July 2010 Proshop News
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JULY 2010 PRO SHOP NEWS The photograph above shows representatives from McDonald Golf Club receiving their award for finishing 2nd place in the Junior Club of the Year competition. The presentation took place at the R&A Tent at the Open Championship and is due to all the hard work that has gone into the junior section in the previous few years. One or two people deserve particluar recognition for this. Graham Gerrard, Clubgolf Conveynor, gives up a lot of his time to help bring young people to golf through the Clubgolf scheme. Mitch Cabel, Junior Conveynor, has been in his position for many years and has been the clubs strongest advocate for junior golf development. These aren't the only two people that give up their spare time though. We have many volunteers who help on junior medal days and those that come along on a Thursday evening to help coach the Clubgolf junior classes. Their help is greatly appreciated but we do still need more volunteers to help with coaching. If you think you could spare one evening a week to help McDonald become the number 1 junior golf club in Scotland then please contact me in the shop or Sandra in the office. Sandy Aird Jnr, PGA Professional, McDonald Golf Club |
Club news
SWEEPSTAKE THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP SWEEPSTAKE Louis Oostuizen's win the in the Open meant Martin Rose won the Open Sweepstake this year. Martin wins himself a Taylormade Burner rescue. 1st PrizeMartin Rose/L Oosthuizen - Taylormade Rescue 2nd PrizeBilly Lynch/L Westwood - Twinline Trolley 3rd PrizeDerek Gaw/R McIlroy - Footjoy Shoes 4th PrizeAlan Bowman/H Stenson - Nike Shirt 5th PrizeAlan McIntosh/P Casey - Titleist Balls Don't worry though if you didn't win this time we will have another sweepstake for the USPGA Championship next month. |
THE 139TH OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP We will have a full report on Louis' win in next month's newsletter but here's a nice story of how Ellon was represented at St. Andrews. McDonald greenkeepers John Geddes and Brian Hunter were both selected to work that week with the other greens staff at the Old Course. Both enjoyed their week but Brian had a week he'll never forget. Selected to go round each day with a group to rake the bunkers after any players ended up in one the first three days saw him tidying up after the likes of Alvaro Quiros, Henrik Stenson and Trevor Immelman. Brian Hunter got a bit of a surpise though when the ballot was drawn for the Sunday tee times. That's right, Brian was out in the final group with Louis Oosthuizen and Paul Casey. He even managed to nab Louis' divot from the 17th hole (which you can currently see in the pro shop) and get a souvenir golf ball from the champion. Brian said the walk up the last hole with the players in front of the gallery was the most amazing experience of his life. And no wonder, but I think his youngest grandson summed it up best when he said " Orrsome Grandpa!" |
Ellon at the Open
ELLON AT THE OPEN
Who's that idiot above taking a break at St. Andrews last week? Well that would be me of course. We foolishly picked the Wednesday to visit the world's biggest golf tournament and unfortunately the weather was very Scottish. Laura and I, along with everyone else that day, didn't get to see any golf including the champions event. We did have fun though and even met Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans (thats him on the left by the way). If you can come up with any captions for any of the photos in this newsletter there may well be a prize in it for the best one.
Hole in One Club
We have our first member of the 2010 Hole in One Club. TOM RATTRAY aced his tee shot at the 7th hole during the Wednesday stableford last month. This was Toms 2nd hole in one after acing the 13th hole at Shotts GC back in 1986. The 12 handicapper used a 5 wood to win his Hole in One Trophy and a share of the end-of-year hole in one pot which now stands at £500. Tom's wonder shot was witnessed by his playing partners Gareth Godward and Alan Neil.
Well done Tam! And remember if you want a share of that pot when you get your next hole in one, it has to be in mens' club competition and you have to have entered the 2's competition. The prize fund for the Hole in one Pot is generated from a percentage of the weekly 2's takings. Good luck everyone!