Result- The Roy Nicolson Salver — Queen's. Yellow tees. Sat 22nd August.
Stirling Strikes Gold on a Day of Magic, Mishaps, and Malts
A chilly dawn, a warming nip of Macallan, eagles soaring on Queen's, and an unforgettable celebration of a Dun Whinny icon.
A crisp, bracing Scottish morning greeted the forty-four strong Dun Whinny faithful as they gathered beside the first tee of the Queen’s Course. Any lingering chill, however, was swiftly banished courtesy of Mark Nicolson, who was on hand with a bottle of Macallan 12 Year Old, generously dispensing pre-round drams in honour of his late father, Roy.
It posed the quintessential golfing conundrum of the Highlands: would the amber nectar steady the nerves, or would it merely blur the fairway?
For Thomas McCulloch, striking the day’s very first tee shot, the early verdict leaned toward the latter. With the gallery watching intently, Thomas promptly hooked his drive straight into the thick reeds flanking the left side of the first hole. Clearly a lightweight when it comes to early-morning single malt. Yet, in true Dun Whinny fighting spirit, that wayward opening blow didn't rattle him in the slightest. McCulloch launched a scintillating charge, carding an exceptional 38 Stableford points to post a formidable clubhouse lead that would withstand all challengers for the lion's share of the day.
Eagles, Artistry, and Video Evidence
The Queen’s Course provided its customary blend of charm and challenge, producing moments of pure theatre:
Logie’s Closing Magic: Past Club Champion David Logie delivered the grandstand finish of the tournament on the 18th. Forgoing the formality of putting altogether, Logie holed out from off the green for a spectacular Eagle 2—his ball having the good manners never to touch the putting surface on its way into the cup.
Stewart Inspired: Playing alongside the formidable trio of Logie, Jon Cooper, and George Stubbs, Christian Stewart found the ultimate spark of inspiration on the 15th, conjuring up a magnificent eagle of his own.
The Bitter-Sweet Balvenie: Nearest the pin on the par-3 13th was captured in style by Aidan O’Carroll, who stuck his tee shot inside everyone else. However, Aidan then proceeded to three-putt for a bogey. As whispers circulated on the patio regarding whether a three-putt truly merited a coveted bottle of Balvenie 12 Year Old Golden Cask, Aidan walked away with the single malt regardless.
The Doctor’s Dilemma: Shot of the day—or perhaps catastrophe of the day—belonged to Dr Jonny Dickson on the treacherous 14th green. Having struck a majestic 6-iron to the top tier, Dr Jonny stepped up for birdie. Thanks to some Oscar-worthy camerawork by playing partner Paul Kelly, posterity will forever record what happened next: the putt trundled past the cup, gained momentum down the slope, caught the false front, and eventually came to rest a full 20 yards off the green. A battling 6 went onto the card. Perhaps a second dram on the 1st might have softened the blow, but at least the good doctor has high-definition video evidence to study for future putting clinics!
Stirling Lights the Afterburners
As players gathered in the warmth of the Dormy Clubhouse, nursing their pints and watching the board, McCulloch’s 38 points looked increasingly like a permanent fixture at the summit.
Then came Keith Stirling.
Playing off a 15 handicap, Keith turned in a rock-solid 18 points over the front nine before pulling the pin and lighting the afterburners. He launched into the back nine with a sensational net eagle on the 11th, dismantling the inward half with total authority. Collecting an astonishing 22 points on the back nine (for a blistering 39 points overall on the official return), Stirling swept past the field to claim the Roy Nicolson Salver and the magnificent limited-edition Macallan ‘A Night on Earth – The First Light’.
The Leading Scores
Position Player Handicap Index (Playing) Points
🏆 1 Keith Stirling 14.8 (15) 39
🥈 2 Thomas McCulloch 13.9 (14) 38
🥉 3 Frank Johnson 10.5 (11) 37
4 Allister Wallace 26.4 (27) 36
=4 Craig Scott 7.7 (8) 36
=4 Ken Marshall 5.4 (6) 36
7 Tariq Ali 13.0 (13) 35
=7 Alastair Cantlay +1.5 (+1) 35
(Your correspondent, Tariq Ali, kept things tidy with a fine 35 points to share 7th alongside scratch-machine Alastair Cantlay).
A Toast to Roy
Beyond the silverware, the eagles, and the wayward putts, Saturday was about something far richer. It was a day steeped in the memory of Roy Nicolson—a man whose punctuality, rulebook discipline, and deep devotion to his family, his golf, and his Dun Whinny jumper defined the very spirit of our club.
To Mark Nicolson, our deepest gratitude for your boundless generosity, the world-class whisky, and for keeping your father’s vibrant legacy front and centre. To Andy Lothian, thank you for creating this wonderful fixture. And to Keith Stirling, hearty congratulations on a truly masterclass round.
A glorious day at Gleneagles, capped the only way Roy would have wanted: good friends, great golf, and a glass raised high.
Tariq
