There are few with living memories of the last time a professional golf tournament visited Brora and Tain but next week the Scottish PGA stage a first at these two renowned north golf courses, writes Robin Wilson.
The Northern Lights Callaway Challenge is a 36-hole event, the first 18 holes played at Tain on Tuesday with an 8.30am start and the next 18 at Brora the following day.
There is local interest for Ross-shire golf fans to follow.
Getting the event under way at Tain at 8.30am on Tuesday morning are two Dornoch-based professionals, Alan Fleming from the North Highland College and Gary Dingwall, an assistant at Royal Dornoch GC.
Teeing off at 9.20am is Tain's resident professional, Stuart Morrison, followed by former Tain amateur and now assistant professional at the Carnegie Links, Jodi Rostock.
Rostock was in recent good form with a third place cheque of £3,500 from the Carnegie Invitational last week, and completing the first round line-up at 12.10pm is ex-Muir of Ord amateur, Kenny Hutton (Downfield).
Hutton, whose parents still own the Priory Hotel in Beauly, is also holding down some form with a recent first place in the Downfield Pro-Am.
The Northern Lights Challenge was a late addition to the Scottish PGA Tour but with it added to this season's Tartan Tour order of merit and money winning rankings, and the season coming close to an end, the event has attracted all five professionals currently leading the tour: Stephen Gray (Hayston), currently on top with £30,745; Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) £23,245; Paul McKenchie (Braid Hills) £21,473 and Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs Golf Range) £18,217, all five keen to consolidate their positions with a share of Callaway's £5,000 sponsorship.
There are no professional record scores recorded for the Tain and Brora courses so next week should provide both venues with firsts.
Meanwhile, in action at the Moray Golf Club, Lossiemouth, were four Ross-shire clubs competing in the 100th Northern Counties Cup competition.
Strathpeffer Spa were in first round action against Nairn Dunbar, as also was Tain who played Duff House Royal.
Also with a first round tie were Muir of Ord who met Brora in a repeat of their semifinal tie at Royal Aberdeen in 1986, the year the Muir recorded their first of two cup wins, their next retaining the cup at Golspie the following year.
Fortrose and Rosemarkie can also claim two memorable cup triumphs, 2002 and 2006 but after receiving a bye into round two pulled a difficult opening tie against the 2003 winners, Cruden Bay.
Muir of Ord
(CSS 68) - Juniors September Monthly Medal - E. Macpherson (8) 67; L Macleod (23) 84. (CSS 73 Reductions Only) - SLGA Brooch and Extra Medal - Silver Section - M Ritchie (18) 73; H Slater (10) 77; J Fraser (20) 78 - Bronze Section - D. Mackay (23) 73; F Graham (28) 79; R Bruce (24) 79. (CSS 68) - Gents Midweek Strokeplay - B Roberts (14) 62; C D Mackenzie (12) 68; B Aspinall (13) 69; J Mackenzie (22) 70. (CSS Members 66 Visitors 66) - Seniors Stableford Open - 0 -16 Handicap Section - J Macrae (Torvean) (11) 43 pts; K Macleod (Isle of Skye) (15) 38pts; H Steele (15) 38 pts; P Mackenzie (14) 38 pts; A Gill (Elgin) (16) 38 pts - 17 - 28 Handicap Section - P Tripp (17) 39 pts; B Govans (Torvean) (19) 38 pts; I Hopkinson (Alness) (17) 37 pts; J Hazle (19) 35pts. (CSS 68 Reductions Only) - Gents Gilbert Shield - Scratch - J R Mackay 69; R Moir 69 - Handicap - Scott Forbes (4) 62; Murdo Macleod (23) 63; D Groat (7) 64; J Stuart (6) 64.
Late entries will be accepted on 01463 871311 for the Gents Carn a Chlarsair Open at Muir of Ord Golf Club on Sunday, September 25.
Competitors, from the host club unless stated, tee off in three's at 10 minute intervals.
Abbreviations: A, Aigas; C, Crail; D, Durness; F, Fortrose; H, Hawick; I, Inverness; IB, Isle of Benbecula; IS, Isle of Skye; K, Keswick; L, Loch Ness; RD, Royal Dornoch; S, Strathaven; SP, Strathpeffer; T, Tain; TO, Torvean.
8.00 - S Sutherland and B Henderson, I Cameron jnr and A Philip, D Mowat and W Whyte, M Hind and A Hamilton (S), G Simpson and D Marshall, W Marshall and B Nicholson.
9.00 - Kerr Mackenzie and C Howarth, J Marshall and P Mackenzie.
9.30 - B Rae and C Speirs, R Ansell (TO), P Cadden (TO) and A Innes (I), J Cameron (I), P Kerrigan (TO) and A Macdonald (TO).
10.00 - M Lamont (TO), M Hillon (TO) and J Colquhoun (TO), Graeme Mellis, B Weatherall and J R Mackay, S Fraser, Graham Mcintosh and E Dance, D Paul, S Macdonald and R Mackenzie, M Shewan (TO), A Tomney (L) and D Groat, B Mackie (TO), J Mackenzie and S Gillies.
11.00 - J Bradley (T), R Bradley (T) and M Henderson (T), R Stewart (A), K Macleod (IS) and C Mackinnon (IS), K Macpherson (IS), P Jackson (K) and J Mackinnon (IS), R Carr (F), F Carr (C) and J Ellis (SP).
11.50 - J Craig (IB) and M Varley.
12.00 - G Ford (H) and J Macrae (TO), L Ross (RD) and G Klein (D).
13.00 - G Flynn, G Munro (L) and J Macleod (L), A Munro and J Kirkwood.
13.30 - A Pollock and T Speirs, B Syms, K Hinds and I Morrison, Scott Forbes and J Forbes.
Strathpeffer
Gents - Medal 17/09/2011 - Scratch - Kevin Manson 70 (7); Mike Bartlett 65(3); Dod Krzyzanowski 70(5).
Handicap - D L MacDonald 77(18); Martin Ross 78(14); Ian MacDonald 80(15).
18 Hole walk on open - Scratch - R H Stewart (Torvean) 66; D Krzyzanowski (Strath) 67; M Bartlett (Strath) 70.
Handicap - C Anderson (Strath) 60; J Ramsay 61; M Nicolson (Strath) 62 b.i.h.
CSS - Home Players 65, Away Players 68 (Reductions Only).
Ladies - Golf Foundation Brooch 17/09/2011 - Nicola Bartlett 77 - 8 = 69; Elsie Coupland 87-16 = 71.
