club position of Club Secretary and a decision will seconds, B concedes A's next stroke and they do it, and the rapport they have with the return of the Scottish Amateur Championship and we are all on hand to offer free custom Troon Members, with a minimum age of 12. be taken once the new Clubhouse Manager knocks his ball away. What is the ruling? Members that is so important. Linda replied in 2009. The Club has hosted this event on fitting and expert advice. Appointments Full details of the section, together with has had an opportunity to settle in and very eloquently, albeit a little emotionally, on five previous occasions, the last time in 1977 should be made for Custom fits and Launch Check out your answers in the shop! application forms, are available from the become familiar with the operations of the Secretariat. The Junior Convener for 2009 is their behalf bringing to a conclusion a very Club. It is likely that a senior Member with when Alan Brodie from Balmore Golf Club Monitor fits. Once again, thanks to all of you for your kind Graeme Johnston who would be delighted to enjoyable afternoon. Committee experience will be approached beat East Renfrewshire’s Paul McKellar in the support and generosity. I hope we can hear of any prospective members. Please to fill the position on a part time basis. final. Paul is now a member of Royal Troon. develop and improve our services for you contact via the Secretariat, or direct by e-mail again this year. Happy golfing, In the meantime the Committee is indebted The format of the Championship is match to [email protected] or telephone to Bob Templeton who has been acting as play, with a maximum of 256 competitors, Kieron and the Pro Shop Team 01292 263338 Minute Secretary at Green and House Sub- and will be played between Monday 27 July Committee and General Committee and Saturday 1August. Further details will be meetings. included in the Summer Newsletter. Visitor Package Normally, when the Open Championship is Clubhouse Manager ROYAL TROON GOLF CLUB played at Turnberry, we would expect a good Members will recall that, as part of the Troon, Ayrshire KA10 6EP year for visitor numbers. Unfortunately on ongoing appraisal of the management this occasion, due to a combination of the structure, the Committee decided to create worldwide economic downturn and the the new position of Clubhouse Manager. The closure of the Ailsa Course until after the Clubhouse 01292 311555 Professional 01292 310063 Fax 01292 318204 position was advertised in November and the Open, the numbers are extremely successful candidate, Niall Thompson, will Email [email protected] Web www.royaltroon.com disappointing. The problem is not only join the Club on 16 February 2009. affecting Royal Troon: all local Clubs are Niall is an experienced hotel manager reporting a significant drop in enquiries Our thanks to John McLachlan, Ken Ferguson for the photographs and Artist Andrew J Taylor. having worked with several major hotel for the coming season. Summer Opening Hours from Sunday 29th March 2009 Swipe Cards As before, Black times may be booked prior Monday – Friday 7.30am –11.00pm Over the past three months, during the introductory to the day of play and both Black and Red Clubhouse Saturday 7.30am –11.00pm phase, many Members have been using their swipe times can be booked on the day of play. Sunday 7.30am – 7.30pm cards for food and beverage purchases, topping up We will be monitoring the use of this with cash periodically as desired, and whist there method of booking to ensure no one is Summer Catering Hours has been no incentive for doing so, this disadvantaged, particularly those who do not from Monday 20 April 2009 familiarisation period has been useful to both staff use the Internet. Our Heritage and Members alike. We are now approaching the The green fees charged for Members’ Guests SMOKE ROOM In our attempts to enhance the relatively bland stage of introducing the second phase of