The Club Record October 2011
The Golf Club
The course
It will probably not be too long before these beautiful autumn colours adorn the course once again. Still, if the condition of the course has anything to do with it, only the severest weather will prevent attempts to provide a good golfing environment late into the year.
For much of the season the greens have been running very well and repeated micro tining and appropriate treatment will hopefully keep them like that for some time yet.
The greens staff deserve congratulations for producing such a good-looking course, which has had to withstand some major tests during the season whilst also receiving compliments from many members and visiting players.
Bunkers and surrounding areas will receive particular attention in the close season, and every effort will be made to produce the best conditioned course as early as possible in the season given the prevailing weather.
The Clubhouse
The main lounge fire doors have been repaired and renewed, and Members are kindly requested to open and close these doors with care as they are important safety doors.
The steps to the rear garden are also being replaced after frost damage.
The bar has seen a reasonable increase in business this year – partly due to a variety of functions which have taken place in the main lounge and restaurant.
The Club is a perfect venue in which to celebrate any event – be it a birthday, anniversary, or any other special occasion.
Those Members who have used the Club to hold their functions have been very happy with the facilities, and the food and bar service they have received.
These functions are a great opportunity to invite fellow Members and guests to celebrate an occasion together, and they create a good atmosphere in the Club all round.
Wi-Fi internet access is now available in the clubhouse – it’s hoped this will encourage more Members and their guests to use the Club more regularly, such as for business and other meetings.
Projects & Issues
The Equality Act
Some changes to access to the course for competitions have been tested.
Lady Ordinary Members have to pay the same fees as Gents in the same category, but these changes are also intended to acknowledge the spirit of the Equality Act. The introduction of a Friday alternate day for Gents competitions may also relieve some of the pressure on Saturday competitions generally.
The Course Lease
Committee is in close contact with Stirling Council’s Chief Executive, Bob Jack. Mr Jack has advised that the final details, required to confirm the level of contribution from Stirling Golf Club, are almost in place. He is meeting with Elected Members of Stirling Council around the end of this month and it is hoped that all details can be finalised in the first half of November so that the matter can then be passed to the parties’ lawyers to put the necessary legal agreements in place. During November Members will be advised of the date of a special meeting, at which all options can be agreed.
SGU/SLGA Amalgamation
Clubs, through their respective Area Associations (Counties), voted against the proposals because of some dissatisfaction with the management structure proposed – although many Clubs seem in favour of amalgamation in principle. The Scottish Ladies Golf Association (SLGA) – including Stirling Ladies – had previously voted in favour of the amalgamation proposals.
The current position is that the SGU is considering the feedback from the Areas and a meeting is due to be held on a date in November to be confirmed.
Further updates can be found on the SGU website at www.golfcentral.co.uk.
News & Events
Stirling win the League
Congratulations to the Stirling Team who won the County A League Trophy after a 6 – 2 win over Buchanan Castle Golf Club in the re-arranged final game. The team members, who lifted the trophy for the first time in quite a few years, are: Kevin Brunton, Ben Genese, Ben Liddell, Iain Munro, James Todd Jnr, Andrew Malcolm, Liam Haldane and Paul McGuckin.
The team won 5 out of 6 matches and started their campaign with 2 important away victories against Glenbervie and Dunblane. Home victories against Falkirk Tryst, Grangemouth and finally Buchanan Castle ensured that the League Trophy will return to Stirling for 2011.
Stirling also reached the final of the County Team Championships however the Final was forfeited to Glenbervie as the team was unable to field enough players due to unforeseen, last minute circumstances.
Stirling Seniors also take the League Title
Congratulations to the Gents Seniors team who won 6 of their 8 fixtures (including away wins at West Linton and Alloa) to top the Central & Lothians Retired Members’ League – ahead of Dunblane and Falkirk in 2nd and 3rd places. The League is made up of 9 teams, of which 3 are in the Edinburgh area and 6 in the Central area. Losing in the penultimate match away to Ratho meant the team needed at least a draw at home to Dunblane in order to win the league. They recorded an emphatic victory by 5.5 : 0.5 to win the league for the 7th time. Over the course of the season 30 members played in the team, probably the most of any club. Well done to all involved.
