Scottish round up including juniors hitting 'Road to Home of Golf'

A total of 105 golf clubs from across Scotland are taking part in a new competition for aspiring junior golfers, which culminates in a grand final at St Andrews Links in October.

The Road to the Home of Golf is an event for youngsters aged 18 and under with handicaps between 8.5 and 54, having been launched by St Andrews Links Trust in collaboration with Scottish Golf.

“It’s clear from the healthy levels of participation in the Road to the Home of Golf’s first year that there’s a real need for more opportunities to ease young golfers into the world of competitive golf in a fun and supportive way,” said Gillian Paton, Strategy Manager at St Andrews Links Trust.

“We’ve built this initiative with Scottish Golf to inspire this next generation, grow their love for golf and develop their confidence in these environments, to help them thrive as they develop their skills and shape the future of the sport.

Dornoch delight for English raider

The Carnegie Shield, a prestigious amateur trophy, is in English hands after a 1000-mile round trip from Northampton to Dornoch proved worthwhile for Jack Peters.

The US college student rounded off a memorable week at Royal Dornoch with a 4&2 win over Prestwick’s Cameron McGarvie in the final.

“I first came to Royal Dornoch with my dad, Richard, when I was 14 and it was him who suggested taking part in the Shield to round off the summer before heading back to college,” said Peters.

“Winning has certainly made the 530-mile journey from Northampton to reach Dornoch worthwhile.”

Cream rises to top at Dunnikier Park

The cream rose to the top in this season’s Scottish Senior Women’s Golf Association Midland Division Championship.

After being washed out earlier in the year at Glenbervie, it was then played at Dunnikier Park in Kirkcaldy.

Stirling’s Alison Rose, winner of the Scottish Senior Women’s Open Championship this year, won the stroke-play qualifying with a gross 72.

She then faced St Regulus Ladies member Elaine Moffat, a two-time Scottish Senior Women’s Open champion, in the final.

In a closely-fought match, Moffat triumphed 3&2, which was down to her coping slightly better with “slowish greens” than her opponent.

Deeside is ‘growing golf destination’

The Royal Deeside Golf Week saw another sell-out field, with players from 12 different countries competing at Aboyne, Banchory, Ballater and Braemar.

Playing off a handicap of 6.2, winner of the men’s stableford competition was first-time Irish entrant James McGuirk (Stackstown) with 148 points.

The women’s event, meanwhile, fell to Joanna Hodgson, a member of Bracken Ghyll in Yorkshire, with 148 points playing off 25.8.

“It is readily apparent that Royal Deeside is a growing golfing destination, and we are already seeing strong demand from players keen to return for the July 2027 tournament,” said RDGW co-ordinator Nigel Bradburn.