GOLF COURSE OF THE YEAR

Taken from Scottish Golf View today.

CRUDEN BAY WINS COURSE OF THE YEAR AWARD

FROM LES DURNO
Cruden Bay Golf Club, General Manager

We have had a fantastic year as a golf club, culminating in receiving the prestigious Course of the Year 2012 Award from Golf Tourism Scotland.

It's good to see provincial clubs in our area winning national awards, emphasising what we really do have on offer in the North-east.

For Cruden Bay Golf Club, 2012 has been an exceptionally good year.  There has been a significant increase in visitor numbers, the club was the winner of a prestigious tourism award and several highly regarded golf publications have reviewed the course and club very favourably. 

In addition, Cruden Bay GC has been selected to be a Centre of Excellence through implementing the Scottish Golf Union’s new junior coaching initiative duly recognising the teaching skills and talents of club’s Golf Professional, Neil Murray

The club had the distinction of being presented with the honour of “Course of the Year - 2012” by Golf Tourism Scotland. This award is based on the opinions of Scotland’s golfing industry.

As well as being highly rated by several golf publications in their order of merit ranking lists of courses to play in the golfing world, the club was voted second top fun course to play in Britain and Ireland by Golf World magazine.

Cruden Bay Golf Club offers stunning views, top quality playing conditions, first class facilities and service off the course in its modern clubhouse and fully deserves the accolades it has been paid over the course of the year.

This winter, the fruits of the green conversions, back to traditional links grasses, has enabled the winter golfers to benefit from the "summer" greens all year round.

 

LUNDIN PREVIEW

LUNDIN LINKS

This weekend is our 4th round of this years Winters Tour and with a full field of 28 players all will be looking to get some more points on the board.

Sitting at the top just now is Mick and with Tommy not playing this could be a chance for Mick to extend his lead.

Chasing him and all within a few points are Del ,Vera and Foxy who are all capable of getting some good scores and over take Mick if he lets things slip.

We haven't played Lundin for 2 years but the last 2 visits have been won by Geraldo who is up to defend his unbeaten record over this great Links course. At the last round he is showed that he is getting back to some decent golf by finishing just outside the prizes.

Looking down the current leader board we find the White Chimney Squad Messrs Smart, Revie and Leadbitter. They occupy 3 of the bottom 4 positions and are drifting down into the Donkey 4 ball territory even at this early stage.

I think they need to stop the visits to the Chimneys before the golf as the large fry up is not doing their swing any good. Maybe this weekend will see the boys sweep up the table or maybe it will be time for the Spoon to visit the White Chimney on the way home.

Also playing for the first time this year is Stevie "I will never win the Spoon" Paul and John Hamilton who is getting a break from the kids swimming lessons and is able to join us for this round. Both players are capable of hitting some good scores tho Hammy was the first ever winner of the Big Spoon way back in 2008 at Drumoig so he could possibly go either way.

Back also joining us for the first time  this season is Craig now that his Uni golf team matches are finished.
Craig might be the lowest handicapper by a considerable way but he is also the proud winner of the Spoon  from a frozen day at Powfoot a few years ago. That alone tells you that anyone can have a off day in golf and handicaps mean nothing to the Spoon.

Mr Sinclair is now back from his Aussie jolly and hasn't hit a ball in over 5 weeks. In all the years I have know Sinky that must be a record for not playing golf. If he missed 5 days he would be climbing the walls so how will he do on Sunday ?
Maybe he will be Skipping down the road with the Spoon on Sunday or will he be so eager to play he swings away happily, blows us all away and waltzes away with the cash.

Time will tell.

Here is a wee reminder for all. The first tee sits right on the edge of the beach and the fairway runs up the side of the beach with heavy rough and high dunes the full length.

How many players are going to hit the beach or lose a ball in the dunes off the first tee?

This is not a hole to play a draw or a snap hook !

CRAIL SPOON BOY

WINNER 

JOHNNY

SOMMERVILLE

The last rounds winner with 22 points

Johnny was a clear winner of the Spoon at Crail and despite being a member it didn't stop him going back down the road with this trophy. He has flirted in the past a few times with the Spoon but has just managed to avoid getting his hands on it - until now.

Last weekend he finally walked off with it and the Balmore boys not were far behind especially Davie with just 24 points.

There has been a problem with getting photos to load on the site hence the reason for not as many photos. Will post the rest if I can later.

Weather looking cold/frosty for weekend but dry.

Will keep you all updated.

LUNDIN LINKS

Tommy Nicholson winner at Crail

Round 4

Lundin Links

2nd December.

First tee time 10.36am.

