North Your local golf magazine for grass roots golfers Local golf news for golfers in Scotland, Northern England and North Wales Golf North Summer 2016 Use your smart phone to scan the code or go to our website. www.golfnorth.co.uk Pure Perfection ... where the SCOTLAND’s past and present meets to GOLF COAST create golfing excellence GOLF EAST LOTHIAN NEW WEBSITE - ONLINE BOOKINGS NOW TAKEN East Lothian provides an inspirational setting for excellent food and drink and award-winning golf, and with 22 courses it may well be the highest attractions. concentration of links golf courses in the world. Just Scotland’s Golf Coast has a diverse offering of a half-hour drive East of Edinburgh, this is a jewel in accommodation, providing the perfect opportunity Scotland’s crown as the Home of Golf: stretching to rest, relax and unwind before another round of through 30 miles of stunning coastline, golden golf. You will be spoiled for choice with 5-star luxury beaches and rolling countryside, this is a golfing hotels, family-run bed and breakfasts, self-catering paradise to suit all standards, individual tastes and apartments or even centuries-old stately homes budgets. Known as the sunniest and driest part of all on offer. No matter where you choose to stay Host to the 2015 Aberdeen Scotland, and coupled with links conditions, it is you are guaranteed a very warm welcome and an open for business throughout the year, with a warm authentic experience. welcome awaiting every visitor. No golfing break can be enjoyed on an empty It all begins in 1672 at the world’s oldest continually stomach: East Lothian is renowned as ‘The Garden played golf course at Musselburgh Links; featuring of Scotland’ with the very best locally-sourced, many familiar names such as Gullane and North seasonal produce available throughout. All of the Berwick Golf Club, host to the 2015 Aberdeen fun isn’t restricted to the golf course; we provide Asset Management Scottish Open and inaugural the complete package for both golfer and non- Pre-Qualifier respectively; and including the world- golfer alike. There are a world of possibilities in famous home of the 2013 Open Championship, East Lothian, where you could be exploring historic Muirfield, which Jack Nicklaus described as ‘the castles; discovering local whisky; surfing amongst best course in Britain’. crashing waves; riding a segway through lush This rich wealth of historic courses is also forests; or simply relaxing in an idyllic spa. These are complemented by a collection of recent additions, memories that will last a lifetime. including the private clubs at Archerfield Links We have been perfecting golf since 1672 and in that and The Renaissance Club, which offer world- time we have had the opportunity to construct some class havens for visitors; and the world’s first Nike of the most celebrated golf courses and develop a Performance Fitting Centre at Archerfield Links, world-renowned golfing destination. It is a haven of where golfers can experience unbeatable facilities traditional values where the customer comes first and expert coaching. and excellent service is guaranteed. We look forward The quality of golf in East Lothian is further to welcoming you to Scotland’s Golf Coast. enhanced by a fantastic range of accommodation, Welcome So, most of the members at Muirfield want to stick with a rule which means female members are still banned from the club. WELCOME The result of the vote is pretty amazing considering that the vast majority of clubs, and even the R&A, now accept women. But no, any females visiting the club will still have to eat their dinner in the kitchen it seems! 36 holes of www.golfnorth.co.uk One of the arguments is that ‘there are women only clubs, so why not male only?’ ‘risk & Reward’ Golf Golf North The obvious answer to that the two types of Studio 150 single-gender courses have very different Old Embroidery Mill Stay & Play Seedhill origins. The male-only clubs hark back Paisley to a time when men were considered an PA1 1TJ advanced species, one that should have the Golf Breaks Tel: 01235 856300 trappings of a comfortable life of leisure Fax: 01235 468427 while the women works hard at home. The Email: [email protected] all-female clubs, on the other hand, were created in response to this, because all the other clubs had banned them! Either that or they were originally part of a male only course who felt there should be somewhere © Golf North Any reproduction of any article or to ‘wives to amuse themselves’ while they advertisement in whole or part is not permitted without were doing the serious business of golf From £85 per person prior written consent of the publishers. Men, with all due respect, do not have a history of being oppressed and excluded from the good things in life. Frankly the