MONTHLY TERN
Green is the word! P2
Course Manager, Matty Smith updates us on the course conditions
NCG Top 100s Tour Comes to Newburgh for Aberdeenshire Swing
A Highlight of the Aberdeenshire Swing with Top-Class Golf and Hospitality
On Wednesday, September 18th, Newburgh Golf Club had the honour of hosting the NCG Top 100s Tour as part of their highly anticipated Aberdeenshire Swing.
The tour, which also featured rounds at Trump International, Duff House Royal, and Fraserburgh, is the UK’s premier series of competitive events for club golfers. All tournaments take place at courses ranked on the prestigious NCG Top 100s list, providing players with a unique opportunity to compete on some of Britain’s most acclaimed golf courses.
The event attracted players from across the UK, all of whom were treated to the full tournament experience, complete with live scoring throughout the 18 holes. In addition, there were on-course competitions such as nearest the pin challenges, adding a layer of excitement to the day. The Newburgh course, with its stunning coastal views and challenging layout, was praised by many of the participants.
Matt Coles, the tournament organiser, expressed his satisfaction with the event, stating, "All our players really enjoyed the day, and the feedback I received was overwhelmingly positive." He also commended Newburgh’s greenkeeping team for their excellent work in preparing the course.
Coles is eager to share more about the day at Newburgh on the NCG Top 100 website, which will feature images of the golf course, practice areas, clubhouse, bar setting, and indoor simulator. This event at Newburgh will surely be remembered as a standout in this year’s NCG Top 100s Tour.
Convenor,
Burness,
Matty's Season Round-up
End of Season Update and Winter Preparations at Newburgh Links
As the summer months begin to leave us and we approach the end of our competition season at Newburgh Links, it’s hard to believe how quickly the months have flown by..
We hope you have all enjoyed your time on the course, taking advantage of the beautiful weather and the engaging challenges our summer competitions have presented.
With only a few weeks left before we transition into our winter season, we are excited to announce the launch of our winter nutrition package in collaboration with Gro Green. Their expertise has been instrumental in helping us achieve our goal of maintaining healthy turf, ensuring that our greens remain in prime condition throughout the colder months.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be welcoming Chris Pearson for a deep aeration of the greens, followed by solid tining and top dressing. This proactive approach is designed to maintain the health of our greens as we prepare for winter. The improvements we’ve seen in recent seasons show the effectiveness of these practices.
Course Manager
In terms of winter projects myself, Kenny Dooley (Managing Director at OGV Group) and Robbie Stewart (Director of Golf) will be having a chat in the middle of October to discuss what we will be looking to do over the winter period and a plan will be put in place after that.
Winter golf offers a unique experience that allows players to enjoy the game in a different way. While the conditions may vary, playing during the colder months can provide a refreshing break from the routine summer golfing rounds. We understand the challenges it can face but we have many things in place that ensure you will continue enjoying your golf over the winter months here at Newburgh Links.
Elsewhere, we recently hosted the NCG Top 100 event, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. As well as that we also received positive feedback from participants in the Winter Alliance event on September 25th. The praise we’ve received this year, not just for the course but for everything happening at the club, is incredibly encouraging.
Matty Smith
Credit: Jay Dobson
Feedback has played, and will continue to play, an important role in our continuous improvement at Newburgh Links. The positive responses not only help confirm the hard work we’ve put in but also provide valuable insight into areas where we can further improve. As we move into the winter season, we encourage everyone to share their thoughts.
It’s remarkable to reflect on the progress we've made in our first year under the OGV Group. Many have noted the transformation of the club from this time last year, and I couldn’t be prouder of the hard work and dedication demonstrated by both the Newburgh staff and the OGV team.
As we prepare for winter, we will be establishing winter greens in new areas to better protect the surrounding approaches. This is crucial for maintaining the quality of our playing surfaces during adverse weather conditions. It’s important to remember that winter greens allow you to continue enjoying the game, and we will aim to keep them in play for as little time as necessary. Your understanding and support during this transition are greatly appreciated.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us at Newburgh Links. Your support, enthusiasm, and engagement have been vital in making this season a memorable one. As we prepare for the winter season, we are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. We look forward to continuing our efforts to enhance the course and provide you with a top of the range golfing experience.
Cheers, Matty
Top tips... Robbie Newburgh Links Members See Great Results Following Winter Golf Lessons
Club updates from your PGA Director of Golf, Robbie Stewart...
As the summer golf season winds down and we prepare for the colder months ahead, there’s never been a better time for our members to consider taking a golf lesson.
With the winter season just around the corner, it’s the perfect opportunity to work on your game in preparation for next year’s competitions. Whether you’re a seasoned player or someone who hasn’t thought about lessons in a while, investing some time in improving your skills this winter could make all the difference.
For those of you who might not typically consider a golf lesson, recent results from the club competitions highlight just how beneficial a little bit of instruction can be. In the recent Newburgh Ace Medal competition, 5 out of the 6 leading scores came from members who had received lessons from our resident pro, Robbie Stewart. Of those, 4 golfers had booked putting lessons – showing just how much a little extra focus on one aspect of your game can translate into better scores on the course.