the system have remained unchanged for a considerable External Website Monday – Friday Cold sandwiches and Toast 8.30am – 9.00pm appearance of our Locker Room area, plans to which we intend to introduce during Spring, and number of years and, given the current The new public website has made slower Saturday and Sunday Cold Sandwiches and Toast 8.30am – 5.30pm create a “Hall of Fame” in our North Entrance foyer, prior to implementation a letter will be sent to economic constraints, the Committee felt progress than was hoped but we now have a highlighting framed photographs of the Club’s own Members setting out how the new system will that it would be prudent to increase fees as programme to complete the website. This CLUB BAR golfing greats are almost complete. In addition, it is operate. Meantime it is hoped that those who have follows; will essentially be the external facing website which non-members will see when they Monday – Friday Bar Snacks 8.30am – 7.00pm felt that our Locker Rooms, which are at present, not yet utilised the swipe card facility for purchases Old Course £ 10.00 • search for Royal Troon. It will provide easier Cold Sandwiches and Toast 8.30am – 9.00pm designated by arbitrary letters of the alphabet, will take advantage of the current trial period so Portland Course £ 5.00 • access to booking visitor times and, in Saturday and Sunday Bar Snacks 8.30am – 5.30pm should be graced with names which would they can become acquainted with the process. Craigend Course £ 1.00 celebrate our Club’s rich history. Accordingly, • general, be more user-friendly. Guest Fees The new charges will come into effect on arrangements are being made to name them after Members’ Website AILSA ROOM The last few years have seen a steady increase in the Monday 30th March 2009 and we apologise the winners of the first three Amateur The structural work is now essentially Monday – Friday Bar Snacks 8.30am – 7.00pm number of guests visiting the Club at the invitation to any Members who were misled when a Championships hosted by Troon Golf Club – Yates, of Members. Fridays in particular are extremely complete. However, there are some issues to Bar Meals (Last orders 6.30pm) 12 noon – 6.30pm notice announcing the increase was Beharrell and Bonallack. be resolved, such as the Members’ Account Cold Sandwiches and Toast 8.30am – 9.00pm popular and Members should check with the inadvertently displayed prior to the page which does not show card balances. We Saturday Bar Snacks 8.30am – 5.30pm Storm Damage Caddiemaster, the Notice Board, or the Website to publication of this newsletter. are currently working on resolving these Bar Meals 12 noon – 4.30pm The repeated severity of this Winter’s storms ensure that there are no conflicting events which IT Update details. Sunday Bar Snacks (no Bar Meals) 8.30am – 5.30pm brought to mind the storm of January 1991. might spoil their enjoyment of the day. If lunch is Captured in these images, taken by former required, bookings should be made in advance to Tee Booking We will also soon be able to email Members Course Manager, Norman Ferguson, the storm avoid any disappointment or delays. As many of you are aware from the notices in with messages and updates as well as posting DINING ROOM was so savage that the sea tore up the Clubhouse, we are proceeding with the up-to-date messages on the website. This Monday – Friday Lunch 12 noon – 2.30pm the gabions protecting the first hole electronic tee booking module and tee times should, in the longer term, reduce postage Traditional High Tea 4.00pm – 7.00pm and advanced across the Course on all non competition Saturdays from costs. Lunch 12 noon – 3.00pm depositing all manner of flotsam February onwards can be booked, either, by a Dinner (Advance bookings only) 6.30pm– 8.30pm and jetsam. new touch screen at the Caddiemasters’ Sunday Lunch (Advance bookings only) 12 noon – 2.30pm desk, by going on line, or by phoning in to the Caddiemaster.

