August 25th 2007
ANDY IN POLE POSITION
The opening rounds of the club championship on Saturday saw some very interesting scoring, some very tricky conditions encountered, and the course playing at its most difficult for many years. With the standard scratch score ( normally 67) rising to 69 in the morning and then 70 in the second round, no further evidence was needed to further confirm to all participants that it had been a very tough day on the course.
With current club champion Colin MacRichie not returning a card in the afternoon ( thereby ruling out any chance of defending his title), and with our lowest ranked golfer , and last years runner up, Norrie “Onions” Macdonald shooting a second round 84, then not only does this indicate the degree of difficulty, but it leaves the door open for others.
Step forward young Kevin MacRae, who after the first two rounds saw himself handily placed on 141, three shots ahead of nearest challenger Andy MacDonald. His second round 69 was, without doubt, the round of the day (Norrie had a 68 in the morning in marginally less trying conditions), and should have set him up nicely for rounds three and four. Except for some abysmal fortune; a mid-summer career move (un)handily coinciding with last weeks inclement weather washing out, thereby postponing, the starting rounds, and his having to return offshore before the conclusion of the championship next week, he would be the man to catch. Rotten luck indeed, but his time must surely come if he can find this form at the right time in the future.
It is Andy then who goes into the final rounds leading by three from David Black, and eight from Norrie “O” and Murdo O’Brien. It’s all about FOUR rounds however, and as the most consistent player iin the club this year, Andy will be looking to consolidate his position. Can David find another 63 like he did last year to stun the clubhouse? He may have to break par to make a significant move, and something similar certainly wouldn’t go amiss.
Norrie will rue his second round, and it may have left him too much ground to recover, but as the man who has gone lowest over the course previously, it would be folly to rule him out completely. Murdo will need to shoot a couple of “personal bests” to have any chance, I imagine; but he is made of solid stuff, and having witnessed the strife encountered by two of the clubs’ finest golfers last weekend, he will not have ruled himself out.
I would say the title will be between two men who have both suffered injuries latterly ( Andy and Davie), and found consistency as a result. Maybe playing “within” themselves has lent them some consistency, and form.
If injuries are the way forward, I may throw myself off a tall building soon. Having made mention of another golfer’s “interesting” 13 at a hole recently, I cannot (because everyone in the club knows about it) not mention my own disastrous 12 which left me the subject of deserved ridicule in the clubhouse afterwards. To compound the petulance which led to the embarrassing score, I forgot to sign my card and was disqualified. If I’m going to dish it out, then I’m prepared to take it. Boy did I take it.
Swiftly moving on, and to a subject dear to my heart….Idiots. Not the idiots driving buses on the island who can’t spot a designated stop at 100yds, and insist on pulling up in the middle of the road. Not them. Not the idiots who need all three other roads leading into a roundabout to be free before they venture forward. Not them either. I have a long list (and doubtless I am on someone else’s list), but here in the club we have idiots of our own. Captain Sandy has tried in vain to politely deal with the continued efforts of the club to keep the locker-room reasonably tidy. Anyone who has read the recently erected posters concerning the state of the changing facilities will realise that if this mild-mannered man has been pushed into taking action, then we alll need to sit up and take notice. Quite frankly, no wonder. We have bins all over the club, yet they do not seem to make any difference. We have asked folk to remove personal belongings left lying around, yet this too makes no difference. The reminder it there for all to see. If you do not look after your kit, then it may well be found on e-bay. The clubhouse is not the only place where the bins go unused. Next time you are out on the course, take a look: they are out there too!
The ladies section saw Jan MacLennan win the medal qualifier on Tuesday, and end Mary Joyce’s long winning streak. This is her sixth win of the season, and as a “part-timer” ( she divides her season between Stornoway and Aberdeen) she must be pleased with how she has competed thus far. Despite her, and husband Davie, spending 50% of their time off the island, they play more competitions than many full-time residents, and support the club and all its functions enthusiastically. We are always pleased to see them in the clubhouse.
Friday (31st) sees our friends from the Tong Gaelic choir holding a fund raising Texas Scramble & Buffet at the club, beginning at 5:30 with a “shotgun” start. With the light fading, it will be teams of three, and there are still some spaces left, so hurry over, or phone on 702240 to confirm a slot. You can reserve a tee for a fee (nearest the clubhouse, slightly more expensive, you know how it works), and there will be a nearest the pin, and a longest drive contest to make things more interesting. Why not just bring a tenner each, wave it goodbye (it’s in a very good cause) and enjoy the golf, the craic and the food?
Ladies Medal Qualifier
( 21st August )
Jan MacLennan Winner
Christine MacLeod Runner-
Mens Centenary Medal Stableford
(22nd August)
John R Gillies 41 pts
John Fraser 39 pts
Alex Nicolson 38 pts
Ladies Cancer Relief Stableford
( Saturday 25th August)
Jayne Nicolson 42 pts Winner
Anne Galbraith 35 pts Runner-Up
Jan MacLennan 32 pts Third
Club Championship
( Saturday 25th August)
Scratch
Kevin MacRae 72 + 69 (141)
Andy MacDonald 70 + 74 (144)
David Black 76 + 71 (147)
Handicap
Jules Folkard 68 + 71 (139)
Peter Middleton 67 + 73 (140)
David”Kiwi” MacLeod 69 + 72 (141)
(22nd August)
John R Gillies 41 pts
John Fraser 39 pts
Alex Nicolson 38 pts
Ladies Cancer Relief Stableford
( Saturday 25th August)
Jayne Nicolson 42 pts Winner
Anne Galbraith 35 pts Runner-
Club Championship
( Saturday 25th August)
Scratch
Kevin MacRae 72 + 69 (141)
Andy MacDonald 70 + 74 (144)
David Black 76 + 71 (147)
Handicap
Jules Folkard 68 + 71 (139)
Peter Middleton 67 + 73 (140)
David”Kiwi” MacLeod 69 + 72 (141)
Jan Maclennan
John R Gillies