One of the most notable success stories is Club Champion Paul Marshall, who recently booked an on-course lesson with Robbie. After his session, Paul shared his positive experience: “Hadn't had a golf lesson in quite a while, so decided to go and see my old coach Robbie Stewart now that he’s back in the area. With over 40 years of experience playing and teaching the game, his advice is easy to understand, and he knows the game of golf and the golf swing inside out. As well as some physical changes, he also helped me with some course management and decision-making issues I’d been having. I’m feeling quite positive again.”
Robbie’s decades of experience in the game, combined with a deep knowledge of the golf swing, allow him to offer tailored advice that’s easy to understand and apply. From physical adjustments to strategy on the course, Robbie’s lessons are designed to help you unlock your potential.
So why not take advantage of the winter months and give it a go? Whether you’re struggling with your putting or looking to improve your overall game, a lesson could be just the thing to get you back on track.
Book your lesson today and see for yourself the difference it can make when the next competition rolls around!
Junior Autumn Camp
15th- 17th October 9:30am - 11:00 am
Age 8+/£45 per junior
To reserve your spot contact the Pro Shop 01358 789058
newburghlinks@tgigolf.com
Putting and Prosecco proves to be a great hit with ladies!
A very successful ‘Putting and Prosecco’ event was held on Saturday 14 September for potential new female members.
Over 20 women attended and were put through their paces on the putting green by Robbie Stewart with Robbie M assisting. A raffle was also run by existing women members and the funds raised will go towards holding more events in the future. Thanks to all who helped to make the event such a success but a particular shout out to Frances Watson for being the driving force and Vicky and her staff for looking after us so well on the day.
Feedback from the event has been very positive and we are hopeful that a number of the attendees will eventually make it onto the course without requiring alcohol as an incentive!
Newburgh welcomes the North East Alliance
A warm and sunny autumn day with no wind gave perfect scoring conditions at Newburgh as we hosted the fourth meeting of the North East Alliance season.
The course was in superb condition with fast smooth greens and had no defence against Alliance protagonist Kevin Duncan - Professional from Deeside Golf Club in firing an excellent bogey free round of 67(-5). Kevin had 5 birdies at 1,3,15,17,18 which was good enough to win by 3 shots from amateur player Ian Still (Marshall Leisure - Craibstone Golf) on 70(-2).
The Alliance committee and players thanked Newburgh Golf Club for stepping in at short notice due to Ellon Golf Club not being able to host at the last minute.
Members' subscriptions and green fees 2025
Following lengthy discussions regarding the fees for next season, the annual cost of full membership will increase by £50 from £675 to £725.
This figure was reached after discussing several aspects including local competition, value for money, and importantly allowing for further investment in the future growth of the golf course and golf club. This, of course, includes our senior members who, as previously agreed, will now pay the same annual subscription as full members of the club. We hope you agree that this is an acceptable and realistic figure and that it continues to provide real value for all members. The other membership categories will be set at similar appropriate levels.
The winter membership for 2024/2025 will be set at £229 and will run from October 21st 2024 to March 28th 2025. As in previous years we hope that many of our winter members will upgrade to full membership at the end of the winter season and if they do, they will receive a discount of £200 from their full membership fees.
The green fees for 2025 will be as follows :-
May - September, Round £110 - 4-Ball £360
After 2.00pm, Round £75 - 4-Ball £240
April & October, Round £75 - 4-Ball £240
Congratulations to Lorraine Gosling who won our main raffle prize on the day.
£150 Voucher for Good Grace Laser in Aberdeen for either Laser Tattoo Removal or Skin Rejuvenation.
Club News
Les Simpson Invitational
The Les Simpson Invitational was held on 20th September.
It was a very successful event due primarily to the excellent organising by Les and his ability to persuade people to dig deep into their pockets.
The grand sum of £860 was raised for the Captain’s fund and the bar was kept busy until late in the evening so it was a good day all round for Newburgh Links.
Thanks must go to Les for his ongoing support of the club and for recently stepping up to join the committee. I’m sure he will make a big impact and keep us all on our toes!
Well
done to all our winners!
3 Club-9 Hole!
The 3 club competition was resurrected on Wednesday 18th September.
This used to be a fixture on the calendar but has been missing for a few years. The 'regulars' (men and women) who golf on a Wednesday evening along with a few additions had a sociable 9 holes and some refreshments afterwards. There was impressive scoring considering the limitation in club selection- obviously some excellent shot making skills from our winners Diane Paul and Brian Harper who achieved 18 and 19 points respectively.
Thanks to all who supported the event and hopefully we can make this a fixture on the calendar.
• 9-9.45 meet in clubhouse for registration and tea/coffee/rolls
• 10 am shotgun start. Teams of 4 competing for Greenkeeper’s Trophy.
• Meal (final details tbc)
• Presentation of prizes approximately 3pm.
