SSGS CHAMPIONS TO THE FORE IN SELECTION FOR THE EUROS
The players to represent Scotland in this year’s European Senior Men’s Championships in France were unveiled today - in a squad dominated by SSGS members.
Royal Dornoch’s Allan Cameron, who triumphed at the West of Scotland championship at the end of July, is joined by international stalwarts Ronnie Clark, Erskine; Paul Moultrie, Royal Troon; Bryan Innes, Murcar; and Robert Jenkins, Royal Troon.
The sixth member of the team is Mark Halliday, Royal Aberdeen, who won the 2025 Spring Meeting at Moray in his first SSGS tournament.
The two reserves are Steven Armstrong, Turnhouse; and Derek Paton, Dunnikier Park.
The team will take on the cream of Europe’s senior golfers at Cabot Bordeaux from September 1-5 in what promises to be a keenly fought championship.
The Scotland team will be hoping to repeat their 2016 performance when they were crowned European champions in Slovenia.
Our heartiest congratulations to all eight players who have been selected.
Now that the season has reached the halfway point, this is a good time to assess and potentially boost your fitness levels - not only so you can maintain form but also to guard against injury.
Mind Body Golf, the Troon-based consultancy run by Scottish Seniors Internationalist Paul Moultrie, has agreed to run another block of online fitness classes exclusively for SSGS members.
The four, one hour-long Zoom sessions will begin this Monday, August 3 at 9:00am, with the rest following on consecutive weeks.
They are an opportunity for members to improve and maintain their fitness and flexibility for optimal performance for the remainder of the season.
All exercises taught in the sessions are designed specifically to improve the golf swing.
Members who have taken part so far have reported impressive improvement in their strength and flexibility.
Paul, the 2024 Senior Order of Merit champion, is offering SSGS members a discounted rate of £30 for all four classes.
Part of the proceeds raised from the classes is being donated to Prostate Cancer UK.
Any member who has already taken part and wants to continue, or for those wishing to join for the first time, can register by clicking HERE.
Further information about other services offered by Mind Body Golf can be found on its website www.mindbodygolf.co.uk
Note: For the avoidance of doubt, Mind Body Golf is the organisation with whom members will be interacting. Accordingly, the SSGS does not hold any liability in respect of this offer.
Scratch: Playing captain Ian Brotherston, Dumfries and County; Laurie Chancellor, Inverness; John Fraser, Royal Burgess; Lindsay Gordon, Turnhouse; David Imrie, Lundin Links; Tom McLevy, Blairgowrie.
Handicap: Brian Bingham, Royal Troon; Robin Cockburn, Gullane; Colin Halcrow, Largs; John Johnston, Wishaw; Neil McGarva, Kilmacolm; Les McLaughlin, East Kilbride; Ian Jeen, non-playing captain, New Club, St Andrews.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
DUNCAN HAMILTON - FORMER SOCIETY STALWART AND CHAMPION DIES PEACEFULLY IN AUSTRALIA
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of former SSGS stalwart Duncan Hamilton.
Duncan, who played in society events over a number of years and is a former Scotland internationalist, passed away in Australia after losing his battle with cancer.
The retired Edinburgh solicitor moved Down Under with his partner a number of years ago. He died peacefully with his two sons by his side.
As an accomplished young player, Duncan won the Lothian Boys Championship in 1976 while a member of Royal Burgess. He was also a member of Newbattle, Dunbar and Mortonhall, the latter being the club he represented while competing as a senior.
In 2015 he was jointly crowned Central Scotland Senior Champion with former international team captain Ronnie Clark.
Duncan was a Lothians County player and a member of the Mortonhall squad which won the prestigious Dispatch Trophy in 2018 and successfully defended it the following year.
Graeme Millar, one of his closest friends, said: ‘It was one of Duncan’s last wishes that his ashes be spread over Braid Hills where he spent so many happy times. He will be sorely missed by his golfing companions in Australia and here in Scotland.’
ANOTHER CHANCE TO GET IN SHAPE FOR THE SEASON AHEAD
Following the success of Mind Body Golf’s online fitness and flexibility classes exclusively for SSGS members, founder Paul Moultrie has agreed to run two more programmes to help players get in peak shape for the start of the new season.
Members who signed up for the four weekly classes run over January into February, were full of praise for the expert tuition.
‘The exercises were challenging without being over-taxing,’ said one participant, ‘and I was impressed by the way Paul explained how each exercise related to specific movements in the golf swing.’
As before, MBG is offering two one-hour classes, one of which will run on four consecutive Mondays from 23rd February at 9am; the other on four consecutive Tuesdays from 24th February at 6.30pm.
The Troon-based consultancy is offering the classes exclusively to SSGS members at a 25% discount. Each online class (hosted via ZOOM) will be limited to a maximum of 12 players, so if you want to take advantage of this offer, sign up for the classes today!
The cost for all four sessions is only £30 and you can enrol by clicking HERE.
