Result- Spring Meeting. King’s. Sat 17th May.

A sun-drenched King’s Course greeted 39 brave souls for the Spring Meeting, where the white tees were so far back, some suspected they’d been placed by a mischievous groundskeeper with a grudge. On a few holes, the tees were so far back they were practically in a different postcode.

Our midweek rollup oracle, Mr Alistair Shand, wasted no time in planting his flag atop both the gross and nett leaderboards. Meanwhile, Past Captain Mr Mike Page decided to remind us all why he’s a legend, launching a drive and a 6-iron onto the 6th green before casually draining a 20-footer for eagle. No big deal—just another day at the office.

Our own Mr Kevin Dickson, last year’s Muirfield Salver champion, matched Mr Shand’s nett 70, proving lightning can strike twice. If only he hadn’t taken a scenic tour of the 4th and 10th holes (scoring a 7 on each), he’d have been the early clubhouse leader. Golf, as ever, is a game of “if onlys.”

The course played fast and fiery, and some of us (naming no names, but definitely including myself, Mr Swa, and Mr Beattie) found ourselves racking up the dreaded “snowman” (an 8) on a hole. Mr Swa and I, ever the overachievers, managed one on each nine. It’s a rare talent.

As the morning wore on, a few tried to topple Mr Shand, but his score stood firm—until our reigning Scratch Club Champion, Mr Neil Lock, strolled in with a gross 75, six clear of the field. Was there anyone left to challenge him? Enter the smooth swinging Mr Tony Moran, who posted a 76 despite a snowman of his own on the 12th. So close, yet so frosty.

But then, like a gunslinger in a spaghetti western, our resident golf sage Mr David Logie swaggered through the course, carding a gross 73—just one over par, from the white tees, finishing with a birdie on 18 for good measure. Cue the applause and the collective questioning of our own life choices.

While Mr Shand still clung to the nett leaderboard, it was short-lived. Mr Kevin Beattie and Mr Robert McLeary both edged him out by a stroke, with Mr McLeary taking the lead on countback. Mr Beattie’s front nine was a thing of beauty (39!), but a snowman on 11 sent his scorecard off the rails.

Back in the clubhouse, as I dutifully took notes (while Messrs Swa and Marshall heroically tackled the chicken tacos), we toasted Mr Logie’s brilliance. Then, in true stealth mode, Mr Andy Barton slipped in with a gross 74—just shy of Mr Logie’s mark, but enough to rocket to the top of the nett leaderboard by a whopping EIGHT strokes. With a pair of twos on 5 and 16, and birdies on 8 and 9, Mr Barton gave the King’s Course a lesson in patience and course management. If you’re looking for a masterclass, look no further.

Hats off to Mr Barton and Mr Logie—true champions of the day!

This was just round one of three. Remember, it’s your best two out of three scores that count for the trophy. The Summer Meeting is set for August 2nd, and the Autumn Meeting for September 20th, both on the King’s course.

A quick reminder: tomorrow is the deadline for the first round of the Matchplay competitions. Please send your results to Iain or Tariq (carrier pigeon also accepted).

Next week, we have the Jubilee on the PGA course, followed by the Monthly Medal on Queen’s on the 31st. Sign up via the app—don’t miss out!

Taz

History: The Championship Cup First Played in 1936 This is the original trophy of the Club and presented to Dun Whinny by John C Dougal one of the instigators and founders of the Club. The cup is a beautiful trophy on a stem supported by three silver golf clubs and mounted on a plinth with silver bands recording the names of all the winners. The Trophy was initially presented for stroke play competition in the Spring Meeting of 1936. At the AGM in 1937 it was decided that this trophy should be named the "Club Championship Trophy" and would be awarded to the player with the aggregate of the two best net scores in the Spring, Summer and Autumn meetings. The qualification conditions for this trophy have never been changed since that date. The first winner of the trophy was Dennis Blanc who scored 72-1 = 71

The Duncrub Trophy First Played in 1976 In 1976 Lord Rollo expressed a wish to provide a trophy to the Club for scratch competition. The Council decided that as there was already trophy for handicap competition (the Championship Cup) this trophy should be awarded for the two best scratch scores in the Spring, Summer and Autumn meetings each year. The trophy is an unusual silver plated inkstand decorated with crossed golf clubs and two silver balls as ink wells and the whole supported on three small silver balls. The names initially were inscribed on the inkstand but when no space was left an attractive hardwood stand was made on which the trophy is mounted. Lord Rollo was one of Dun Whinny's many characters and in his later years only played golf if he could be first off the tee in the morning and played mostly with Ian Donaldson. The first winner of this trophy was R M Robertson.

Result- Spring Meeting. King’s. Sat 17th May.

Draw - Spring Meeting. King’s. Sat 17th May.