DAN FRASER, PAST CAPTAIN, In the course of five days we played golf at some of REPORTS ON . the best courses in the Boston area, and watched, the final of the US Amateur, won, playing awesome golf, Royal Aberdeen News The 2013 Francis Ouimet Centenary Celebration at the by Matthew Fitzpatrick who was the first Englishman to U.S. Amateur. win the title for over a hundred years. We found it necessary to remind the USGA officials that he was not December 2013 Issue No. 51 Sponsored by The Marcliffe Hotel At The Country Club, Brookline, Boston. In September the first Brit to succeed! On the Monday following the 1780 1913, Francis Ouimet, then a seventeen-year-old final we played the championship course, reduced amateur who lived across the road and had served as from its full length of 7300 yards to 7135 yards. A par in inter club matches, you wont be disappointed! a caddy at the club, won the US Open at the Country five of 625 yards is not within range! I am afraid the CAPTAINS writer struggled, but thankfully the format was stableford. The highlight of 2013 for myself, was my trip to the Walker Club. This was against all odds, as the field included Cup at the National Links of America on Long Island, A Match was played, Walker Cup style US clubs versus LETTER the best professionals from both sides of the Atlantic, USA and the centennial celebrations of Royal Colwood GB, for the Centenary Cup, the US, on this occasion the favourites being the great English stars of the day, As we approach the end GC on Vancouver Island, Canada, where our party for Harry Vardon and Ted Ray. The victory was the event prevailed. of 2013, I have a few each consisted of four members and partners. At the that took the fledgling sport of golf in the USA on to the reflections worth sharing Walker Cup, we stayed with members of Shinnecock front pages of the national press and is credited with Whilst the golf was outstanding the great joy of the with you. Firstly it is nice to Hills who provided us with truly wonderful and memorable the birth of the professional game in that country. Francis Ouimet was the celebration of the Game of report that at long last we hospitality, and the opportunity to play Shinnecock Hills. Ouimet went on to win the US Amateur in 1914 and in Golf. 100 representatives of more than 30 clubs from have had a great Although the Walker Cup result was disappointing, it has 1931, to play on eight occasions in the Walker Cup and both sides of the Atlantic were not there for the quality summer with both courses to be said that the best team won and to be part of presented in a to Captain the US team on four. In 1951 he became of their golf, though we had past US Amateur the Walker Cup family was very special. I was also magnificent condition by privileged to meet and chat with President George W. the first American to be elected Captain of the R&A. Champions and Walker Cup Captains in the company, Robert and his team. It Bush and Michael Bloomberg , Mayor of New York City. His legacy continues in the Ouimet Scholarship Fund but rather a commitment to their love of the game. was wonderful to play on Six days after the end of the Walker Cup, we were at supporting young golfers. hard and fast fairways Royal Colwood on Vancouver Island. This was also a We left Brookline after golf on Monday, realising that with superb greens true wonderful experience, with superb hospitality provided, the problems of golf at club level, architecture and The 2013 US Amateur was awarded to TCC and marks links golf! Secondly, never and the course was a joy to play. 45 Royal clubs the centenary of Ouimets victory. They decided to course renovation, pace of play, equipment and the Jon Christiansen, Captain before has Royal attended the celebration with many friendships bring together representatives of clubs associated with aspirations of members, are challenges faced at every Aberdeen received so strengthened and new ones formed. the TCC from both sides of the Atlantic. The criteria, club. much recognition and interest from the golfing world. loosely, was clubs that had hosted the Walker Cup, the The success of the British Seniors, the Walker Cup and There was one common thread which strongly came the Seniors Open Amateur, together with the Trump Curtis Cup, US and British Amateur since 1892 or had a We also left with friendships made and renewed, across at both events, namely the high respect which invitations given and offered, and the consensus that effect and next year the hosting of Aberdeen Asset RAGC and its members hold globally. Something that connection with TCC. The over riding criteria was a love Management Scottish Open, has put us even more we were all privileged to play this great game. all members and staff should be very proud of ! of the game of golf. The list of clubs attending reads firmly on the golfing map. This has great benefits for us, like golfing poetry and included: Royal Liverpool, but also brings many challenges. Thirdly, with the Club Getting ever closer is the Aberdeen Asset Management Interlacken, Formby, Kittansett, Merion, Myopia Hunt, continuing to be in a sound financial position, and large Scottish Open, which is probably the biggest ever Royal St Georges, Peachtree, Royal Aberdeen, cash surpluses being generated by the growth in visitor sporting event to be held in Aberdeen. It promises to Ekwanok, Carnoustie, PineValley, Quaker Ridge and Date for your Diary income, this means we have the opportunity to create be a spectacular event with players such as Phil as special guests the Moles Golfing Society, a historic A course forward planning evening will be a Forward Plan containing improvements to the Course Michelson, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, and many other and Clubhouse. golfing society with links to Ouimet. The representatives held at the Marcliffe Hotel on Wednesday top golfers in the world potentially set to grace our links. of RAGC were Peter Burnet, Roy Haites, John Mackenzie 12th February 2014 at 7.30 p.m. when the More information on the tournament will be provided The demand for visitors to play Royal Aberdeen is, after and the writer. Club's course architect Dr. Martin Hawtree via separate newsletters and our website. Im sure that many years of trying, now growing and we anticipate will be in attendance. All members are for this one off experience, the resulting inconvenience that this will continue for a few years yet. This income cordially invited to attend. will be worth it and I look forward to your support in stream provides financial stability and the means to making this a very successful event. improve our assets. However the challenge will be to minimise the disruption to members whilst meeting our The service we continue to have in the Pro Shop and in financial plans, and measures will be introduced over the Clubhouse is outstanding. We are very lucky to have time to improve this balance. such high quality teams, led by David, Elaine and John On the Course we shall continue to focus on the greens, and my warm thanks goes out to them. Please continue which suffer from root rot, namely 2,3,4 and 6 plus to support them. remodeling holes 12 and 13. The remodeling work carried out by Robert and his team, on the 15th and 18th holes My thanks also goes out to Members of Council, Ronnie, gives us confidence to progress with these other course Sandra and Shona for giving me advice, assistance, improvements. The fairway watering system will also support and allowing me to thoroughly enjoy my need some attention and hopefully some progress on experience as Captain. the on-course toilet will be reported. The target is to share the Plan with members in February 2014. Finally I would like to wish you and your families a Merry Xmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. As ever we have had a busy season with interclub matches played against ALGC, Deeside, Panmure, New Jon Christiansen, Captain Club St Andrews, Royal Troon and the R&A, with each match played in great spirit and thoroughly enjoyed by all. I would encourage everyone to try and participate From the Archivists the eventual upping of sticks on the Links was mightily COLIN SHAW, MATCH & HANDICAP GRAHAM THOMSON, impressive, when we consider the relatively CONVENER REPORTS SENIOR CONVENER REPORTS . Attic undeveloped standards of clubs, balls and ground conditions then prevailing. by Jim Christie With our course finally looking like the Links that it is, I am happy to report that the senior section enjoyed after several years of wet weather and lush, thick another successful season. 54 members participated The game was played with skill by far and away the rough, and the Scottish Open just around the corner, in 23 inter club matches, various club competitions In Praise of Past Masters . paramount factor. Clubs werent part of some tungsten- the golfers of Royal Aberdeen embarked on the season and several open events. For the record we recorded lest we forget injected frequency matched progressive set featuring with much enthusiasm. 11 wins a better ratio than last year! Our inaugural a muscle-backed sweetspot; each one was as match with the Juniors proved very successful and The newly adorned walls of the Members Room and idiosyncratic as its owner.