"Go to Aberdeen!" they said! "The birds will be eating out the palm of your hand!" they said!
What they didn`t say were those birds were the flying vermin that are Seagulls! And they would be literally stealing food out of your hand as they swooped down like a feathered swarm of Stuka Divebombers! These crazy happenings have been sighted at Pittodrie Stadium at the last few Aberdeen home games and have prompted the Club, like the supporters, to take some evasive action! I think the fans got excited that they had signed an Ex-Man Utd player when they heard that "Directors In A Flap To Sign Eagles Before Next Home Game!"
Someone else that got wrongly excited at a headline was Frank McAvennie when he heard about that hundreds of crazy birds flock to Pittodrie!
I personally think it will be a short term problem if the Seagulls are that highly developed! I`m mean, have you tasted a Pittodrie Pie! They`d put hairs on Kojak`s elbow! I`d have to say that even the evolution of the Aberdonian `Gull is still nowhere near as advanced as it`s Lochgelly sousin where the Seagulls there fly upside down, because they`ve quickly realised that there is nothing worth pooping on!!
But from low flying birds to flying Lowry`s birdies! The genial Irishman, who`s clearly not allergic to the odd mince pie himself, swooped in to a earn a crust too at the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron Ohio last weekend with an impressive 66 which featured and even more impressive birdie, birdie finish! These WGC events are the next best thing to a Major as they feature the world`s Top 50 players and a few select others. This win for Shane could be a spring board to much bigger things, namely the Fed Ex Cup that he now qualifies for. Perhaps he can even take this form into next week`s USPGA Championship that will be underway by the time you read this. It looks like his fellow Irishman and World No. 1, Rory McIlroy, will be back to defend his crown.
We also got an exciting finish in the Handicap Club Championship played on Sunday. Jamie Ironside faced off against Russell Prosser in the 36 hole finale. It was a very close affair with never more than 2 holes in it, with typically Russell in the ascendency as he made the most of the 10 strokes per round he was receiving. At lunch his lead was just one hole so there was all to play for going into the second 18. That lead remained for the majority of the match but Jamie managed to claw the game back to all square with by the time the match reach the 36th hole. You could sense that both players were getting a little nervous. With Russell just off the back of the green in nett 2, Jamie was forced to go for the Par 5 with his 2nd shot which didn`t come of quite as planned and almost ended up in the burn that crosses the fairway. He wedged on to give himself a chance. Could Russell close out the game?
His chip from the back fringe was a little strong which left him above the hole facing a quick downhill putt. His first slipped well by and when he wasn`t able to hole the return Jamie was able to 2 putt for the win. The only time in the Match where he had been ahead, but I guess the best time to do it! Well done to both players for putting on such an exciting final, and Congratulations to your new Handicap Champion, Jamie Ironside.
Photo - Jamie & Russell
There was also a Walk On Stableford that day as well as the usual Wednesday & Saturday Competitions to report.
It was a week of excellent scoring as players obviously took advantage of the fabulous condition the course is in.
WALK ON MEDAL Wednesday 5th August `15
Division 1 (10 & BELOW)
1st: Carson Riches = 73(7) - 66, 2nd: Kieran Spence = 67(1) - 66, 2nd Sweep: Steven Wallace = 71(4) - 67, 3rd Sweep: Donald Smith = 73(5) - 68
Division 2 (11-15)
1st: Chris Stoddart = 80(14) - 66 , 1st Sweep: Craig Guthrie = 81(14) - 67, 2nd Sweep: Neil Watt = 81(13) - 68, 3rd Sweep: Kevin Neish = 82(14) - 68 ACB
Division 3 (16 & ABOVE)
1st: Gordon Sellar = 91(28) - 63, 2nd: David Foote = 87(20) - 67, 2nd Sweep: Terence A Taylor = 83(16) - 67, 3rd Sweep: Gavin Paterson = 84(17) - 67 ACB
Photos - Steven Wallace, Donald Smith, Craig Guthrie, Neil Watt & Kieran Spence
GOLF PLUS QUAICH Saturday 8th August`15
Division 1 (10 & BELOW)
1st: Stephen Cook = 71(4) - 67, 2nd: Gary Lochhead = 67(+1) - 68, 2nd Sweep: Blair McPherson = 74(6) - 68, 3rd Sweep: Hugh Murdoch = 76(7) - 69 ACB
Division 2 (11-15)
1st: Bruce Raffell = 77(11) - 66, 2nd: Scott Livingstone = 79(11) - 68 ACB, 3rd: Mark P McDonald = 79(11) - 68 ACB
Division 3 (16 & ABOVE)
1st: Steven Jackson = 86(18) - 68 ACB, 2nd: Craig Samson = 87(19) - 68 ACB, 3rd: Tom Stoddart = 86(16) - 70, 3rd Sweep: Mark Wallace = 88(17) - 71 ACB
