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SCOTTISH SENIORS GOLFING SOCIETY
SSGS CHAMPIONS TO THE FORE IN SELECTION FOR THE EUROS

The players to represent Scotland in this year’s European Senior Men’s Championships in France were unveiled today - in a squad dominated by SSGS members.

Royal Dornoch’s Allan Cameron, who triumphed at the West of Scotland championship at the end of July, is joined by international stalwarts Ronnie Clark, Erskine; Paul Moultrie, Royal Troon; Bryan Innes, Murcar; and Robert Jenkins, Royal Troon.

The sixth member of the team is Mark Halliday, Royal Aberdeen, who won the 2025 Spring Meeting at Moray in his first SSGS tournament.

The two reserves are Steven Armstrong, Turnhouse; and Derek Paton, Dunnikier Park.

The team will take on the cream of Europe’s senior golfers at Cabot Bordeaux from September 1-5 in what promises to be a keenly fought championship.

The Scotland team will be hoping to repeat their 2016 performance when they were crowned European champions in Slovenia.

Our heartiest congratulations to all eight players who have been selected.

AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET YOUR BODY AND MIND IN SHAPE FOR SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON

Now that the season has reached the halfway point, this is a good time to assess and potentially boost your fitness levels - not only so you can maintain form but also to guard against injury.

Mind Body Golf, the Troon-based consultancy run by Scottish Seniors Internationalist Paul Moultrie, has agreed to run another block of online fitness classes exclusively for SSGS members.  

The four, one hour-long Zoom sessions will begin this Monday, August 3 at 9:00am, with the rest following on consecutive weeks.

They are an opportunity for members to improve and maintain their fitness and flexibility for optimal performance for the remainder of the season.

All exercises taught in the sessions are designed specifically to improve the golf swing.

Members who have taken part so far have reported impressive improvement in their strength and flexibility.
Paul, the 2024 Senior Order of Merit champion, is offering SSGS members a discounted rate of £30 for all four classes.
Part of the proceeds raised from the classes is being donated to Prostate Cancer UK.

Any member who has already taken part and wants to continue, or for those wishing to join for the first time, can register by clicking HERE.

Further information about other services offered by Mind Body Golf can be found on its website www.mindbodygolf.co.uk

Note: For the avoidance of doubt, Mind Body Golf is the organisation with whom members will be interacting. Accordingly, the SSGS does not hold any liability in respect of this offer.

ON COURSE MARSHALLING AT SSGS EVENTS

Members will be aware that at some recent tournaments we have had a marshal on the course during play. The initiative for marshalling the course derived from some concerns among members about pace of play.

The committee stresses that the role of the marshal is not to single out or sanction players that may have fallen behind the group in front, but primarily to monitor overall pace of play throughout the field in order to maintain flow.
So far, the presence of a marshal has been sufficient to remind groups that have fallen behind to quicken their pace without need for warnings or players being ‘put on the clock’.
We believe that the marshalling so far has delivered positive results and we are minded to continue with this initiative when resources and manpower allow (which will not always be the case).

These days, complaints about slow play are common in virtually all golfing environments and arenas. While it is sensible to try to address this problem wherever it might arise, there is a danger of becoming overly fixated on the issue when, in reality, around four hours for a three-ball in tournament conditions is not unreasonable.

It should be noted that slow play is not defined by players having to search for lost balls. Slow play can only be measured by a player or players taking inordinate amounts of time between shots, or to play shots. For guidance, players should not delay after shots have been completed and should walk briskly between shots. A player should take no longer than 40 seconds from the time he arrives at his ball until completion of his shot (provided it is safe to play). In a three-ball, the second competitor waiting to play should take no longer than 30 seconds to complete his shot, and the third player no longer than 25 seconds.

To emphasise again, the course marshal is not there to sanction slow groups. When appropriate, his job is to politely point out to players that they may be losing too much ground to the group in front or are delaying groups coming behind them.

The presence of the marshal at any particular part of the course does not necessarily mean he is concerned about a group’s pace of play. He may just be admiring the golf before moving on!

We trust members will support this initiative and show the marshal due courtesy and respect for a job well worth doing.

Please also refer to the Pace of Play section.

SUPER SENIOR TEAMS ACQUIT THEMSELVES WELL IN EUROPEAN DEBUT

Our scratch and handicap teams finished a creditable second and seventh respectively in their first appearance at the European Society of Golf Association's international tournament in Finland.

A fantastic week was topped off with a spectacular gala finner and prize-giving for the 300 competitors at the Sveitsi Quaklity Hotel in Hyvinkaa.

The Society is grateful to the ESGA for inviting us to play and the aim now is to have teams in Portugal next year.
Unfortunately our scratch team could not claim the runner-up prize as the SSGS were guests this time around and not fully-fledged members of the ESGA.

The Super Senior teams, which were selected  for this event throught the 2025 order of merit process, are as follows:-
Scratch: Playing captain Ian Brotherston, Dumfries and County; Laurie Chancellor, Inverness; John Fraser, Royal Burgess; Lindsay Gordon, Turnhouse; David Imrie, Lundin Links; Tom McLevy, Blairgowrie.

Handicap: Brian Bingham, Royal Troon; Robin Cockburn, Gullane; Colin Halcrow, Largs; John Johnston, Wishaw; Neil McGarva, Kilmacolm; Les McLaughlin, East Kilbride; Ian Jeen, non-playing captain, New Club, St Andrews.
Our scratch and handicap teams finished a creditable second and seventh respectively in their first appearance at the European Society of Golf Association's international tournament in Finland.

