Trio of club member events at heart of busy domestic season

As the season reaches its busiest point, we look ahead  to three of Scottish Golf’s most exciting handicap events

By Ed Hodge

SCOTTISH GOLF runs 25 national championships across the country each year and, whist events such as the Scottish Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championship attract the majority of the headlines, other events provide unique opportunities for club members  of all ages and abilities the chance to compete  on the big stage. Here’s a look ahead to three of those events which add value to being a member of your golf club……

Women’s Regional Medal Energised  by Revive Active

Leading ladies across Scotland are looking forward to this year’s Revive Active Scottish Women’s Regional Medal Grand Final after players representing nearly 300 clubs competed in qualifying.

Scottish Golf’s most popular women’s event has been energised with new title sponsorship for the next three years, thanks to an exciting partnership with the leading health foods brand.

The Irish-based company are backing the nationwide event open to all female club members in Scotland, with 286 players taking part in four regional events this season.

Inverness, Kirkcaldy, Largs and Torwoodlee golf clubs all held regional qualifiers from early May to the middle of June, with the top three players in the Silver and Bronze classes booking their spots in the Grand Final at scenic Perthshire venue Crieff GC on Sunday, July 16.

Revive Active is the first brand to dedicate sponsorship to women’s golf in Scotland since the governing body became amalgamated in October 2015.

Daithi O’Connor, the sponsors’ Managing Director, said: “Revive Active is delighted to be sponsoring the Scottish Women’s Regional Medal Finals. Revive Active are a natural health foods supplement company based in Galway and we manufacture supplements from your immune system health right through to your skin care health. We wish all the finalists good luck at Crieff.”

Each affiliated club of Scottish Golf was eligible to take part in the qualifying events, all female playing members, including juniors, with a handicap, eligible to compete and win.

As part of the sponsorship agreement, Revive Active is the Official Super Food and Nutrition Partner for Scottish Golf, supporting the governing body’s campaign to encourage playing golf as part of a healthy lifestyle which can increase life expectancy by up to five years.

PING Scottish Mixed Championship

Clubs are reminded to take the opportunity to be part of an exciting mixed team competition for Scottish club golfers this season, with Solheim Cup venue, The Gleneagles Hotel, acting as host for the showpiece finale on September 18.

The PING Scottish Mixed Championship is a unique new addition to the domestic handicap amateur calendar in 2017, as Scottish Golf brings male and female golfers together in a fun-filled format for all ages and abilities to add further value to club membership.

The innovative new event sees PING become sponsors of Scottish Golf for the first time, with the leading golf brand’s investment providing a welcome boost to the governing body’s partnership portfolio.

The free-to-enter competition is open to all golf club members in Scotland holding an official handicap, from juniors to seniors. Golfers can compete in a mixed event at local club level (Stableford format), with the top 40 club pairings nationwide going forward to the Grand Final over the superb Queen’s Course at Gleneagles.

A number of clubs have been holding events, with others pencilled in to come, so make sure your club takes part too!

The event sees a fitting partnership between Scottish Golf, Gleneagles and PING, given the manufacturer was founded by Karsten Solheim, who helped create the biggest team event in ladies’ golf.

Belhaven Captains & Secretaries Championship

The national championship for Scotland’s club officials, open to all Scottish Golf affiliated clubs,  is again not to be missed in 2017.

Now in its 12th year, the Belhaven Captains & Secretaries Championship has become one of the country’s most popular events, with the title of ‘national champions’ up for grabs.

Hollandbush took top spot in the East regional qualifying event at Prestonfield while the team from Linn Park ran out winners in the West at Douglas Park.

The top eight clubs from each qualifier  will compete for the silverware in the Grand  Final being held at glorious Elie in Fife on  Tuesday, September 19. Places remain available  in the remaining regional qualifiers at Elgin  (July 25), Peebles (August 8) and Dunblane New (August 17).

For more information on all of these championships and the rest of those operated by Scottish Golf, log-on to scottishgolf.org/events

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