Ayrshire Junior Champions - 2010

Back Row - left to right: Euan Henderson, Calum Gorrie,

(Bill Sherry),Euan Walker (John Nordo)

Front Row - left to right: Colin Currie, Stuart Hope, Blair Gavin

Under sunny skies, light breezes and what good be described as perfect conditions the best of Kilmarnock Barassie young talent secured an emphatic win over their Ayr Bellisle Golf Club neighbours.

Inclement weather earlier in the week forced a change of venue from a drenched Largs, Kelburne to the more sandy greens and fairways of Prestwick St Nicholas. The pin placements were challenging ...the undulating greens provided the ideal challenge for these future champions.

Credit must go to Barassie Junior Convener, Craig Gilmour who put the boys through an intensive pre-match preparation which included 'course management skills', a key element in the winning of the trophy. Craig actually played a few practice holes with each of the boys to get them into the correct mental frame of mind, and ensure they were bonding as a team.

Craig highlighted two areas which were pivotal in Kilmarnock Barassie's triumph ...Euan Henderson's putting; he slotting everything from 10 feet and under; Euan Walker's ball striking was superb and saw him drop only one hole in his match and that was to an eagle 3 at the Par 5 eleventh.

With a complete team of under 16-year old super stars, this is only the second time in the 41 year history that Barassie has seized the trophy.

As your golfing superstars will freely admit, a major amount of their success is attributed to the coaching staff ...Bill Sherry and Assistant Professional David Addison, take a bow!!

However, as has always been said, what do you do after you have won the cup?? Retain it!!

Well Done, Boys!! ...from everyone at Kilmarnock Barassie!!

The Morning After and First Match Out....

Findlay Rankin, who had last been seen on Saturday wandering in the undergrowth on the 18th, was paired with Barassie Captain, David Miller. Their opposition ...Captain Alex Webster and Past Captain George Asher ...a formidable duo indeed!!

Could Alex go one better than yesterday? Four hours and 18 holes hold the answer to that conundrum.

The other matches featured...

Match 2: Nairn-Ian Cooper & Patrick Tomisson : Barassie-Douglas Orr & Norman Brown

Match 3: Nairn-Sid Brown & Stephen Chalmers : Barassie-Gary Noonan & Scott Faulds

Match 4: Nairn-Ian Hutcheson & Colin MacGregor : Barassie-Fraser Williamson & Jim Beardall

Match 5: Nairn-David Cargill & Bill Young : Barassie-George Hamilton & Howard Kewney

Match 6: Nairn-Ewan Gordon & Steven Sharp : Barassie-Frank Nicol & Billy Gibson

FORE!!!

The Nineteenth Hole

You have played well ...beaten Par. You have played badly ...want to slit your wrists. But ask any golfer and they will tell you there is nothing better after any round is a beer with your chums in the famous 'Nineteenth Hole'. They will analyse every putt, every drive, the one that got away, why the golfing gods contrived to make you take three in a bunker ...all great chat and makes the round worth while.

None more so than after the first round of matches, which saw the honours evenly divided at three points each. Alex Webster, Captain of Nairn Golf Club (pictured right), welcomed the Ayrshire team and thanked them for the spirited way they played out their matches, seeking solace in a cheeky Chardonnay for coming a galant second in his own match.

Kilmarnock Barassie Captain, David Miller, replied thanking their hosts for their hospitality as well as recognising the superb condition of the golf course. He also paid tribute to all the staff, both greens and clubhouse, who help make Day One such a success. He did make special mention of Eddie at the ninth green where he was dispensing well-needed sustenance of the liquid variety.

The draw was also made for the following day's pairing, which saw some interesting and savoury matches.

Suffice to say that the whole Barassie team wanted to say a huge 'Thank You' to the Nairn players. Great food ...superb company ...tremendous hospitality ...good golf ...and an amazing libation.