Photos - Stephen Cook, Hugh Murdoch, Scott Livingstone, Mark McDonald, Steven Jackson, Craig Samson, Tom Stoddart & Mark Wallace
WALK ON STABLEFORD Sunday 9TH AUGUST `15
Division 1 (10 & BELOW)
1st: Peter Griffiths = 41 points, 2nd: Martin Downie = 39 Points, 3rd: Graham Smith = 39 Points,
2nd Sweep: Stuart McLaughlin = 39 points
Division 2 (11-15)
1st: Gary Lloyd = 45 points, 2nd: William Grant = 44 points, 3rd: John M Goate = 43 points
Division 3 (16 & ABOVE)
1st: Ross Leslie = 46 points (22), 2nd: John F Paterson = 41 points, 3rd: Alex Dowall = 41 points
Photos- Peter Griffiths, Martin Downie, Graham Smith, Stuart McLaughlin, Gary Lloyd, & John Goate
Again it was very pleasing to see so many of the names in the podium places were those players who have been having instruction. Steven Wallace and Donald Smith have found an improvement and consistency that their games had lacked for a while which has seen both of them steadily reduce their handicaps. David Foote is another slowly chipping away at his handicap following a lesson. Blair McPherson has had some instant reward from his recent Putting Lesson, whilst Stuart McLaughlin got a similar payback from his recent putter and iron fitting. Mark Wallace has now shot his 2 lowest scores ever since his lessons, John Goate has now started to reap the benefits of the instruction and new equipment he has invested in with a score he had felt was close to happening for a few weeks now. Graham Smith has also hopefully found some consistency following his lesson, and Peter Griffiths posted a great score following his bunker lesson during the week. He had been getting extremely frustrated that his good golf was being destroyed anytime he got in a bunker so hopefully my instruction helped or he just managed to steer clear of the beach!?
But the Role of Honour doesn't end there! I mentioned last week about those golfers doing well who enrolled in my "Game Improvement Champion" Package and how some people take a little longer to get comfortable with the improvements and to see the benefit of them. Steven Jackson just backs that theory up as he finally got everything to come together during his great round on Saturday. Hopefully this is the start of a good run of form for Steven so he can be challenging for the Improvement Champion title. Another Stephen I`ve been working with this season has also found some good form and consistency over the recent weeks and on Saturday posted his lowest score of the year. Stephen Cook was sitting at 4.0 a little over a month ago and following Saturdays round had shaved that down to a season low, 3.2! But there is one ingredient that links all these I`ve guys mentioned, they all have put in the practice to gain the benefit from the advice I`ve given them…..it`s not just some magic dust I sprinkle on them.
There are a few more guys I`d like to mention who very much fall into that category. Unfortunately they aren`t in that race for the Improvement title as they did their series of lessons much earlier in the season before the promotion was put in place but they would very much be in the running for the most improved! Gary Lloyd and Carson Riches embarked on some lessons to improve their game not long after I started here at Portlethen, and like the guys I`ve mentioned above they have worked extremely hard to get comfortable and familiar with the adjustments we made to many aspects of their game. Following last week`s results they have reduced their handicaps by 4 and 5 strokes respectively!! Gary has tumbled from 14 to 10 in 4 months whilst Carson has dropped from 11 to 6 since the beginning of May!
Lessons do help, but I`ll stress it is a 2 way relationship. I liken it to a Chiropractor! They can pop you back into shape and you`ll instantly feel better, but unless you are disciplined to do the exercises and stretches they recommend you won`t strengthen (improve) your body so it`ll get worse again, the old niggles will come back, and you`ll return to the Chiropractor and they`ll do their best to pop you back into shape again! Then there are the people who never go seek the professional help, are always in a bad mood because the grief it`s causing and moan about their suffering! (Sound familiar?) To really see the benefit go get professional help and then implement that advice. You can`t THINK yourself better you`ve got to DO!
Speaking of Chiropractors it`s getting `Crunch` time in the race to make the Cappro Cup Teams! We have completed round 9 of Qualifying meaning there is only 1 more event to cement a place in the Automatic Top 4 in each Division! Again there has been more risers and fallers than a Top Of The Pops Christmas Day Special! Here are those in pole position to make the Teams but this can all change in a heartbeat with the results of the September Medal still to happen.
