The first weekend in August is traditionally the spot for our biggest event of the year in the Mens, Ladies & Juniors sections with our Stromness Opens. After a year out we’re grateful to see them return this year.
Mens Stromness Open (36 Holes) Saturday 7th, August.
Tee times will start at 7am – Noon for first round and be seeded by HC (highest out first)
Field Limited to 100 – Entries Closed and Waiting List in operation.
Sponsored by:
Ladies Stromness Open (18 Holes) Sunday 8th, August.
Tee times will start at Noon and be seeded by HC (highest out first)
Entries still open until Thursday 5th (6pm)
Sponsored by: BDS
Junior Stromness Open (18 Holes) Sunday 8th, August.
Tee times will start around 11am and be seeded by HC (highest out first)
86 men & 41 ladies plus 6 juniors turned out for today’s (not in Shopping Week) Shopping Week (not a week either its 3 days this year) Open!
Firstly, a HUGE thanks to everyone involved in the ladies section and Karen from CLAN plus everyone who donated bottles/cash for the fundraising today. Not sure just yet what the final total is but it looks to have been a great day.
On to the golf and ladies first:
It was newly crowned putting champion Nicola Sutherland who blew the field away in the gross with a 71 beating not just her mum Kathleen who finished 3rd on beloved countback from Lynn Slater (81) but also her Dad’s gross score! Runner-up with a 78 gross was OGC’s Shona Croy.
In the Nett it was OGC’s Jane Nelson that took the Cup with
her 66 nett just a shot clear of Lynn Slater with a Dounby countback showdown
required to separate Audrey Poke from Tina Smith. Audrey’s 69 nett getting the
nod for third.
Mens section next and in the gross it was OGC’s in-form Lee Findlay that claimed the cup for a first time with a one under 64. Two shots back in second was Steven Rendall with a 66 while our own Denis Harvey(1) was third with a 68. Andrew Groundwater’s Lazarus-like recovery from injury was rewarded by 4th gross with his 70. All that practice on Saturday paying off…
In the nett Mike Rae’s 59 was pipped right at the end (via the beloved countback) by Stephen Shorter’s 59. Paul Robertson’s nett 60 grabbed third while the countback was deployed again for an OIC battle and it was Steven Poke who evaded the desperate lounge of Dougie Slater to slot home 4th Nett after both finished tied on 63s at full time.
Thanks to our sponsors JW Gray (mens section) for their generous and continued support and to all our visitors for taking part today. Thanks again to Rae & Lee for having the course in great condition despite the great drought of 2021.
Well that was a pleasant change: sunshine,
warmth, some pars…!
A great entry today and we’ll start with
the Juniors. Calvin Slater pipped Ewan Foubister for the gross by just a single
shot. Ewan however took the nett with his 64. Archie McDill’s 67 claimed second
while Ewan Tait took third on countback from Rhuri Wood.
In the ladies section it was also the
beloved countback that came into play favouring Nicola Sutherland’s 78 gross
over Shona Croy’s to claim 1st Gross. In the nett section scoring
was incredible. In-form Chessa Couperwhite took only third with a 64 nett. Emma
McConnachie’s 59 would walk almost any other competition but was only good
enough for second place today – harsh! But it was another in form player Jenna
McDill who added to son Archie’s Northlink winnings with a stunning 58 nett.
Half the field today played too or bettered their handicap. HC pixies will be
busy tonight in the overnight run!
Moving onto the men and it was the dual in
the sun (and fog) mark 2 as Steven Rendall and playing partner Brian Corsie
battled it out with Steven’s 2 putt birdie at the last seeing him shoot a 63
gross, one ahead of Brian who had to settle for second nett. Third nett went to
Kenny Groundwater with his 61 nett a shot clear of 5 others. But as in the
ladies it was a 58 nett that claimed the Nett cup as Ralph Stevenson returned
to form to show the Finstown boys how it is done. Brian Clouston was last
seeing heading to his living room to make sure he filled a cup!
Apologies to some who had problems with the app mid-afternoon – this was a server issue from Scottish Golf’s providers, and they’re investigating and have apologised to all clubs affected (which we were among).
Finally, a huge thank you to Northlink
Ferries for their continued support in this event. It’s hugely appreciated by
the club especially in these trying times. Thanks to Kris for organising
everything at their end and thanks to Rae and Lee for once again presenting the
course in great conditions – the scores reflected this!
Another great turnout today for the
Smithfield and JW Grays Opens with 94 men turning up and 42 ladies.