The Results from Day One

Nairn - George Asher & Patrick Tomisson : Barassie - Norman Brown & Jim Beardall
HALVED MATCH


Nairn - Ewan Gordon & Stephen Chalmers : Barassie - Gary Noonan & Findlay Rankin
NAIRN WIN: 3 & 1


Nairn - James Walton & David Cargill : Barassie -Fraser Williamson & Scott Faulds
BARASSIE WIN: 4 & 3


Nairn - Sid Brown & Bill Young : Barassie - Frank Nicol & Howard Kewney
HALVED MATCH

Nairn - Ian Hutcheson & Peter Abbott : Barassie - George Hamilton & Billy Gibson
NAIRN WIN: 5 & 4

Nairn - Alex Webster & Ian Cooper : Barassie - David Miller & Douglas Orr
BARASSIE WIN: 3 & 1

NAIRN: 3 POINTS - BARASSIE: 3 POINTS

Normally the match and destination is decided over the set of Saturday fourballs. However the golfing gods threw in a couple of penalty strokes meaning there was no outright winner.

The decision by the Captains was to change the format of the Sunday matches, which had been 'your friendly fourball' type of game.

New draw ...new pairings ...new match ...winner takes all!

First Points Head South

The first points of this biennial match are posted by the Barassie Captain's team.

Capitalising on their position of strength, again the Barassie Boys played the 17th very solidly, securing a 3&1 win over the hosts.

Whilst magnanimous in defeat, Alex and Ian gracious shook hands and recognised that perhaps the better team on the day triumphed.

A lot of good golf was played ..and in good spirit.

Everyone enjoyed the golf, the course and the challenge, but most of all the friendly way the match was played.

The turn for home ...and all to play for!!!

Nairn's back-nine boasts a par of 36 and 3350 yards (off the medal tees). Modest by modern standards but woe betide the player who takes this piece of golfing architecture lightly. Punishing rough, hidden bunkers and undulating greens are only one part of this demanding inward half.

While a mere 36 inches longer than the eighth, number ten did at least have the benefit of a following wind ...enough for David and Ian to comfortably reach the green with a drive and a middle iron. Alex was comfortably placed on the front edge and two putts secured Nairn a net birdie four and a halve.

The eleventh hole, 'Gate', a 160 yard awkward par 3 needs a bit of planning, especially with the pin placed to the right, over the front mount, twenty feet on, but perilously close to a green-side pot bunker. All four tee-shots were there, or there abouts.

First to play was Douglas ... a consistent putter at the best of times, and with a reputation of reading the greens and subtle borrows with a magical consistency. A nod of the head ...balanced feet ...smooth stroke ...birdie two!! Valiant attempts from the opposition failed to match the score and Barassie take a two hole lead.

At that devilish 13th 'coronary hill' hole, where the air seemed to get thinner the higher, and slower you climb, Ian halved the deficit, copy-book style ...long penetrating drive; high floating mid-iron to the plateau part of the green; two solid putts ...job done.

However. the match turned on the 16th. Wayward shots from the deadly duo from Nairn meant the hole was not just lost, but gifted to their gritty opponents, with a simple par.

DORMIE 2!! Could Nairn do something down the final two??

DAY ONE AND ON THE TEE............

The first tee-shot in the first game can always be a worry. Hole One, 'Sea' by name, with of the crashing waves on the rocks no more than 30 yards from the hallowed turf stretches and a mere 395 generous yards ...bunkers left, bunkers right ...oh, and the North Sea.

Barassie Vice-Captain, Douglas Orr struck the first blow for glory ...true, straight and very much in play ...followed by the 'big hitters', Barassie, Captain David Miller and Ian Cooper, the Nairn Vice-Captain, both of whom powered drives down the opening fairway. Alex Webster, the Nairn Captain, and last to drive had mixed feelings about his shot, much to the derision of his team. However, a soft, controlled 9-iron from DM for his approach to three feet saw the visitors take first advantage.

The match ebbed and flowed, but never to the advantage of Nairn until the 495 yard Par 5 seventh with the creatively-thought name of 'Long', which I suppose it was, really ...into a 30 mph into the wind. Ian Cooper, certainly no slouch with his woods, needed two cannons with his driver to reach the front edge of the subtlety manicured green. Uncharacteristic slack slots from the Barassie team saw both on the dance floor, but not within singing distance of the band. Down in regulation figures was not good enough, with Ian's two-putt birdie restoring the match position back to square.