For the Full Standings and to see who are on the outside looking in - Click Here
The Silverware was on show this weekend as we had the Portlethen Junior Open last Sunday. Unfortunately home advantage didn`t play it`s part and it was Ryan Bruce (Edzell GC) 86(19) - 67 that claimed the Trophy. Our own William Lloyd 86(17) - 69 made sure there was something for the locals to cheer about with his 2nd place finish. Ross Kane (Murcar) 81 took the Scratch Prize.
In total there were 17 players which, compared to previous years is quite a low entry however in comparison to other Junior Opens that have had to be cancelled due to lack of entries it is fared better.
Hopefully with the Junior Development Program in place here at Portlethen our Junior Section will always be reasonably prosperous!
This week I have been running an End of Holidays Junior Development Camp which ran for 5 days and the kids were able to fine tune all the skills required to play golf. The weather was kind to us and the kids had a lot of fun and all showed great improvement.
I hope the kids will keep trying to fit their golf in once they go back to school and I intend to run a similar Camp during their October Holidays.
Our Greenstaff showed they know their way around the course with their golf clubs as well as their machinery as Portlethen hosted the BIGGA Scottish Greenkeepers Championship last Thursday. With hundreds of the countries greenkeepers taking part the Course comes under the most knowledgeable of microscopes and the I know from all the feedback that the course and the facility in general came out with some great feedback. The overall title was won by Chris Lamb From Newmacher who carded an impressive 68(-4). But the Portlethen representatives did the Club proud too. Neil was awarded the "Best Head Greenkeeper" with his gross 70 whilst Jack finished 2nd in his Division and also scooped the Longest Drive @ 17 Prize.
But like most of us, it was back to the day job. This week as many of you will know was scheduled to be the week of the intense Coring & Maintenance but due to the huge improvement in the Greens this wasn`t require. However this does not mean the guys have a free week! Far from it, they continue to beaver away at the essential daily grooming whilst also focussing on extra, but minimal, aeriation and dressing on the green surfaces.
I not only played Portlethen on Sunday but was fortunate enough to play Royal Aberdeen on Monday and I can confidently say our putting surfaces were looking and running much better than theirs.
"All the Golfing Gossip from the Powder Room" by 
Aileen McVey The Pro Shops 1st Lady
I`m on the final push towards my Charity Cycle now and my training has had to go up a notch. On Saturday I did Cairn O`Mount which was 43 miles but felt like it was going on 143 as it was like cycling up the side of skyscraper! But like a gluten for punishment I did another 60 miles on Sunday. With all these miles I expected to look like Kate Moss but I couldn`t believe when I stepped on the scales to find out I`ve actually put on a few pounds!!
I am pleased that I`ve put on much more than a few pounds on my sponsor sheet so thank you to everyone who has supported me so far. There is still time to put your hand in your pocket and pop a few pennies in my pot before I go and do it for real.
On the subject of Charities, it was the Marie Curie Stableford that the ladies were playing for on Saturday. I`m sure Stuart was even more pleased to see the Top 3 were all his students too.
Ladies Marie Curie Sat 8th July
1st: Di Driver = 39 Points, 2nd: Alison Bruce = 39 Points & 3rd: Heather McCabe = 35 Points
Friday was Fun Night at the Club with a Captain v Past Captain Matchplay 9 Hole Challenge. The Ladies also took the chance to wish last year`s Captain, Sarah Beattie, a send off before her big wedding day! She even got a Bride-To-Be Buggy!!
It was back to serious strokeplay, well as serious as it gets for the Seniors these days, last Thursday with our SGU Medal. And it was good to see Bill Bothwell get back to better form with a cracking score to take top spot. I`m sure Stuart will again be pleased to see another pupil, Stuart Winpenny, continue his good form since his lesson a little while back. I personally have Graeme Smith to thanks because despite finishing 4th I managed to sneak the 3rd place Sweep money as Graeme hadn`t paid his money!! Maybe it`s time invest that Sweep money on a Lesson with Stuart to see if I can get into the Top 3 scores properly!!!
Senior Medal Thurs 6th Aug `15
1st: Bill Bothwell = 75(11) - 64, 2nd: Graeme Smith = 86(20) - 66
2nd Sweep: Stuart Winpenny = 75(9) - 66, 3rd Sweep: Phil Dear = 80(13) - 67
