Speyside Golf Festival 2019

Congratulations to Eddie Middleton who's blistering 39 Stableford points on a blustery day at Moray Golf Club saw him blast through the field and grab victory with an aggegrate best 4 of 5 total of 139 points, winning the Festival by two clear points from a group of four players scoring 137 points each.

Click here to see the full list of results (the password is caddie).

Unfortunately, no-one struck lucky with a hole-in-one.

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Day 5 – Moray

A fine day for links golf, and the final round at Moray GC, with prize-giving to follow - and the chance of hole-in-one prizes.

The old course is considered to be one of the finest links courses in Scotland. A classic links designed by Old Tom Morris with deep revetted bunkers, undulating gorse lined fairways and smooth fast greens. It is a superb test of golf.

Daily winners were:

Gents:
    1 – Eddie Middleton, 39 points
    2 – Neil Moreland, 34
    3 – John Moore, 34

Ladies:
    1 – Debbie Hudson, 33 points
    2 – Sue Holwell, 31
    3 – Janet Reid-Thomas, 30

The final leaderboard was:
    1 – Eddie Middleton, 139 points
    2 – Debbie Hudson, 137
    3 – Janet Reid-Thomas, 137
    4 – Robert MacGregor, 137
    5 – Tony Noakes, 137

Day 4 – Forres

Round 4 was held at Forres GC, and was enightened by a gin testing sesssion hosted by Benromach.

Forres Golf Course is a wonderful parkland golf course with spectacular views and aimed at golfers of all abilities. It is extremely well maintained and has a fine reputation in the area for the condition of its greens.

Daily winners were:

Gents:
    1 – Ken Mason, 40 points
    2 – Neil Moreland, 38
    3 – Gary Skerret, 38

Ladies:
    1 – Fiona Findlay, 38 points
    2 – Lynn Manson, 36
    3 – Gillian Paterson, 35

The combined leaders were:
    1 – Robert MacGregor, 137 points
    2 – Tony Noakes, 137
    3 – Janet Reid-Thomas, 137
    4 – Lynn Manson, 135
    5 – Yvonne Craig, 135

Day 3 – Elgin

On to Elgin GC, and a day which started with ideal playing conditions which, unfortulately, were interupted by rain showers and a blustery wind in the later part of the day.

Elgin Golf Club is one of the finest inland courses in the North of Scotland, the challenging but fair course is a true test of all players. Situated in the heart of Moray and Speyside, the golf course boasts stunning views over the town of Elgin, and the hills stretching to the distant Cairngorms.

Daily winners were:

Gents:
    1 – Robert MacGregor, 35 points
    2 – Jim Strang, 35
    3 – John Murphy, 35

Ladies:
    1 – Yvonne Craig, 36 points
    2 – Gail Joughin, 35
    3 – Susan Randall, 34

The combined leaders were:
    1 – Janet Reid-Thomas, 107 points
    2 – John Wade, 105
    3 – Yvonne Craig, 103
    4 – Tony Noakes, 103
    5 – Robert MacGregor, 102

Day 2 – Boat of Garten

On a day of showers and sunny spells, the Speyside Golf Festival continued today with the second round, at Boat of Garten GC.

Designed by one of the grand-masters of golf course architecture, James Braid, “The Boat” is set alongside the River Spey in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. The course is not only renowned as a demanding test of sporting skill but also as a magnificent setting for the game.

Daily winners were:

Gents:
    1 – John McBride, 40 points
    2 – Ged Wilkinson, 39
    3 – Ian Smith, 38

Ladies:
    1 – Janet Reid-Thomas, 39 points
    2 – Debbie Hudson, 38
    3 – Anne MacGregor, 37

The leaders were:
    1 – John McBride, 74 points
    2 – Janet Reid-Thomas, 74
    3 – Ian Smith, 74
    4 – John Wade, 73
    5 – Tony Noakes, 72

Day 1 – Grantown-on-Spey

The Speyside Golf Festival resumed today with the start of the 2019 event at Grantown-on-Spey GC.