With honours even at the eighth with its challengingly contoured green and sprayed tee-shots at the ninth seemingly being the order of the moment, DM floated a magical shot from the left rough, over the bunker-protected left corner of the green to three feet. A tap-in restores the advantage to the Ayrshire hombres.

One up at the turn...and small surprise in store! Eddie, from the Nairn Green Staff, had plethora of snacks for the weary golfer ...coffee, sandwiches and a wee drop of John Barleycorn to set the pace for the back-nine.

SLAINTE!!!

NAIRN V KILMARNOCK BARASSIE - DAY ONE

Kilmarnock Barassie and Nairn Golf Clubs have a long association, going back one hundred and twenty three years. Both Clubs were constituted in 1887, hence the biennial contest.

The format for the match is fourball better- ball of six matches, the Club with the most points winning an attractive port decanter, which was donated by Past-Captain, Stewart Lightbody.

Traditional has it that the first match out is contested between the Captains and Vice Captains of both Clubs. Seen here, and reading from right to left ...David Miller, Captain, Kilmarnock Barassie Golf Club; Alex Webster, Captain, Nairn Golf Club; Douglas Orr, Vice-Captain, Kilmarnock Barassie Golf Club; Ian Cooper, Vice-Captain, Nairn Golf Club.

The game teed-off at 1.30pm under what would be described as 'challenging conditions'. The sky was grey, the wind was strong and gusting and blowing from the North East.

The other matches...

• Nairn - George Asher & Patrick Tomisson : Barassie - Norman Brown & Jim Beardall


• Nairn - Ewan Gordon & Stephen Chalmers : Barassie - Gary Noonan & Findlay Rankin


• Nairn - James Walton & David Cargill : Barassie -Fraser Williamson & Scott Faulds


• Nairn - Sid Brown & Bill Young : Barassie - Frank Nicol & Howard Kewney


• Nairn - Ian Hutcheson & Peter Abbott : Barassie - George Hamilton & Billy Gibson

Would the Captains' game have an influence on the destination of the trophy ? Would the golfing gods have a few tricks to play and call a penalty shot? Time will tell ...at the close of play!

ONE SMALL STOP FOR MAN............

While the September weekend holiday has normally been the date for the biennial match between Kilmarnock Barassie and Nairn golf clubs, eight intrepid golfers from the Ayrshire club opted to journey north a day early and stop at one of the hidden gems of the Highlands and take the opportunity to hone their skills for the oncoming encounter.

Boat of Garten is just a few minutes from the tourist-rich town of Aviemore and has been the mecca for visitors from home and abroad for years. Set within the Cairngorm mountains 'The Boat', as it is locally known, was wonderfully presented, was featured in Scotland's top 40 courses in 2008 and bears the accolade of 'the Gleneagles of the North'. It is recognised as one of the masterpieces of golfing icon, James Braid, and features a superbly and individually sculptured eighteen holes.

Nevertheless, our wannabe golfing superstars opted for a Stableford competition format, off full handicap, playing in two matches of four. And just for a little added interest, they also decided to have a fourball better-ball match with in the each group.

The first match paired Howard Kewney and Billy Gibson locking horns with Scott Faulds and well-known Barassie stalwart NC Brown. Norman's team triumphed, with NCB amassing a generous 31 points, well below his expected best.

Match two brought together the Captain and Vice Captain who, with their prodigious length, delicate short-game and eye for the hidden borrows on the fast greens would joust against George Hamilton, who didn't quick fire on all cylinders and Findlay Rankin. The 'Officials' ran out worthy winners by one hole.
But the 'Big Winner' and champion for the day ...Findlay Rankin. Will he hold his form over the weekend? Have the skills been perfected?

Race Night and Buffet Saturday October 16th

The Club ran a similar event last year which was a great success and was enjoyed by everyone that attended. Why not bring along some friends and have a fun night.