Senior Women’s Home Internationals – Tramore G C Ireland.
Elaine Alllison once again proved to be a tremendous Senior Internationalist for Scotland. Elaine came out as the top scorer for Scotland with 3 points. Congratulations from all Stirling G C Members! Bad weather caused problems with some matches during the week, however England won overall beating Ireland 4 – 3 on the final day. Scotland avoided the wooden spoon with a win 4 1/2 – 2 1/2 against Wales, Elaine getting the match winning 4th point.
Alison Davidson came 2nd in the East of Scotland Championships – not quite repeating her victory of the previous year, but still a great achievement and congratulations to Alison.
County Summer Foursomes
Congratulations to Douglas and James Todd who won the Stirlingshire County Summer Foursomes at Buchanan Castle on Saturday 6 August, with a gross score of 73.
Their nett score of 68.5 ensured that they won the trophy for the second year in a row.
Captains’ Charity Day
Just under £2500 was shared between the two nominated Charities: Strathcarron Hospice and The Stroke Association in Scotland. Thanks again to everyone who contributed to the day by donating prizes or buying raffle tickets – and to H&H Catering for providing the BBQ free of charge. Thanks also to the band, The Reckless Vagabonds, for providing the music at no cost – those attending the Christmas Dinner on 17th December were due to enjoy dancing to the band’s Christmas repertoire – however unforeseen circumstances have forced them to cancel and alternative entertainment will be announced shortly.
St Andrews Match
Stirling had a resounding 9 – 2 victory in the annual Gents match against St Andrews Golf Club – restoring the balance somewhat after St Andrews had won the last two.
St Andrews Vice Captain, Roy Verner (right) is seen presenting the John L Clink Trophy to the Stirling Captain, David Fallow.
HSBC Sponsored event
Just a few weeks after HSBC opened their first branch in Stirling (Murray Place) the bank sponsored a promotional event at Stirling Golf Club on Sunday 11th September. 18 teams, each containing 3 Stirling Members and 1 HSBC representative, took part in a shotgun start with the best two net scores counting at each hole. Players in the winning team were Past Captain Bobby Roy, Greens Convener Willie Straub, Brian Miller and HSBC’s Danny Torbett.
A good day was had by all, and thanks go to Finance Convener Derek Bond and HSBC’s Premier Relationship Manager, Bev Hague, for their initiative in bringing the event to the Club. It’s hoped the event can be repeated in future, and there should be opportunities to hold similar events in cooperation with other companies to promote both the companies and the facilities of the Golf Club.
It is appreciated that some Members have already hosted corporate events at the Club and Committee would be happy to consider any enquiries or suggestions from Members regarding such events, small or large.
Young Person Members
More young people have taken the opportunity to play in junior competitions at the Club this season. Thanks to Lesley Campbell and her team for organizing events this year. Most of the participants are boys, so it would be good for the Club if more girls can be encouraged to take part in competitions. Lesley is looking for Ladies and Gents to assist with plans for next season, as we actively seek to encourage more young people to join the Club; so any offers of help would be welcome via the Secretary’s office.
Particular mention is due to Young Person Member, Blair Carnegie, who was crowned Club Champion at Dunblane Golf Club this season. Blair, whose handicap is 5, beat Chris Gater in the Final; a tremendous achievement at such an early age.
Alison Macfarlane received the Jean Denholm Trophy as the most promising Junior girl.