fact there are ‘no women allowed’ signs within any club shows how far behind the times golf can be sometimes. But there was a spark of hope. The R&A, which accepted its first female members just last year, had a ready-written response in which they stated the open will never be played at a course which does not accept female players ever again. A decisive move which should hopefully nudge the last male Luxury Spa Now Open only clubs into rethinking their outdated regulations. www.ramsidehallhotel.co.uk Ramside Hall Carrville Durham DH1 1TD 4 t: 0191 386 5282 e: [email protected] Contents Welcome � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4 Active Newcastle are pioneering golf for women’s participation page 15 National News � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6 NATIONAL NEWS NATIONAL Ladies Golf � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 12 Golfing Great � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 20 England beat France in tense finale Scotland-West � � � � � � � � � � � � � 27 The Cavendish MacKenzie Trail Scotland-East � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 44 It was tense, it was tight – but England came square and then halved the 18th. Moore lost page 22 through to win the weekend international the 16th and 17th to birdies to be one down against France by 14-10 at Formby Golf Club with one to play – but won the 18th. Behind Scotland-North � � � � � � � � � � � � 68 in Lancashire. “It was very tense, as we said them, Paul Kinnear and James Walker were it would be, and I am so proud of the boys,” making ground. Kinnear had to wait until the England North West � � � � � � � � � 70 commented England team captain, Kevin 10th to get ahead in his game, but once there, Tucker. “They have been a pleasure to be with. he stayed there and was certain of at least half England Yorkshire � � � � � � � � � � 85 It’s never easy to win an international match a point when he got to two up after 16. Walker and the experience will do my lads a lot of was never behind in his game and gradually North Wales � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 94 good, especially our four debutants, Scott worked his way to three up after 12. He held Brewster sets course record Gregory, Josh Hilleard, Bradley Moore and on to that score through 15 – and another half, page 75 James Walker.” at least, was assured. The team – which received good luck wishes Scott Gregory – playing in the last match – from Masters champion Danny Willett - went provided the guarantee that England would into the final singles session with a two-point reach the necessary points total. Early on, he lead and, to begin with, they seemed set to was either one down or all square in his match race to the title. But the determined French but he forged ahead with three consecutive team had other ideas and, after each side birdies from the 13th. It meant, he too, was claimed an early win, the afternoon turned into three up with three to play, and England was Gill lands welsh title a dogged battle, with a series of close games. certain of victory in the international. page 94 Ashton Turner led the way for England with In the end, all three players won their his biggest international win to date, playing matches: Gregory by 3/1, while both Walker four under par for 12 holes and beating his and Kinnear were one up. It was a special opponent 7/6. But, as he remarked: “At the moment for Kinnear, who was playing at his end of the day it’s one point for the team and home club and said: “To win is fantastic and that’s what matters.” especially for me, at my home club. You see Alfie Plant and Bradley Moore were next to the members out there watching and you want score, each putting half a point on the board to prove how good you are. I haven’t had my A after tenaciously holding on. Plant was one game here this week but I haven’t been beaten down after 16 but birdied 17 to get back to all in the singles and to get 1½ points is massive.” 6 7 Patshull Park Golf and Resort Hotel Pattingham, Nr Wolverhampton WV6 7HR Scottish Golf’s Summer of Fun for Young Players NATIONAL NEWS NATIONAL With ‘The Home of Golf’ boasting a wonderful took place with more than 1,000 ‘Campers’ run of major events this summer, young golfers taking part, with Scottish Golf aiming for an across Scotland are being handed the chance to increase in that number in 2016. enjoy their own feast of golf, with the governing Meanwhile, a further 10 new events aimed body launching a trio of exciting events to at encouraging more girls to take up the inspire the next generation. Across the Moray sport have been launched, building on the Firth from the Aberdeen Asset Management momentum created by the #ThisGirlGolfs Scottish Open, Fortrose & Rosemarkie will host campaign.