Any SSGS member who might prefer one-to-one fitness and flexibility tuition, or would like to take advantage of MBG’s exclusive Inner Caddie Programme - online or in person - is being offered a 10% discount on regular fees. If interested, drop an email to MBG at info@mindbodygolf.co.uk.
Further information about all services offered by MBG can be found on its website, www.mindbodygolf.co.uk
You may recall that Paul, who has been successfully treated for prostate cancer, raised around £14,000 in sponsorship from SSGS members, and the wider golfing community, for Prostate Cancer UK by running the London Marathon in 2024.
As an ongoing commitment to the charity, a percentage of all funds that Paul raises through his business interests goes to Prostate Cancer UK. Accordingly, by taking up this offer to enhance your own golf fitness and flexibility, you will be helping an organisation that supports thousands of men across the UK. (www.prostatecancerukuk.org)
PRAISE FOR MIND BODY GOLF
“The online fitness and flexibility classes run by Mind Body Golf were the ideal preparation for the new season ahead. The great thing about Paul’s instruction is that it is all golf specific. If you want the opportunity to play your best, enjoy your golf and stay injury-free, this is the way to do it”
“The programme of exercises have made me raring to go. From Paul’s instruction, I’ve developed my own fitness plan and feel ready to give it my best shot”
Note: Mind Body Golf is the organisation with whom members will be interacting. Accordingly, the SSGS does not hold any liability in respect of this offer.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Scotland internationalist Kenny Gallacher made it a double celebration when he won the Scottish Seniors Match-play Championship at Strathmore, guaranteeing him top slot in the national Order of Merit table.
The East Kilbride stalwart defeated three-times champion John Mathers in a final in which both players had to battle heavy rain and wind as well as each other.
The match came to an end at the 15th hole, securing a 4&3 victory for Gallacher after he had chipped in at the long, difficult 14th for a birdie three. The result denied Mathers a fourth successive match-play title, but he was magnanimous in defeat.
‘I am disappointed to have fallen at the final hurdle, but in Kenny I lost to the best player of this year,’ he said.
Gallacher, who was first capped for Scotland in 2018, said: ‘Last year after my performance at the British Seniors I was so fed up with my game I seriously thought about chucking competitive golf. I stopped practising and just started playing for fun. And then things started to turn around. I was enjoying my golf again and thankfully the results followed.
‘John is a great champion, having won this trophy for the last three years. This win, and being back in the Scottish team, tops off a very satisfying season for me.’
In the semi-finals, Mathers took on new Scotland cap Graham Bell who, in the quarter-finals, beat reigning Order of Merit champion Paul Moultrie. Mathers, aiming for his fourth successive match-play championship, came through 2&1.
The second semi-final went all the way to the fourth extra hole before Gallacher and two-times match-play champion Stewart Henderson could be separated, with Gallacher holing a bunker shot to progress to the final.
In the other quarter-finals, Henderson beat Stirling’s Phil Hendry while Scotland team player David Thomson and Gallacher had to go to the 19th before the latter clinched the tie with a birdie.
Last year’s Super Seniors handicap champion Lindsay Gordon contested the scratch final against Inverness’s Laurie Chancellor. Again, the match had to go to extra time before Gordon claimed the title at the 19th for a spectacular double.
The Super Seniors handicap final was between Kilmacolm’s Neil McGarva (9) and Ian Jeen (3), New Club St Andrews, with McGarva emerging victorious with a 3&1 win.
The finalists, as well as the Super Seniors contending for third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth places, had to battle heavy rain and gusting winds as Storm Amy made her presence felt.
The championship trophies were presented by Society Chairman Alan Michie who thanked competitors and all at Strathmore Golf Centre for hosting the championship for the second consecutive year.
Accepting the Super Seniors scratch trophy, Lindsay Gordon paid special thanks to competitions secretary Ian Kerr for all his hard work during the championship as well as throughout the year.
Gallacher’s victory means he tops this year’s Order of Merit table for players aged 50 to 64. Laurie Chancellor is crowned Super Seniors’ Order of Merit champion. Congratulations to both for magnificent performances throughout the season.
The Society is grateful to all at Strathmore Golf Centre for hosting the championships and for their excellent hospitality. Special thanks, also, to the green-staff for presenting the course in top-class condition despite some challenging weather conditions.
Graham had an excellent first year in the seniors and only missed out on top slot by 40 points. He did have the consolation however of winning the Handicap Order of Merit for 2025 by an even slimmer margin of 13 points from Ken Milligan (Kingsfield Golf Centre).
In the Super Seniors Order of Merits, Laurie Chancellor (Inverness) was a clear winner of the scratch OOM with a total of 1595 points, some 3685 points ahead of David Imrie (Lundin) who finished in 2nd place.
In the Handicap OOM Colin Halcrow (Largs) was the winner on 830 points, 35 points ahead of David Imrie (Lundin) in second place.
Congratulations to the winners and to all players who competed throughout the year.