As we did last time we shall make a contribution to a charity from any profits that are made from the race bets
There will be a sponsors’ prize for the winning owner of each race. Horses can be purchased from the bar at £2.50 each.

Tickets priced £12.50 each which includes a delicious buffet are now available and should be purchased from the bar by Monday 4th October.

ACES HIGH FOR ALAN WELSH!!!

Eighteen year old Alan Welsh, the 2009 Junior Champion, and still a member of Cathkin's young stallions, birdied 11 ...and 12 ... then has a 'hole in one' at the 155 yard par three 13th.

Unassumingly, Alan said, "I kinda slid-in a soft 6-iron. I thought I was close, especially after seeing Greg's (from Barassie) tee shot. It was all-over the pin, and I was on the same line.'

Veteran campaigner, Norman Brown from Barassie and 46 years Alan's senior, when seeking solice in a welcoming pint of Fosters, was heard to comment, "Great, it was a brilliant shot. Just to think I've got socks older than him."

Well done to Alan.

Los Ninjos from Cathkin went on to secure a victory by two holes.

A WHITER SHADE OF PALE

The other matches saw Cathkin's Martin McCrory and Roy Vallance triumph over Stuart Dixon and Barry Wilson by 3 &1, while the home team of Gordon Wallace and Andy Matthews put Jim Trotter and John Rushbury down by 5&4.

However, at the end of the day its now about winning or losing (though we all like to win), the real winner is the game of golf and the relationships that are established.

ALL SQUARE GOING DOWN THE LAST

The match could not have been tighter ...not could it have been played in a more friendly spirit.

One down, with one to play and it was obvious Barassie would need to birdie the last hole if they were to have any chance of a halved match.

Flushed with their success on the seventeenth, Barassie had the honour and teed-up first ...the confidence was high. Two excellent drives split the fairway and would open-up the green for an approach. Cathkin matched the length of their opponents, but only one ball was on the fairway.

HIT THE GREEN! ...HIT THE GREEN!

It is a blind approach shot. The Vice Captain selects a seven iron. Smooth swing ...solid contact ...safely on the green, twenty feet to the left. The Captain's nine iron soars high, with a slight draw ...fifteen feet short, but an uphill putt.

Their Cathkin opponents had mixed fortunes ...one in the green-side bunker, the other twenty-five feet short, but maybe a par will be good enough.

Alan s to play first, and considering his previous effort would be expect that this was his time. He strikes firmly, but fails to drops, missing to the left by inches.

MAKE THE PUTT?

The Vice is up first, and even with an assured idea of the line and the weight, sadly his effort pulls up just short. 'How can you be short?', he says, in disbelief.

It's all down the DJM and the final shot of the round. Can he duplicate the success of the previous hole? What was a perfectly struck putt takes a wicked turn to the right inches from the cup and Cathkin take the match by one hole.

Congratulatory hand-shakes see the conclusion to an altogether enjoyable encounter.

There is still the main matches going on behind, however.

TWO DONE ...TWO TO PLAY!

The seventeenth is devilish hole!! Par Four. Dog-leg, left to right. Elevated green. All carry. Certain to trouble even the best of hitters.

Four good tee shots. One good approach shot ...by the Barassie Captain. The 'supporting acts' are on in three and putting for par.

Martin Hughes, the Cathkin Captain, is getting a shot. He two putts for a net four, leaving DJM needing a birdie to win. David plays the true Captain's part, drops the putt and its off to the eighteenth with a chance to salvage a halved match in the very tight encounter.

AN INSPIRATIONAL DECISION?

It is usual practice to swop the lead player after the first nine, but Captain David Miller, ever the optimist, elected to keep his own team's rota as before, with the Vice Captain taking the lead on the tenth tee.
Would this be an inspired decision ...or disaster for Barassie?
The choice seemed a good one, with Barassie squaring the match.
However, a couple a slack from from Barassie allowed the home team to regain their two hole advantage on the fourteenth tee.

ALAN LOSES THE HEAD!!

Fortune certainly went Cathkin's way down fifteen, when the head and the shaft of his pitching wedge parted company ...the head went to sand while ball went the green. A resultant two-putt saw the hole halved.