Grantown-on-Spey Golf Club is one of the finest golf venues in Cairngorm National Park area. Nestled in leafy parkland looking onto the Cairngorm mountains the course was designed by Willie Park with assistance from James Braid.

120 competitors from Scotland, England, Wales, Switzerland and Germany teed-off in dreich weather conditions to play on a superb course, in superb condition.

At the end of play, the daily winners were:

Gents:
    1 – Roger Wallace, 39 points
    2 – William Sawings, 38
    3 – Paul Markham, 37

Ladies:
    1 – Yvonne Craig, 35 points
    2 – Janet Reid-Thomas, 35
    3 – Lynn Manson, 35

As part of our charitable support from the Speyside Golf Experience, we are providing, on behalf of our partners, a unique auction item for Doddie Weir’s MND Charity. This will be auctioned during their cycle trip up the A9 next month.

The auction item includes 2 player participation in this year’s Speyside Golf Festival, plus executive tours around Johnston’s of Elgin and Benromach Distillery, plus 6 nights’ accommodation at the Knockomie Hotel.

This item should generate significant funds for a worthwhile cause which we are delighted to support.

For details of the event, and where you can join the route, see https://doddie5-ride.co.uk/the-great-rugby-cycle; don’t forget to visit https://www.myname5doddie.co.uk/ to read all about the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.

As a celebration of many years’ effort on behalf of SGWT and the golf festival, our Chairman, James Macpherson, was treated to luncheon at Elgin Golf Club, and presented with a fitting memento – Benromach 35 year-old single malt whisky.

Chairman Designate, Bob Cunnigham presenting James with his 'gift of appreciation'.

“Some 10 years ago David Urquhart stood down as Chairman of the group and we were tasked with finding a new Chairman. To my mind only one person fitted the bill, James Macpherson. With his knowledge of the whisky industry and golf he was the obvious replacement. James agreed and with his usual enthusiasm he took the chair.

“I have no doubt that without James leadership and enthusiasm the organisation would not be where it is today.

“James contributed greatly to the success of the golf festival. From the meet and greet on Day 1 of the festival to his star performances at Prize Giving.

“James the group will miss you and no doubt so will the golfers who return year after year.”

    Steve Crane, Festival Director

Overall Winner Speyside Golf Festival 2018 :- David Booth Vicars Cross GC

David having receive the Quaich and replica from Colin MacGregor Captain of Elgin Golf Club

Runner up, leading lady at Boat of Garten and winner at Moray Gillian Duncan

The slideshow from the presentation below shows some of the principal prize winners

SGF_2018_Presentation

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The results of the Speyside Golf Festival 2018 (Best 4 out of 5) scores can be found via the following link 

Once again we were extremely lucky with the weather with only 1 short sharp shower spoiling the day.

The results from the Elgin round can be found via the following link

Apart from 1 short shower we had another fine day at Forres

The results for Day 4 at Forres can be found via the following link

The results for combined score from days 1,2,3 and 4 can be found via the following link

Despite the doom and gloom of the weather forecast we had superb conditions at  Moray for day 3 with only slight winds towards the end of the field and the rain kept off until everyone was in the clubhouse. 

The results for Day 3 at Moray can be found via the following link

The results for combined score from days 1,2 and 3 can be found via the following link

Highlight of another beautiful sunny day at Grantown was a Hole in 1 by Elizabeth Wood (Brancepeth Castle) at the 16th.

Elizabeth is pictured receiving her bottle of "Red Door" Gin to mark the occasion

We had 8 players from Switzerland 6 of whom are pictured below.

The results for Day 2 at Grantown-on-Spey can be found via the following link

The results for combined score from days 1 and 2 can be found via the following link

As usual the 2018 edition of Speyside Golf Experience began in bright sunshine with everyone taking advantage of sitting outside after their round.

The results for Day 1 at Boat of Garten can be found via the following link