A fantastic week was topped off with a spectacular gala finner and prize-giving for the 300 competitors at the Sveitsi Quaklity Hotel in Hyvinkaa.

The Society is grateful to the ESGA for inviting us to play and the aim now is to have teams in Portugal next year.
Unfortunately our scratch team could not claim the runner-up prize as the SSGS were guests this time around and not fully-fledged members of the ESGA.

The Super Senior teams, which were selected  for this event throught the 2025 order of merit process, are as follows:-
Scratch: Playing captain Ian Brotherston, Dumfries and County; Laurie Chancellor, Inverness; John Fraser, Royal Burgess; Lindsay Gordon, Turnhouse; David Imrie, Lundin Links; Tom McLevy, Blairgowrie.

Handicap: Brian Bingham, Royal Troon; Robin Cockburn, Gullane; Colin Halcrow, Largs; John Johnston, Wishaw; Neil McGarva, Kilmacolm; Les McLaughlin, East Kilbride; Ian Jeen, non-playing captain, New Club, St Andrews.


SUPER SENIORS TEAM SCORE IMPRESSIVE VICTORY OVER WALES


The Super Seniors team, captained by Ian Brotherston, found top form to defeat their Welsh counterparts at Aberdovey.

After winning all six four-ball matches on Day 1, the Scots needed only one point on Day 2 to clinch victory. Although they lost 3.5 to 2.5, the overall score of 8.5 to 3.5 The team, captained by Ian Brotherston, continued day one's fine form to seal victory against Wales on day 2 at Aberdovey. Needing only 1 point from the 6 matches, they ended with a 3.5/2.5 loss but with an overall score of 8.5/3.5 victory was ours.

Congratulations to the team on a spectacular victory, especially since it was away from home.

DUNCAN HAMILTON  - FORMER SOCIETY STALWART AND CHAMPION DIES PEACEFULLY IN AUSTRALIA

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of former SSGS stalwart Duncan Hamilton.

Duncan, who played in society events over a number of years and is a former Scotland internationalist, passed away in Australia after losing his battle with cancer.

The retired Edinburgh solicitor moved Down Under with his partner a number of years ago. He died peacefully with his two sons by his side.

As an accomplished young player, Duncan won the Lothian Boys Championship in 1976 while a member of Royal Burgess. He was also a member of Newbattle, Dunbar and Mortonhall, the latter being the club he represented while competing as a senior.

In 2015 he was jointly crowned Central Scotland Senior Champion with former international team captain Ronnie Clark.
Duncan was a Lothians County player and a member of the Mortonhall squad which won the prestigious Dispatch Trophy in 2018 and successfully defended it the following year.

Graeme Millar, one of his closest friends, s

aid: ‘It was one of Duncan’s last wishes that his ashes be spread over Braid Hills where he spent so many happy times. He will be sorely missed by his golfing companions in Australia and here in Scotland.’

GET IN SHAPE FOR THE SEASON

Following the success of Mind Body Golf’s online fitness and flexibility classes exclusively for SSGS members, founder Paul Moultrie has agreed to run two more programmes to help players get in peak shape for the start of the new season.


Members who signed up for the four weekly classes run over January into February, were full of praise for the expert tuition.

‘The exercises were challenging without being over-taxing,’ said one participant, ‘and I was impressed by the way Paul explained how each exercise related to specific movements in the golf swing.’

As before, MBG is offering two one-hour classes, one of which will run on four consecutive Mondays from 23rd February at 9am; the other on four consecutive Tuesdays from 24th February at 6.30pm.

The Troon-based consultancy is offering the classes exclusively to SSGS members at a 25% discount. Each online class (hosted via ZOOM) will be limited to a maximum of 12 players, so if you want to take advantage of this offer, sign up for the classes today!

The cost for all four sessions is only £30 and you can enrol by clicking HERE.

Any SSGS member who might prefer one-to-one fitness and flexibility tuition, or would like to take advantage of MBG’s exclusive Inner Caddie Programme - online or in person - is being offered a 10% discount on regular fees. If interested, drop an email to MBG at info@mindbodygolf.co.uk.

Further information about all services offered by MBG can be found on its website, www.mindbodygolf.co.uk
You may recall that Paul, who has been successfully treated for prostate cancer, raised around £14,000 in sponsorship from SSGS members, and the wider golfing community, for Prostate Cancer UK by running the London Marathon in 2024.

As an ongoing commitment to the charity, a percentage of all funds that Paul raises through his business interests goes to Prostate Cancer UK. Accordingly, by taking up this offer to enhance your own golf fitness and flexibility, you will be helping an organisation that supports thousands of men across the UK. (www.prostatecancerukuk.org)
            
         PRAISE FOR MIND BODY GOLF

                “The online fitness and flexibility classes run by Mind Body Golf were the ideal preparation for the new season ahead. The great thing about Paul’s instruction is that it is all golf specific. If you want the opportunity to play your best, enjoy your golf and stay injury-free, this is the way to do it”

             “The programme of exercises have made me raring to go. From Paul’s instruction, I’ve developed my own fitness plan and feel ready to give it my best shot”

Note: Mind Body Golf is the organisation with whom members will be interacting. Accordingly, the SSGS does not hold any liability in respect of this offer.
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