DRAW AT 10.10AM

Cost £30.00.

Soup and rolls afterwards included in cost.

Most have paid £10.00 deposit. Balance £20.00.

Names Entered

R Chalmers
C Chalmers
G Sinclair
I Fox
D Stirling
P James
A Smart
N Keir
G Leadbitter
D Revie
A Alexander
D Mitchell
G Cullen
G Dickie
C Weir
D Graham
S Gibson
M Drummond
I Baird *
R Aitken
J Wylie *
J Byrne
J Cullen *
B Murphy *
B Newall
S Paul *
J Hamilton*

* no deposit paid

27 names entered.

Anyone not available please let me know asap.

RESULTS AFTER 3 ROUNDS

SCORES AFTER 3 ROUNDS

Players with 3 rounds

M Drummond        101
T Nicholson           100
D Mitchell              100
P James                   99
I Fox                       96
R Chalmers             96
S Gibson                 95
C Weir                    94
D Graham               94
J Wynn                   93
S Jessney                92
R Aitken                 91
D Stirling                86
A Smart                  82
G Leadbitter           81
D Revie                  77
G Cullen                68

Players with 2 rounds

A Alexander      73
I Hutchison        68
G Dickie            64
N Keir               62
B Newall           61
G Sinclair          61
B Murphy         53
J Cullen            52
J Byrne             47

Players with 1 round

B Gibson          34
I Baird              33
P Ritchie          31
J Wylie             31
J Nicholson      23
J Sommerville  22

Players with no scores yet

C Chalmers
S Paul
J Hamilton

CRAIL RESULTS 2012

CRAIL 
BALCOMIE LINKS
SUNDAY 18TH NOVEMBER

Another fantastic day for a game of golf yesterday at Crail and once again a course in mint condition for this time of year. A stiff, cold breeze made playing conditions tricky and the greens were very slick, especially if you went above some of the pins.

The winner was Tommy Nicholson with a great score of 40 points and, having played with Tommy, I witnessed him hitting some great second shots onto the greens. A great score in difficult conditions and he was a comfortable winner by 4 points from Davy Graham who beat Andrew Alexander on count back. Davy had 21 points on the back 9 beating Andrew's 20 points.

Nearest the pins went to Mick Drummond and Ian Baird who was very close on the 14th which is the pictured above.

SPOON BOY was our Crail member Johnny Sommerville with 22 points. All that local knowledge obviously never helped him. Last year John avoided the Spoon at Crail by a single point but this year his 22 points won it easily.

Yet again we had The Balmore Squad down at the rear with The General and Davie just narrowly missing out on collecting this illustrious prize.

There was a full turnout from the Crowwood Mafia for the first time this season with Bairdy making his first appearance and getting his usual solid 33 points.

The winner of the last 2 Spoons showed us all he is getting some form back and Geraldo stormed up the leader board with 35 points and finishing in 4th place yesterday. I know he's looking forward to Lundin Links as he has won the last 2 rounds we have played there.

Great to see Brian back playing so soon after his operation as he initially thought he would be out until after the New Year. The break doesn't seem to have done him any harm as he got a solid 32 points.

Mick with 33 points yesterday moves to the top overall position with 101 points closely followed by Tommy just 1 point adrift. Del Boy, Vera and Foxy make up the top 5 places after 3 rounds.

The player that is worth keeping an eye on is Andy Alexander who has only played 2 rounds but has amassed an impressive 73 points already.

The overall leader board is tight at the top with just 8 points separating the top 10. The full list will appear later.

NEXT ROUND -
LUNDIN LINKS IN 2 WEEKS!
DECEMBER 2ND.

You wouldn't think it's mid November looking at this photo

FULL RESULTS

T Nicholson     40
D Graham        36
A Alexander    36
G Cullen          35
S Gibson          34
I Fox                34
P James            34
J Cullen            33
D Mitchell        33
I Baird              33
C Weir             33
J Wynn            33
B Murphy        32
B Newall         32
M Drummond  32
N Keir              32
S Jessney         32
P Ritchie          31
G Dickie          30
A Smart           28
J Byrne            27
R Chalmers     27
D Stirling        27
R Aitken         27
D Revie          24
G Leadbitter   24
J Sommerville  22

WEATHER FOR SUNDAY

Looking good for Sunday at Crail

 