part of the Winter. The Green Sub- Finally, the path between the 9th green and the The change has come about to ensure full scratch yardage, then competitions are ‘non- Open Championship 2009 Committee is aware that this has exposed an 10th tee is being re-turfed with a new form of compliance with CONGU (the Council of National counting’. This very situation occurs on The Open Championship returns to amount of litter debris at various points resilient turf. The change from red chips to turf was Golf Unions). All eight of the National Golf the Portland course during winter months Turnberry in July and Royal Troon Golf Club round the courses, but plans are underway to universally appreciated by Members last Summer Unions/Associations that administer amateur golf in given the difference between length of the has been invited to marshal a hole for the The Courses deal with this. but, in the interests of preserving the turf, the Green Great Britain and Ireland adhere to CONGU rules course from the winter tees and the 'normal' duration of the event. A folder relating to this and this ensures that handicaps awarded by Clubs yellow tees. On the Old Course new winter tees have Sub-Committee intends that, next Summer, golf is on the table in the Entrance Hall of the buggies be diverted by a different route to the 10th affiliated to one of these organisations are Clubhouse and interested Members are been constructed on holes 3, 6 and 14. On The Green Sub-Committee, in conjunction Members’ Night Tuesday 24 March tee. Further details will follow in due course. The recognised world wide as a valid indicator of golfing invited to append their names. the Portland Course, forward tees have been with the Course Manager, have discussed the A Members’ evening is planned for Tuesday turf that has recently been lifted from the path has ability. The Committee is certain that members will fashioned on each of the first nine holes - options of over-ruling the lift to the side rule Nature Note 24th March. Speakers will include Mr been put to good use at the right hand side of the agree that it is important for a Golf Club of the predominantly for the benefit of more senior on the Old Course and using the main tees Sadly, last year’s visitors to the Course, a Martin Ebert of Mackenzie and Ebert, Golf 9th green where gorse has been removed. stature of Royal Troon to administer internationally members who will appreciate the reduced for medals on the Portland Course, but, in the breeding colony of sand martins, all fell prey Course Architects, and Alistair Beggs, STRI recognised handicaps. Agronomist. Martin has recently reviewed carries. The left hand side of the 8th green Winter Handicapping - CONGU interests of course protection and the to our resident foxes. The birds’ nesting holes, the Old Course in conjunction with the R&A, on the Old Course was modified in early A number of Members have queried the apparent CONGU rules dictate that handicaps are only subsequent benefits we enjoy in terms of in the vertical face of the sand pit, were Billy McLachlan, Course Manager, and November; the elevation immediately change in winter handicapping arrangements adjusted in qualifying competitions. You might, summer golfing conditions, the Committee is undermined and scraped out by their Members of the Committee and has written a adjacent to the coffin bunker has been which has occurred over the last two seasons, therefore, ask why Royal Troon does not run convinced that the status quo should remain predators. report for consideration by the Club. Alistair removed such that the greenside lip of the recalling that, in the past, a system of reductions qualifying competitions all year round, but, again Further information can be obtained from the Under the guidance of Course Ecologist, Bob is a regular visitor to Royal Troon (and other bunker is now the highest part of the green. only was in operation (i.e. a net score in a medal adhering to CONGU rules, this is not possible with CONGU website (www.congu.com). Taylor of STRI, our Course Manager and his The work was expertly completed by the competition, better than standard scratch, would Championship Golf Courses) and provides our current playing conditions. The reasons for this The Convener and Green staff have, by inserting long pipes (4” in Greens Staff within 48 hours and no result in the player’s handicap being reduced. advice on turf conditions and related issues. are different for each of our two principal courses. Convener would also be happy to address any diameter) into the sand face, taken steps to problems are anticipated with respect to the Under this system his handicap would not increase, The aim of the evening will be to update On the Old Course, the main issue is lifting and queries. encourage these birds (first time visitors) to Members on aspects of design green being ready for play at the normal irrespective of how high a score, or, indeed, if no placing balls to the side of protected fairways. Respect for Winter Conditions return to a safe, nesting environment. and maintenance and to provide the time in the Spring. score, was returned) Preferred lies during winter months are permissible Hopefully everyone agrees that adherence to opportunity for interactive discussion. Further under CONGU rules, but lifting to the side is not. the principles of course protection does pay details and timings will follow in due course. On the Portland Course, the lifting to the side issue dividends when it comes to summer golf. Winter Works does not arise, but non-compliance here is because With that in mind, the Green Sub-Committee Gorse clearance and control is an ongoing of the adjustment to the course length. CONGU respectfully reminds all Members to adhere to issue and a substantial amount of gorse was rules state that, if the length of a course differs by the green directional lines when taking golf taken out by the 'Gorse Buster' in the early more than 100 yards from its measured standard trolleys around the greens.