Club Golf 2011
Primaries four and five from four local schools took part in the Clubgolf initiative this season: St Ninian’s, Allans, Gargunnock and Cambusbarron. The sessions were run by Active Stirling and focused on driving, pitching, and putting. All the groups were then given a guided tour of the greenkeepers’ work areas, including a closer look at features of the 14th and 18th holes. The days ended with a clubhouse tour and a well deserved drink of juice. ‘Head teacher’, Lady Captain Evelyn Macfarlane, reports that all the children were well behaved and did their teachers proud.
It is hoped that such Clubgolf events will continue next year, with plenty of notice given so that staff and Members are aware of any activities taking place and how they might help with them. Some more volunteers would be useful in organizing and hosting the groups, to maximize the experience for the children. Such activities can only help to encourage youngsters to take up the game and perhaps become Members of our Club. Many thanks to Active Stirling and volunteers from the Ladies section for their involvement this year.
Facts & Features
Bob Macfarlane & Seve
It’s particularly poignant, in the year that Seve Ballesteros passed away, to tell this story. Stirling Member, Bob Macfarlane, was Chairman of Beazer Homes when the Company worked on the Westerwood golf development in the 1980s. The course was designed by Seve Ballesteros, who visited the project on numerous occasions and played the course on its inaugural day – 11th September 1989.
That day Seve played each hole with a different sponsor; Bob played the 12th with Seve and apparently ‘did the gentlemanly thing’ by missing a putt to win the hole! A young Janice Moodie also played one hole with Seve. Bob is pictured (right) with Seve on the 12th green and can also be seen (above) with Seve and Donald MacLean (Cumbernauld Development Corp) on a ‘fairway’ during construction of the course. Happy memories all round….
Tommy Leishman’s footballing days
Stirling Golf Club has quite a few Members with stories of past prowess in the world of football. In this issue we focus on Tom Leishman who, in the 1960s, was a tough-tackling left-half under Bill Shankly at Liverpool, where he won a Second Division Championship Medal. He was later transferred to Hibs, where Jock Stein was the Manager. Fellow Hibs player at the time, John Parke, recommended Tom to Linfield FC in Belfast and he became their player-manager at Windsor Park in August 1965.It was an inspired move; Tom guided Linfield to the League Championship in his first season and made 110 appearances in two and a half years with the club, scoring 24 goals in the process. Tom also took Linfield to the quarter-finals of the European Cup in the 1966/7 season, the side narrowly losing 3-2 on aggregate to crack Bulgarian outfit CSKA Sofia. Tom recalls: ‘CSKA Sofia were a very good side and almost knocked out Inter Milan in the semi-final. It was a tremendous experience and I don’t think we realized at the time what an achievement it was for a part-time club’. Tom finished his football career with two and a half seasons at Stranraer and a spell in junior football. Tommy is still enjoying his time at the Golf Club, now in his 43rd year as a Member – we wish him many more!
Walter McArthur
A plaque dedicated to past Member, Walter MacArthur, was unveiled on Friday 23rd September at a ceremony attended by Walter’s family, friends from his hill walking group ‘The Yoyos’, and Members of the Golf Club. Of course Walter was much more than a Member of the Club for over 50 years; he was a Past Captain, on Committee for 20 years and acted as Honorary Secretary for 15 years. Such commitment to the Club made him a very special Member and it is fitting that his friends should commemorate this in a location which is surrounded by Walter’s favourite places. As his good friend Ian Collie told those at the ceremony, Walter was brought up in the Raploch area of Stirling, went to Stirling High School and spent many happy hours playing tennis and golf in the Kings Park. The plaque is located in a very peaceful spot – just across the path from the 14th tee – with views to the hills he loved and across the golf course which was such a big part of Walter’s life.
In Memoriam
This year the Club lost its Honorary President, Mike McCallum, and Honorary Vice President, Bob Samson. They were good friends who spent a lot of time together on the course and in the clubhouse, so it is perhaps fitting that they should leave the Club in the same year. Their commitment to the Club was long standing and it is hoped that future issues of The Club Record may highlight some of their contributions to Stirling Golf Club.