Visit to Gleneagles - PGA National Academy Course

On Sunday 29th April, Pitlochry Golf Club’s junior section visited Gleneagles through the wonderful joint venture between the Hotel and Golf Courses, and clubgolf, of offering free tee times on the Academy 9 hole golf course to junior members of golf clubs all over Scotland - and they were royally treated on the day.

Ever since the entry sheet was put up on the junior notice board a month ago, there had been eager anticipation from all the kids (and the Level 1 coaches!) about this visit to the future venue of the Ryder Cup and they weren’t let down at all.

At 9am the mini bus taking 9 junior members, 3 Level 1 coaches and PGA Professional at Pitlochry, Mark Pirie, departed the golf club car park on route to this 5 star resort for a day full of promise and a packed lunch!

On arrival and after checking in at the Dormy house, all the kids took to the driving range, short game area and the putting green to fine tune their games for the test ahead. It was then over to the first tee to make a draw for who would play with who and which Level one coach would accompany them on the course.

Battle started at 11am and with 3 groups of 3 players playing in the chilly sunshine each competitor played very well indeed – so much so, a fabulous scratch score of 41 for 9 holes by Tommy MacLeod won the day, with Adam Robertson on 43 being a close second.

A packed lunch was had after the golf and after taking some team photos and having a wee chat about the day out there was a great feeling of satisfaction upon being a part of this wonderful scheme – Pitlochry Golf Club junior section would like to thank Gleneagles and all their staff, Martin Ritchie and clubgolf and Lorna McClymont and the SGU team for putting on this great scheme and for letting them be a part of days out like this.

The kids have come away with some fond memories of their day out and who knows, because of days like these, Pitlochry just may have a future Ryder Cupper/ Solheim Cupper in their midst!

As a result of days out like this, plus all the very hard work that goes into the junior section such as primary school Tri-Golf visits by Mark Pirie, the 24 free nights of junior coaching giving throughout the season, many fundraising and fun events for junior funds, the membership numbers have steadily increased each year for the last 5 years and it is great to see that the juniors really buy into the ethos that Pitlochry Golf has – the juniors are the future of the game please take good care of them!

Junior Update - May 2012

Pitlochry Golf held its annual Junior Open/ Festival day on Sunday 15th April. 24 juniors turned up to experience all that Pitlochry has to offer. 5 players ventured out onto the course to play either an 18 or 9 hole competition with the majority staying closer to the clubhouse to take part in one of 2 hour and a half sessions.
There were lessons on putting, practice drills to help smooth out that putting stroke, iron and wood play was worked on with lessons given on helping out with the stance and swing and there was a fun chipping into a barrel competition.

Prizes were donated by clubgolf and the Junior Convenor and every participant was presented with a bag of goodies.. A great deal of thanks goes to Martin Ritchie of clubgolf and the volunteers, along with Karen Todd, the Primary Schools Sports Coordinator for Highland Perthshire and Mark our resident PGA professional.  6 new members signed up on the day.

Our other news: unfortunately Grant and Blair were both beaten in the first round of the Scottish Boys Matchplay at Murcur....... however it was great experience for them and they both enjoyed their first National Competition.

The season got off to great start with the wee ones up at the Atholl Palace with Fiona and her team of willing helpers. Also on a very cold night the Captains side won the opening match against the Vice Captains team. All games were very close and 2 were halved.

Captain for this season is Blair Stephen and Vice Captain is Struan Matchett.

Uncle Bert

Junior Update - April 2012

It’s great to see the nice weather, making us all want to pick up our clubs.

We have a meeting in The Clubhouse on Monday night 2nd April at 6pm for The Juniors all Mums and Dads very welcome to come along and hear our plans for the season ahead.

Grant Stewart and Blair Stephen are off to play Scottish boys match play championship at Murcar from the 9th – 14th of April good luck boys we wish you well!

Keep Golfing
Uncle Bert

Junior Update - March 2012

Friday 24th Feb saw the first of our fund raising events of this year...... Bingo in the Clubhouse...... that was very kindly sponsored by Pitlochry Golf as they donated all the prizes for the bingo and a big thanks to them for doing do. The next fundraising nights are 11th May a Race Night and 1st June Bingo.

The season is not too far away from starting and already there seems to be a bit of a buzz about the place, it seems Santa was busy because l have already been told about four or five new sets being delivered for Christmas, just let’s hope this year we get some decent weather on Monday and Tuesday nights, with that in mind l would really like to see some more parents get disclosed to be able to help walk with the 9 hole players ( honestly it is painless and good exercise walking up to the 4th) see either myself or Fiona to get a form.

Grant Stewart continues to get coaching at Gleneagles Academy through the Perth and Kinross County Golf.

