The
event was held between 5-th August at Strathmore Golf Centre. As always the course was in
excellent condition and the players were well looked after in the clubhouse
throughout the 3 days of competition.
We again made some changes to the format for both the main draw and the Super
Seniors draws in response to members that played in the matchplay events last
year. The 32 qualifiers in the main draw were divided into 8 groups of 4 on an
Order of Merit ranking basis with each player playing 3 group games before the
top 8 moved through to the knockout stages through to the final.
In the Super Supers events we introduced a scratch event in addition to the
usual handicap matchplay event for the top 8 qualifiers from the respective
Super Seniors scratch and handicap Order of Merits. In each event, the 8
players contested matches each day to arrive at event winners through to the
players in 8th place.
John Mathers (Cathcart Castle GC) beat Derek Paton (Dunnikier Park GC)
3&2 in the final to win the matchplay for the 3rd year in a row....an
outstanding achievement by John.
In the Super Seniors matchplays, the scratch event was won by Ian Brotherston
(Dumfries & County GC) beating Willie Irvine (Lanark GC) at the 19th. In
the handicap event the winner was Lindsay Gordon (Turnhouse Ltd) who beat Neil
McGarva (Kilmacolm GC) 4&3.
Congratulations to John, Ian and Lindsay, and thank you to all the players for
supporting the event.
Should also mention that Rob Ford had a hole-in-1 at the 6th on Tuesday....well
done Bob!
A big thank you to David Norman, his green keepers and all the staff in the
clubhouse and pro shop at Strathmore Golf Centre for helping make the event a
success.
We are planning to check with John Mathers to see when he is on holiday next
year so that we can hold the event when he is away, and give someone else a
chance!!
The 2024 AGM is due to take place at the Autumn Meeting in August. As
advised in the Members Update in April, there are Committee members that
have stepped down this year or will be stepping down at the AGM. We need
nominations to fill these positions urgently so that everything is approved at
the AGM and in place for the 2025 Tour and beyond.
Failure to fill all positions would be a serious issue for the continued success
of the SSGS Tour.
The 2024 Committee:
- Chairman: Ronnie Clark (stepping down at AGM)
- Secretary: Ian Johnston (stepping down at AGM)
- Tournament Secretary: Ian Kerr
- Treasurer: Jim Patterson
- Area Rep West: Jim Devaney (stepping down at AGM)
- Area Rep Central: Vacant (Alex Hogg has stepped down)
- Area Rep East: Bill Barclay (stepping down at AGM – Ian Jeen and Derek
Paton have agreed to take up the role from the AGM)
- Area Rep South: Ian Fraser (stepping down end July)
- Area Rep North: Gordon Grimmer (in position and will be ratified at the AGM)
Other Attendees:
Honorary President: George Rodaks
Honorary Vice-Presidents: Jim and Peter Kinloch
Super Seniors
There is also a Super Seniors Sub-Group in place that is led by John Fraser. John
and the group have done a great job in developing interest in Super Seniors
golf with increased fields for the 4 main SS events, a new scratch and handicap
matchplay event, the successful 54-hole Masters event on great golf courses
and 3 matches against England, Wales, and Spain.
John will also be stepping down from the Sub-Group at the AGM and we
therefore, require someone to step up and lead the Sub-Group. At the AGM we
will propose the Sub-Group Leader position is added to the SSGS Committee.
We therefore require nominations for Chairman, Secretary, Area Reps Central,
West and South, and a Super Seniors Rep.
Key tasks for each role:-
Chairman: Chair Committee meetings and generally ensure SSGS is managed
well, all issues are dealt with in a timely manner and continue to improve and
develop the Tour.
Secretary: Meeting agendas and minutes, co-ordinate Tour schedule and work
with Area Reps and club venues, produce prize vouchers and winner
summaries, organise medals and trophies, engraving, update SSGS Facebook
page (can be covered), and deal with any member issues that arise.
Area Reps: Secure course venues for events, complete event checklists, contact
point for members in the area with any issues and liaise with the
secretary/committee accordingly.
Super Seniors Rep: lead the Super Seniors Sub-Group and continue to develop
SS events as interest continues to grow.
Any member interested in taking up any of the vacancies can of course contact
those stepping down - Ronnie, Ian, John or any of the Area Reps – for an
informal chat about their roles.
There is no doubt the SSGS Tour has continued to grow and develop over the
past few years with increased interest and improvements along the way, but
this has also meant organising and managing the Tour takes time and effort
from members that have volunteered to make sure members can just turn up
for events and enjoy their golf. Hopefully some members will now step up to
fill these vacancies and ensure the continued success of the SSGS Tour.
Please come forward and play your part in supporting SSGS - we would ask
for nominations by 31st July.
Ronnie Clark
SSGS Chairman
“I want to extend a huge thank you to all the members of the
Scottish Seniors Golfing Society who supported my London Marathon fund-raising
effort for Prostate Cancer UK.
We started with a target of raising £5,000.Through the
amazing generosity of the SSGS membership, as well as many other supporters,
the total accumulated so far is just under £13,000. Magnificent!
My heartfelt gratitude to you all for supporting such a
worthwhile cause. Your contributions will help make the early detection and
successful treatment of prostate cancer more of a reality for many men in the
future.
If anyone wants to add to the fund-raising pot, the Just Giving page is still open until the end of June. justgiving.com/page/paul-moultrie-london-marathon-2024
With regard to my own journey, I am currently undergoing hormone therapy treatment which will continue for about a further 18 months. I completed my radiotherapy at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre in Glasgow on April 15, six days before the London Marathon. I am extremely grateful to the staff at both the Beatson and Ayr Hospitals for their world-class service, care and expertise.
This was my fourth London Marathon. While it was a memorable experience, I can safely say it will be my last….until the next time!
My sincere thanks again for all your support, including the many messages of encouragement I received.
I look forward to seeing everyone on a golf course as the season continues.”
Kind regards
Paul
Is
your game affected by lower back pain or sciatica?
Lost confidence in your lower back? Missing time on the golf course?
Active X Backs is planning to launch a service specifically targeted towards
the needs of Scottish Golfers.
Former Scottish Rugby and British and Irish Lions Captain Gavin Hastings OBE
says "As a keen golfer, and long-term lower back pain sufferer, I am
really optimistic that Active X Backs has something special to offer Scotland's
senior golfers."
If you'd like to help shape the service and get a free copy of The Golfer's
Guide to Mastering Lower Back Pain & Sciatica, which they have put together
for Scottish Golfers, fill in their waitlist questionnaire here>> https://golf-waitlist.scoreapp.com/