BARASSIE versus CATHKIN BRAES - THE ANNUAL ENCOUNTER

The match between Barassie and Cathkin is steeped in history and tradition, going back more than ninety year. Played annually at alternative venues, the encounter has always been a keenly contested affair.

On Sunday, three pairings plus the Captain's match left the sunny shores of their idyllic Links and headed for the lofty heights and rolling plains of North Lanarkshire, where the thinner air was sure to make the ball fly further (or is that Switzerland?)

The match is played as a scratch format with no strokes engaged, with the exception of the Captain's match, this being seen as more of a social encounter.

The first hole sees a blind tee-shot to a narrow landing area and witnessed three fairway-splitting drives, the exception being the Vice Captain who elected a more intriguing if not scenic route down the left. Being stroke index three, the ploy was to hit the green in three an putt for at best a par four, gross or net. The outcome nevertheless was a halve.

THE EARLY ADVANTAGE GOES TO CATHKIN

Back-to-back birdies at holes three and four gave Cathkin a two lead. A dinky little par three, populated by a few of our feathered friends, who could have been flown in specially for the day from 'www.rentaswan.com' was halved, before Barassie reduce the deficit with a superb birdie on the 506 yard par five sixth. Though Cathkin immediately hit back with a birdie at uphill and difficult seventh, it was honours even at eight and another immaculately made birdie putt by the Vice Captain at the ninth, to again reduce the lead.

The score at the turn is Cathkin one hole to the good, but all to play for!

SEMI-FINAL ACTION FROM THE AYRSHIRE SUMMER LEAGUE

Carrying a slender two point lead from the first leg of this intriguing battle, Barassie entered the fray as favourites to progress to the final of the Ayrshire Summer League Competition. Two and a half points would be enough to take then to mouth-watering encounter with Irvine Bogside.

Six brave souls were bound for glory or golfing oblivion ...no one ever wants to be a losing semi-finalist. Young bucks and golfing maturity held Barassie's answer to this encounter.

Suffering from jet-lag and just returned from holiday in the sunny temperatures of Egypt, Jamie MacKay not only led the charge but also posted first blood with an emphatic 8&6 win over his oppenent.

Newly-crowned Club Champion and 'veteran' (if only by years) Robbie Fulker demonstrated yet again he can mix it with the youngsters gaining a well-deserved half point on the final green.

ONE POINT REQUIRED!!

Euan Brown!! Late nights and golfing Sunday's don't mix too well. However you are forgiven for carving your first drive out of bounds and then recording a comfortable 5&3 triumph.

JOB DONE!!! But there are still statistics out on the course!!!

Recovering from an uncharacteristically wild start to his round, Stuart Miller regained his composure and maintain his impressive record in this competition. His 5&3 win was putting some icing on Barassie's cake.

Perhaps Andrew Wright had been partaking of a small libation at the same welcoming hostelry as Euan, as he also scared the residents of the adjacent Whins Road when he sent his first drive out of bounds. Sadly this was an indicator of his forthcoming struggle, finally succumming at the 16th.

The mighty-hitting Calum Sharp played the anchor match, sporty a nattily design skin-coloured hat. His consistency of play saw him past his opponent by the comfort margin of 5&3.

So, Well Done, our local heroes and let's take this quality of power into the final.

The date for the final has still to be agreed, but Members are asked to watch the usual information channels and come to support their Team.

MAGNANIMOUS IN DEFEAT ...AND VICTORY!!!

Barassie Captain David Miller presents the unique Combined Operations Trophy to the Brian Dennison, Captain of the winning team.

Both David and Brian were magnanimous in their recognition of the matches, the players, the course and the hospitality accorded to everyone. The Club has an excellent culinary reputation and its catering and bar staff at Barassie were singled out for all their work.

The Captains recognised the continuing bond between an all four clubs and were grateful to the original efforts of the troops but in 1945.

When the trophy is contested next year at Prestwick Golf Club, whilst the competition will be as intense the winner always be the Royal and Ancient game that hooks us every weekend.

Will Western did it again? There are three other Clubs and three new teams who will have a definite say in the matter.

