July 28th 2007
FREE GOLF?.......NOT QUITE!
Most folk wouldn’t think of walking into the Sports Centre and jumping into the pool, or onto any of the equipment in the fitness suite, without paying. Most folk who turn up to watch a local football match expect at some point to be asked for a “contribution” towards an entry fee. Yet many folk seem to think it is perfectly reasonable to turn up at Stornoway golf course and stroll onto the fairways and greens and enjoy a round ( or just a few holes) of golf “gratis”.
The fact that, between the boundary wall at the clubhouse and Marybank, we do not have a couple of acres of long grass with some arbitrarily placed flags peeking above ears of corn may be a bit of a give-away as to the fact that something needs to be done to ensure we have something resembling a “course” to play on.
We have, in fact, a very fine course , professionally maintained , manicured to be both pleasing on the eye , fair and enjoyable to the golfer, and above all a credit to the town, and to the staff who maintain it.
We have many categories of membership which afford access to playing on the course, and positively welcome visitors who want to avail themselves of our facilities.
Yet we have many local “visitors” to our course who seem to think that it is there for their enjoyment free of charge. They pull up in the car park, bypass the clubhouse and wander onto the course seemingly oblivious to the fact that they are expected to pay for the privilege. I doubt they are oblivious, in fact I know that if challenged they would be as embarrassed as the member who confronted them as to the nature of their “forgetfulness”. The fact that to play only involves contacting the shop or bar (or when not available, to get a ticket to attach to their bag from the locker room) and paying the required fee before venturing onto the course does not deter them.
All members have a “bag tag”, and all visitors should have a ticket denoting their right to play the course.
It is not pleasant to confront serial offenders, but the membership must protect the club by ensuring that the upkeep of the course is funded as laid out by the constitution (and normal rules of decency). We employ professional green staff, use expensive equipment and spend vast amounts of money on suitable fertitisers, pesticides and “dressings” to ensure we have one of the finest courses in the North of Scotland. The cost of maintaining a golf course, as you can imagine, is not cheap.
Our members pay for the privilege, yet we allow non-paying “visitors” onto our fairways without thinking to challenge their right to be there.
Please do not think we are trying to deter anyone from playing golf on our course. Far from it. We actively encourage everyone on the island to come along and try golf, to enjoy the treat we have here in store for them, and to join us. Anyone who is already a member knows the situation, and everyone who goes about the business of playing golf correctly (paying their fee and displaying their right to be on the course) need have nothing to fear.
If you have been playing, and enjoying, our course without paying, then let this be a timely reminder to you, lest you be embarrassed by being asked if you have “paid and displayed”. You will probably be reading this, a borrowed copy of the “Gazette” ?
Let’s all enjoy this wonderful facility we have here in the heart of Stornoway, but let us remember too that it involves hard work and not inconsiderable expense to maintain it.
See…I told you I would cheer up after just a short time back! Lecture and rant over.
Onto matters golf, and onto possibly the unluckiest player in the club this year. Ann Galbraith. I nearly posted a picture of poor Ann with these notes ( Mary Joyce emerging victorious in both ladies competitions held last week) but though I would wait until she finally ( she must surely?) wins a competition. Bemoaning how she finished second once again by the BIH rule (better inward half) last week, I suggested she might try the “Red Bull” remedy. She somehow contrived to repeat her misfortune, finishing 2nd again to her recent nemesis Mary, again by having a poorer back nine. Her seventh runner-up finish this season to date. Congratulations however to Mary who amassed her eleventh win of the season, and her sixth in her last seventh outings. This is probably the most consistent domination of any category of golf in the club in recent times, and the only question is, “Who can stop her?” Ann will be hoping that, just once, it will be her.
On the men’s scene Alan “ Biddley” MacLeod ensured he went on holiday to Spain on a high note, claiming the Wednesday medal qualifier, by…you’ve guessed it, the better inward half. Winning from Coinneach MacAulay and Andy MacDonald he posted his winning score early in the afternoon before heading off on the plane. The round of the day, however, saw Andy shoot a magnificent, two under par gross 66 (64) to reduce his handicap to just a single stroke. Saturday saw Alasdair Morrison at last get the result he has been looking for this year. A win. Having finished undeservedly second to some inferior opponents already this year, he will be pleased to have proved to himself that he can still emerge victorious. If he puts his mind to it, he can win again. Playing late in the afternoon, he “pipped” (by five shots actually) afternoon clubhouse leader Neil “Adair” Morrison (sorry, that was meant to have read “Barber”). Having spent two weeks on an oil-rig, Neil will have been glad to further reduce his handicap, but will be rueing having to return to work, as he finds a return to form.
The juniors saw two new faces emerge as serious contenders; Kenneth MacLeod and Kevin Gillies, coming to the fore in the last two competitions completed. Stewart Munro won the flag competition from the pair on Thursday (his fourth win), but on Saturday it was Kenneth who pipped Kevin in the junior medal. Hopefully they will both challenge the established junior “order” and add to the already very talented competition in this section.
On a completely different note, Domhnall Hamish beat Western Isles handicap (double) Champion Ken MacDonald in the Clansman Trophy….he just wanted me to say. It’s amazing how Viagra affects some folk differently?
Ladies Exhibition Trophy ( Tuesday 24th July)
Mary Joyce 4 up
Anne Galbraith 2 up
Mairi MacIver All Square
Caledonian Medal ( Wednesday 25th July)
Allan MacLeod 64
Coinneach MacAulay 64
Andy MacDonald 64
Junior Flag Competition ( Thursday 26th July)
Stewart Munro 61
Kevin Gillies 63
Kenneth MacLeod 66
Junior Medal ( Saturday 28th July)
Kenneth MacLeod 66
Kevin Gillies 71
Ladies Saturday Medal ( Saturday 28th July)
Mary Joyce 77 ( Better inward half )
Anne Galbraith 77
Jackson Medal Qualifier( Saturday 28th July)
Alasdair Morrison 60 ( Division 2 and overall winner)
Neil Morrison 65 ( Division1 winner)
Alasdair Morrison
Allan Macleod