Ladies first and in the Grays it was a 63
Nett from Marlene Croy that sneaked it a shot clear from Ida Seator with
Lorraine Work & Elaine Wishart a shot behind on 65 netts. Fifth to seventh
nett required the beloved countback and it was Kay Mowat from Anne Robertson
while Jenna McDill claimed the last prize in 7th nett from Moira
Groundwater. Moira however had the last laugh by claiming the 2s kitty thanks
to her birdie at the 8th.
In the gross is was revenge for Kathleen
Sutherland as her 77 beat her victorious opponent in last week’s matchplay
Shona Croy (81) into second. Shona Slater (84) found herself promoted to 3rd
gross with Ida (82) being 2nd Nett.
In the Smithfield Open it was a tight
affair with countback being required to decide the cup. It was Birsay, Toon,
Hoy, Dounby, Stenness legend Stewart Moar that shoulder-barged poor young
Gary Harvey to the sideline after both had tied on 60 netts. In third place
Alfred ‘Olly, St Johnstone glory hunter’ Sinclair with his 61 and Davie Garson
& Andy Watt a shot further back with 62s.
In the gross it was Outertown legend Steven Rendall who eased round in 66 shots two clear of Brian Corsie and a birdie at the last saw a freshly jabbed Denis Harvey snatch third on countback from Steven Walls and Wayne Monkman.
Once again a huge thanks to both our sponsors, JW Grays and the Smithfield Hotel. Also to Rae & Lee for a course in fantastic condition.
In total 149 people played and thankfully the new app seemed to work for most ok. Don’t know why I was worried…!
Ladies first, and it was Doreen Garson fresh back from a foot injury who showed a ‘clean pair of heels’ to the field with a 87 nett 59. Ann Sinclair’s 62 would normally ‘walk’ any event but she had to settle for second this time. Anne Robertson (nett 67) and Jennifer Watt (68) can ‘put their feet up’ tonight after also beating their handicaps.
In the ladies gross it was some unknown lass from Kirkwall who surprised everyone with a 74, well done again Shona! Kathleen Sutherland was runner-up in this section with a 79 gross.
In the men’s gross it was and altogether closer affair with Kevin Peace rolling back the years and in the putts with a level par 65. This target was eventually matched late in the day by both Kenny Inkster and Steven Rendall but the beloved countback gave Kevin the cup – great to see the big man back on top the leaderboard again.
In the mens nett a frankly stunning 74 nett 58 from Finstown legend Brian Clouston (Snr!) saw him virtually fill the cup. A couple of nett 61s from OGC’s Andrew (how much did that HC cost?) Milne and David Henderson saw them on the podium while in form SGC duo Mike Rae and Martin Johnston were just a shot back. The beloved countback saw Malcolm Smart take the final nett prize from a host of fellow 63’ers.
Full results can be seen in the app or on our website.
Thanks must go firstly to our sponsors Streamline for their continued and generous support for this great event. Also, thanks to Rae and Lee our greenstaff who had the course in fantastic condition and even a couple of new tees for us to try! Thanks also to Scott & John for organising the outside refreshment area and Lianne and Moira for (wo)manning it.
Winter League is finished for 2020-21. A what a year it was! With over 50 competitiors taking part most weeks and going down to the wire in the last week.
In the end it was Denis Harvey’s steady consistancy (and ability to avoid any large handicap cuts!) that saw him claim the title just ahead of winter veterans Craig Grieve and Olly Sinclair. Denis also pipped regular playing partner Andrew Groundwater for most birdies too and to complete his triumph he pipped Angus Sutherland on countback for the eclectic after they tied on 47.
Huge thanks must go to Ronald for running this event and handling all the cash collecting and points totalling. Also thanks to Andrew for his scoring app which made it all possible.
Special rules we use just in the Winter League:
Bunkers are out of play – if you go in one you can take a free drop out of it but not nearer the hole.
Preferred lies – if your ball is on cut grass (tee, fairway, fringe, green) you can mark, clean and place your ball within 6 inches of where it lay (not nearer the hole).
Plugged lie – if your ball is plugged (broken the surface of the earth NOT just a bad lie in the rough!!!) you can lift, clean and drop the ball from knee height anywhere (inc rough). If it’s on a cut grass area you can still take a preferred lie of course.
Lost ball – if you lose your ball instead of going back you can just drop another ball in the area it was lost and add a penalty shot. So if you lost your tee shot you’d drop a ball and be playing your third shot.