Weather forecast details for Sunday 18 November

TIME	0600 HOURS	0900 HOURS	1200 HOURS	1500 HOURS	1800 HOURS	2100 HOURS	0000 HOURS MON
Weather Conditions
Temperature (°C)	2°C	3°C	6°C	5°C	4°C	4°C	5°C
Wind Speed (mph)	11MPHWEST SOUTH WESTERLY	11MPHWEST SOUTH WESTERLY	13MPHWEST SOUTH WESTERLY	12MPHSOUTH WESTERLY	11MPHSOUTH WESTERLY	12MPHSOUTH SOUTH WESTERLY	15MPHSOUTHERLY

I'M BACK ALL YOU HACKERS

KING SPOONER GIVES US ALL A HUMPING 

ON THE LINKS

Yesterday 8 of us went up to play the Eden Course at St Andrews. It was a nice morning as we hit off at 9.10am and the course was in mint condition from start to finish. It was only £20 each for the golf and worth every penny.

Myself and Geraldo took on Jim Wylie and Stevie McPherson in the first game. The other game had Vera , Billy G , Andi A and Scott Wilson who was venturing out of Lenzie for the first time.

As we all know for the last 2 Hackers events the Spoon has been won comfortably by Gerry but on Sunday he hit top form and won overall with a very good 38 points from myself on 35 points.

It was good to see Gerry getting off the tee and hitting the ball nice and solid after some poor rounds in recent weeks.

"Roll on Sunday because at Crail that spoon is going back down the road in a different car thats for sure I'm back" he said.

Unfortunately Geraldo had overdosed on the pain killers for his back and started to feel lightheaded in the clubhouse so I had to drive him back down the road. Maybe he was just lightheaded at hitting so many good shots after all the crap recently.

The other good thing for me by having to drive Gerry home was that I avoided having to sit with Vera for another 75 miles in his car.

A good day out.


Names for this Sunday has been updated in post below.

CRAIL - BALCOMIE LINKS

ROUND 3 

18TH NOVEMBER

CRAIL LINKS

Crail club house looking from the beach

Round 3 details

Crail Balcomie Links.

18th November.

First tee time  10.00am.

Draw at 9.40am.

Cost £30.00 less £5.00 deposit if paid.

Food after soup and sandwiches £5.50.

There is rolls available before if required.

Names entered

R Chalmers
I Fox
S Jessney
G Leadbitter
D Revie
J Wynn
A Alexander
D Mitchell
T Nicholson
S Gibson
M Drummond
R Aitken
N Keir
B Murphy
D Graham
B Newell*
C Weir
P James
G Cullen
J Sommervile
A Smart
G Dickie
J Cullen*
J Byrne
I Baird*
P Ritchie*
D Stirling

27 entered

* no deposit paid.

There is 1 place remaining.

Let me know asap if you can't go or are looking for the 1 remaining place.

KINGSBARNS LINKS

KINGSBARNS

OCTOBER 2012

The 2 posts below this one are all taken from my walk along the Fife coast a few weeks ago. The 12th and the 15th are both detailed in 2 posts below and are for me the 2 stand out holes. The closing stretch at Kingsbarns is fantastic with the 15th followed by a great par 5 at 16 and a very tough par at 17. We  then have a incredibly tough second shot on the 18th to close out this great course.

Names for Crail to follow soon

Date 18th November for next round

Looking back up the 16th

Looking down 17 a great par 4

Club house 

17th green

17th green 

16th off the back tees hitting over the beach

16th off the Hackers tees taking the beach out of play

3rd green a heavily protected par 5

BEST PAR 5 IN THE COUNTRY ???

KINGSBARNS

GOLF LINKS

Par 5 the 12th 

The 12th hole at Kingsbarns is a majestic par 5 that sweeps round the bay up to a narrow 72 yard long green that is protected not just by the sea but also by 5 bunkers from 60 yards out to the rear of the green
From the very back it is 606 yards to the centre of the green. The view from the tee is spectacular and its best to stay up the right and away from the rocks and deep bunkers that stretch all the way to the green.
This is the hole Lee Westwood smacked a 3 wood onto the green and holed his second ! There is a plaque on the fairway marking the spot he hit from.
A great hole that for us mere mortals that requires careful planning in order to avoid the trouble and maybe just get a par. I have always struggled on the green as its huge and unless you are close in 3 its a certain 3 or 4 putts for most.

Click on photos to enlarge.

Names for our next round to follow

Remember its the 18th of November at Crail Links.

From the back tees

Sweeping around the bay to a narrow green in the distance

Front tee view

Danger on the left from start to finish

Still 300 yards to go

Stay well clear of the left hand side

Not just the beach to stay off there is bunkers up the left also

Presentation of the course is immaculate 

Green side bunker

From back of green that is 72 yards long !!!!

Looking back to the tees fro the green

A sweeping view around the bay