CAN THE BARASSIE CAPTAIN SHOW HIS TROOPS THE WAY?

Had the golfing gods something mind as they contrived to pit the local heroes of the host club against the holders and pre-match favourites?

Like the first series of matches, both teams got off to a shaky and uncharacteristic start, slightly wayward tee-shot requiring the recovery prowess of ever-patient and understanding partners. All three matches ebbed and flowed through the first twelve greens, with never more than a single hole separating the contest. This was characterised at the eleventh, recognised as the most difficult green on the course with its humps and hollows, bumps and swales, when Western's Johnston Sime contrived a most immaculate putt. All of fifty feet and on far side of the green, halve-way to the hole it was obvious there no other destination for the ball but the hole. A 'well done' from their Barassie opponents and a modest applause from the sole spectator was all that rewarded such an outrageous achievement ...apart from a modest degree of triumphalism from Johnston. That took the match back to all-square. However, the gritty duo of Ron Punton and Al Glennie did get their reward finally winning by one hole.

Barassie's other matches did not go so well. Graham Hope and Greg Niven fell to their Western counterparts by two holes, which was a repeat of their morning result against Royal Troon. Reg Short and partner John Rushbury sadly succumbed down the difficult and final six holes of the Barassie Links course. They are not the first, and certainly won't be the last, to falter along this challenging piece of golfing real estate, finally losing by three holes.

Both teams showed resilience under pressure, with Western finally coming out on top by four holes and retain the Combined Operations Trophy. Well Done, to them.

A VALIANT EFFORT SEES PRESTWICK CLAIM THIRD PLACE

A deluge of rain greeted the teams to the tee as the play-off match between Prestwick and Troon was about to get under way. Whilst the torrent stopped as quickly as it started, it was a little moderate of overindulgence at lunchtime that saw the opening few drives find the rough and the bunkers. It was finally Paul McPail, in match three, who found the fairway to steady the ship and set the pace for a comfortable win for Prestwick by three holes. Sadly Paul's match went against him as he and his partner fell to a late resurgence from Messrs Anderson and Paton of Troon.

It was well done to both teams as they took on the challenge of Barassie's demanding championship course.

WHO WILL TRIUMPH?

As is traditional, the Captains of the four Clubs enjoy a more sociable 18 holes in the afternoon, before the golfing gladiators take centre stage. I am assured that this is nothing to do with the Chardonnay and a couple of glasses of Kummel, just to was down the end of a very tasty meal.

Four amazing good drives from the leaders set the example which they hoped would be emulated by the troops.

THE SCORES FROM THE MORNING MATCHES

As has been said, a key part of the match is the merriment, enjoying the competition, playing as well as you can, followed by a tasty lunch, a cheeky Chardonnay and asking yourself ...if only that putt had dropped? ...why did I leek that shot to the right? ...why did my partner not hit the green from 100 yards? ...is it only a game? ...what will happern this afternoon?

In the first group of matches Western Gailes triumphed over Prestwick - by a credible score of four up. The second set of matches saw hosts Barassie take the honours over Royal Troon by seven up. While an excellent result, there is still the afternoon matches to contend with. (As an aside, yes, one swallow did not make a Summer, and Graham and Greg saw their advantage slip over the closing holes, losing by two.

The afternoon matches therefore see the hosts, Barassie, take on the holder, Western. Will it be a play-off for the minor places between Troon and Prestwick. Golf can be an unpredictable game sometime and we will see around 6 o'clock.

A STRONG START FROM THE HOSTS

In the second group of matches, Graham Hope got the Barassie challenge into gear, against local rivals, Royal Troon. One of the Club's hopefuls for golfing immortality, if Barassie was to triumph for the first time in nine years, split the fairway with a searing drive.

He and partner, Greg Niven went on to take first blood in this intriguing encounter, with a birdie four. Have they peaked too soon? Time will be the judge.

THE HOLDERS GET THE COMPETITION UNDERWAY

Under a sunny morning sky but with a challenging, prevailing and strong westerly breeze, Alan Calder from Western Gailes got the 65th playing of the Combined Operations Trophy under way.

