Scottish Seniors Golf 2008 Update May

The Scottish Seniors Stroke Play is only weeks away and our membership has very good representation amongst the entries, including defending champion Ian Hutcheon.

Some info on Elgin and the course:
Course Location: Half a mile south of Elgin town centre just off A941 Rothes Road - on Birnie Road. Undulating parkland/heath on sandy subsoil many tree-lined fairways. 18 holes 6411 yards. S.S.S. 71. Driving range practice ground and net. Kevin Stables has some electric trolleys for hire. Better to book in advance . Pro Shop number is 01343 542884

Elgin has eight par 4 holes over 400 yards, which are a serious test. Although basically heathland, many parts of the course play like links and a creative short game is an advantage. The score card is shown below.

The town has a fairly good range of accommodation with a large number of guest houses. Food at the clubhouse is very good and Jimmy Cheung’s in the town centre has an early evening buffet which will test the capacity of even some of our famed guzzlers. Ristorante Toscana comes highly recommended and will no doubt be a grazing station for the Aberdeen contingent.

Not that any of you will be partaking, best of the pubs are probably Muckle Cross, Flannigans, White Horse and Pegasus.

Onward from the Scottish to the first of our 36 hole regionals, at Stirling. Please note that entries close 15th May and entries for Monifieth a week later.
These June events are quickly followed by Dumfries and County and Nairn Dunbar in July, then Hamilton in August

As passed at the AGM, there is a requirement to have competed in three counting events before you can be included in the final Order of Merit Table and the shoot-out over Blairgowrie. Next year, with the addition of Glasgow Gailes for the South-West Regional, that requirement increases to four.

The new SSGS match-play championship (25-29 Aug, Drumpellier) has produced a very good response and our first champion will be entitled to think he has beaten the best of the rest.

We have been debating whether the Hacienda del Alamo, as an SSGS organised event, should count towards the following season’s Order of Merit. There are arguments for and against and we would welcome any comments from members before putting the idea before the AGM. Your comments please to gordon@corriemar.demon.co.uk , khnextlevel@aol.com, or scottishseniorsgolfingsociety@ntlworld.com

Our new administrators Fergie and the Doc are now in place and have set up the handicap system on laptop. They will be backed up by Douglas Park member Alan Stevenson when required. All three will be at Stirling to familiarise themselves with names, faces and systems.

Don’t forget we have SSGS Merchandise for sale. Sweaters having been added to the shirts already available. In addition we have a deal with Didriksons, a long established Swedish waterproofs manufacturer to offer great prices to members. (see Member Offers)

The Inter County/Area event at Cardross in September has had an excellent response with 13 areas plus the exiles team having already firmed up their intentions to enter. Should be a great day.

Hope you are all salivating at the prospects for another season of high level competition, sportsmanship and comradeship.