Feast of pro action for north fans
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BRORA and Tain golf clubs received the welcome announcement that the Professional Golf Association tour season that commences in two week’s time at Dundonald Links will again feature the Northern Links 36-Hole Challenge played over their courses.
With a very successful launch last October the Scottish PGA Order of Merit-counting event has been given a new date and under a new umbrella. It will take place in May, with the first 18 holes at Tain Golf Club on May Day, May 7, followed by the second 18 holes over Brora on Tuesday as part of a new Optical Express Pro Golf Tour.
Given its new May date the Northern Links Challenge will become part of a fabulous summer of professional golf for north fans to enjoy culminating in the return to the fixture card of a three-day pro-am event to close the season.
The Tomatin Single Malt 54 Hole Pro-Am has already proved enormously popular with almost every team space already snapped up for the three-course venue event, at Castle Stuart, The Nairn and Royal Dornoch in October from Monday to Wednesday, 1-3. There will be a prize fund of £50,000.
Other north highlights are the second event on the tour, the Optical Express 36-holer at Spey Valley, Tuesday and Wednesday, May 1 and 2.
The Paul Lawrie Foundation Pro-Am at Skibo on Monday, July 9 featuring fifteen professionals and invited teams helping to raise money for the former Open champion’s Foundation which does so much to encourage and sponsor young golfers.
The Carnegie Club’s own Invitational event will be staged on September 4 and 5 followed by the Sandy Pipey Young master at Royal Dornoch, September 23 and 24.
Capping all this is of course the galaxy of World stars who will gather at Castle Stuart for the Scottish Open, July 12 to 15, and for the amateurs the women’s Curtis Cup match at Nairn, June 8 to 10.
Brimming over with Scottish amateur talent will be the domestic Scottish Amateur championship at Royal Dornoch during the first week of August.
Hole in one at Tain Golf Club
H Bowden had a hole in one at 17th hole (211 yards but shorter because of winter tees at the moment), playing with Alan Wately and using an old brassie — a club from the 1930s.