A long, straight and true drive was the result, but what else would you expect from the competition favourites. However, not to be outdone, Ken Wilson, his opposite number from Prestwick was equally prodigious, bringing the 500-yard par 5 first within range in two. Two-ball fouresomes is very much a team game, so let's hope both pair are still talking to each other after their morning round. Catch up in a few hours and all will be revealed.

The Combined Operations Trophy - now in its 65th year

During the Second World War, British troops, in including commandos, were stationed in the Troon and Irvine area. In fact, the Clubhouse at Kilmarnock (Barassie) acted as the sergeants mess, as did other golf clubs offer their own hospitality.

The troops wanted to find a way to recognise everything that was done for them. The apprentices of the day designed and built a model 'military landing craft' as a trophy, which was to be competed for annually by the four clubs involved - Western Gailes, Barassie, Troon and Prestwick.

The first match took place in 1945 with Western Gailes the winners. Western are the current holders. Barassie's first triumph came in 1946, with the last victory in 2001.

It is keenly contested and with an individual format. Each Club has six players, and therefore three teams of two who then compete with a selected Club in a foursomes match. The draw is made first thing in the morning on the competition day. Matches are played to a finish, with the total number of holes up for the three matches being recorded. In the afternoon, the two highest Club results play against each other, as do the two lowest. The final outcome could be a complete turn of fortune, because of the same scoring method.

For example, Troon could be ten holes up against Prestwick from the morning round, and looking good for a victory ...but lose by five holes in the afternoon, to see their hopes dashed into misery. Western could have a morning triumph of four holes ...and with a win over Troon in the afternoon by five hole could be certain to retain the trophy. However, there is always the danger in the background of a massive swing, giving Barassie an outright victory.

Now I hope you all follow that ...at least the Clubs do.

However, jollyness and merriment really is the order of the day, with 'guid fayre and few drams' being partaken.

Who will win tomorrow? The favourites must be Western, but you never know with this noble game of golf.

Kilmarnock (Barassie) Clubhouse undergoes a major facelift

The Clubhouse at Barassie has witnessed many changes over the years. New lockers, extended lounges, new bar area, extended dining room ...adding a bit here and there, changing an entrance, knocking a bit down, building a bit back up.

In 1921, for example, carpets replaced linoleum, and heating and electric lighting were installed. The list goes on, with improvements to the overall fabric of the Clubhouse, as the needs were identified.

However. times have changed, priorities have changed, costs and budgets have changed, the environment continues to change. It was with this in mind the Club elected to replace the windows, in some cases the original windows, with more heat and solar efficient PVCu double-glazed units. Almost every window in the building is being replaced ...that totals more than 50 units.

Some of the windows are also being 'reconfigured' with different style mullions and astragals, which is certain to improve the view from the Clubhouse as well make the lounges and dining room much brighter.

Because the sealed units have a significantly high insulation value, there are also likely to consider savings made on the cost of heating.

The replacement windows are just one part of ambitious plans the Club currently has under consideration to upgrade the quality and fabric of the building. It is hoped a carefully maintained budget will allow other projects to proceed and increase the reputation Kilmarnock (Barassie) Golf Club has for offering warm and welcoming hospitality to its members and to those who continue to visit the Club.

A TASTE OF THE ORIENT

THERE IS MORE TO A GOLF CLUB THAN GOLF ...WHAT ABOUT THE SOCIAL SIDE? THEN READ ON....



An extensive choice of oriental cuisine comes to Kilmarnock (Barassie) Golf Club on September 11, with dishes from the kitchens of China, India and Thailand.


Members will gave the unique opportunity to have their taste buds titilated with curries, sauces, meats and other delicasies!

Bel Poori; Pakora; Pompadoms feature on the list starters.

Red Prawns; Masala; Sweet & Sour are among the main courses.


And who fancies a banana fritter to finish, maybe China tea; turkish delight?

As if that wasn't enough, members wil be entertained by the sultry voice and sweet dulcet tones of Julie Ann Alison, a well-respected cabaret singer in the West of Scotland.