Junior Club Captain Michael Storey has successfully sat and passed his driving test (let’s hope he is straighter on the road than he is off the tee)

Blair Stephen has represented his college Elmwood in 2 inter club matches recently at Dunstarborough and at Royal Musselborough, on both occasions Elmwood has been successful. Blair flies out to Spain at beginning of March for coaching and team match against a Spanish team.

For those of you who have not been up to the club recently l have pleasure in saying the trophy cabinet is now displaying all of our junior trophies, cards will be printed soon so that you can see at a glance which trophies you have won

Letters will be sent out soon to invite you all up to the club to see what is happening this season. You will be able to get your consent forms from Fiona and to meet the new replacement for Kane (along with our new trainee assistant.

Keep Golfing
Uncle Bert.

Junior Update - February 2012

Hopefully The Junior Section is looking forward to getting back out on the course when the season starts.

I have been approached to organise a bingo night and race night again in The Clubhouse and as these were great nights last year there is no reason why we shouldn’t repeat them.

If there are any parents out there that wouldn’t mind giving up some of their time on a Monday night please get in touch as your help will be very much appreciated.
See you all soon.

Uncle Bert.

Bert MacKay. Junior Convenor. Fiona Seaton. Child Welfare Officer.

Coaching begins for Group 1 ( those with no Handicap ) on Tuesday night May 3rd for 6 weeks pre-summer holidays, at the Practice Area , with PG Coaches and the new assistant pro Kane Nusteling. On Wednesdays group 2, those with a Handicap , will have the chance of Video lessons using our own new camera with the help of PG Pro Mark Pirie.

The Club is entered into the P & K County Scratch League & Mini Bell Tournaments
The Draw for each is already up on the Junior notice board.

Grant Stewart & Blair Stephen have entered the Internationally famous Nick Faldo Tournament to be held over 3 days at the Roxburgh Club near Peebles. Grant has also entered into the Scottish School Boys to be held at Dunbar .

We all wish them the very best of luck. We must encourage our Juniors to go forward and enter these National competitions – its great experience & introduces them to wonderful new Clubs and Courses. Two of the girls – Lauren Cameron and Erin Millar have now been put forward for County Coaching.

» A group of our Juniors recently visited the Academy Course at Gleneagles - read more about their day

A group of Juniors that had a fun afternoon at the "putting competition" down at the putting green. A big thank you to Pitlochry Golf for a special rate and to Colin Milne for his assistance on keeping track of scores etc.
Age group winners were  ..Grant Stewart.. Charlie Dingwall ..  Marci Carruthers
We hope to organise another event soon maybe getting mums, dads, grans and uncles involved for a pairs competition............ SO.... watch this space.
 
Perth and Kinross County Spring Meeting is at Dunning  on Sunday May 1st, Grant, Blair and Michael have all been entered please be there this time all technical hitches have been overcome thanks to TCL
 
Our first Mini Bell Competition is on Sunday 8th May against Strathmore  at Strathmore at 1pm. Help with transport for the team would be much appreciated ... mums and dads !!!!!
 
Scratch League  Dates and Times
 
June 12th Pitlochry v King James IV @ 3.30
July 17th Pitlochry v Milnathort  @ 3.30
August 7th Strathmore v Pitlochry @ 3.30
August 21st Blairgowrie v Pitlochry TBC 

JUNIORS NEWS MAY 2011

On Sunday 24th April, Pitlochry Golf once again hosted its annual Junior Festival of Golf.

With wonderful weather and a great turnout of 38 kids from all over Highland Perthshire, a great day was had by all and it was a great advert for all the hard work that the on site PGA Professional’s and the golf club members/ volunteers put in.

On the day there were 7 players who played in a flag competition played over 18 holes and was won by Joe Farquhar from Inverness using up his allocation of shots up to the 1st green the 2nd time around and the 9 hole competition for the 3 competitors was won by local lad Atholl Davidson in a keenly contested game with both of his partners, which came down to the last few shots on the 9th green!

Over the 2 coaching sessions held between 11am and 2pm there were 28 kids which took part in putting games and drills, chipping, iron and wood play and was rounded off by a wee bit of fun by playing a target golf game of hitting balls into a whisky barrel which was greatly received by all that turned up!

A small rules and etiquette quiz was available to all those present on the day and out of 32 quizzes that were handed out 18 of them came back with a score of 10 out of 10 – well done to one and all for that! The lucky winner that was pulled out of the hat was Podraig Cowan from Aberfeldy.

A big thank to all the kids and their parents that came along on the day to make this another great day in the new story that Pitlochry Golf is trying very hard to tell and sell and to the golf club members who once again showed their willingness to help boost the progress that the golf club is trying to continue in terms of encouraging the junior section here at Pitlochry Golf.