If you wish to attend the meal and prizegiving but your clubs are already in storage for winter, please call the pro shop or email so that we have accurate numbers for catering. Prize winners are listed below and hopefully all will be able to collect their trophy in person. If you are not able to be present please email or call the pro shop to submit your apologies.
As it is a shotgun start booking will administered by the pro shop rather than through BRS and entries will be taken from 10 October. Starting holes will be drawn by the Proshop. Looking forward to a good turn out on the day from winners and supporters and hoping for better weather than last year!
Men
Club Championship
Club Championship Handicap
Air Control Entech Trophy
Spring Open Class 1 Shield
The Mackinlay’s Golf Shield
Winter League (Leslie Cup)
Winter Eclectic
Lifeboat Shield
Horn Cup
Captain’s Medal
Loutit Medal
George Gray Cup
Dunn Challenge
Newburgh Ace
King Eider Trophy
Tuesday Stableford
Tuesday Medal (Jopp Cup)
Foveran Trophy
Thomson/Allan
Henderson Cup
Gallows Hill Pairs
Sandy Penny Eclectic
Donald Webster Stableford League
Webster Ross Cup
Ian Barron Memorial Trophy
Jack McRobbie Memorial Trophy
Briggle’s Shield
Club Championship
Strokeplay Championship
Bronze Championship
Walker Cup
Eclectic Ronald Harvey Salver
Stableford Final Quaich
Medal Final
Sandy Penny Quaich
Rose Moroney Challenge
Rosebowl
Allan Quaich
Esslemont Cup
Headmasters Trophy
Loving Cup
Women
Paul Marshall
Kyle Marshall
Brian Andrew
Robert Davidson
Michael Millar
Graham Watson
Derek Mulgrew
Nick Bannister
Keith F. Watson
Scott Bishop
Dave Brereton
Alan Moroney
John McKinney
Alan Cruickshank
Graham Lowe
Brian Harper
Derek Mulgrew
Ewan Aiken
Vince Stewart
Dave Burness
Robert Carr & Barry Moir
Steven Sharp
Stuart Mitchell
Robert Davidson
Chris Duncan
Brian Docherty
Ross Webster
Lynda Carnie
Lynda Carnie
Diane Paul
Sharlene Anderson
Shelley Johnstone
Frances Watson
Lynda Carnie
Lynda Carnie
Irene Waddell
Frances Watson
Kim Topping & Lynda Carnie
Frances Watson
Mixed
See you on the 19th
Diane Paul & Cameron Dixon
Ladies
Seniors Club Competitions are nearing conclusion.
Our Seniors club champion is the player with the best 4 NET scores from our 7 monthly strokeplay medals
The winner also has the honour of having his name added to the list of Seniors champions’ board.
Our 2024 winner is Brian Thomson who triumphed on a score of 283, maintaining his one stroke lead from M/s Burness and Docherty each of whom were unable to claw back the one stroke deficit in their final rounds on 2 October. Such was Brian T’s confidence in retaining his lead, he was sunning himself on the Island of Kos as the also-rans sought in vain to make up ground. Congratulations once again Brian, a worthy and popular winner.
The prize for the best 4 from 7 GROSS scores was scooped by your very own Seniors Convener, Dave Burness on a 4-round total of 300. This victory comes with an unlimited supply of Pro V1’s from the Pro shop …..well, maybe not.
The final round of the Stableford competition takes place on Wednesday 16 October. Wily old Dave Philip holds a narrow 1 shot lead on 141, 1 ahead of John Stewart. The trailing pack still has all to play for as is demonstrated by the image below.
Seniors “away days”
Banchory Open
Some of the Senior’s “gang” (pictured) visited Banchory for their Open on 4 September. In damp conditions. Alan Cruickshank had the best score of the group with 35 points, alas just coming up shy of the prizes.
Onwards to Montrose on Friday 6 September where Brian Docherty picked up 3rd prize in Division 1 with an impressive 37 points. Foregoing the healthy options Brian plumped for the full Scottish breakfast before his round, bypassing the practise range, and swears it’s the way forward. Was a great day as can be seen from the picture attached.
The following Friday a small(er) posse rocked up to Peterculter. Whilst a great day was had sadly there were no golfing rewards….although Grant Leslie did win £50 in the raffle. Woop woop.
PWG Open
Patrick Woolridge Gordon3 October 2024
Aglorious sunny day welcomed 92 Gents Seniors from far and wide. The course was (again) in immaculate condition and our thanks go to Matty and his team for presenting the course in its very best light for members and visitors alike.
The positive feedback particularly from visiting players will only enhance our growing reputation locally.
Newburgh unless stated otherwise
Seniors Winter Open
Thursday 14 November
Best to make hay when the sun shines – and whilst the course/greens are still immaculate - and so we have an early Seniors Winter Open scheduled for Thursday 14 November. Entry is £10 for members and £15 for visitors. Play will be restricted due to the shortage of daylight, so best to book early.
As with our Summer Opens, booking is via the club Website (Golf Opens/VISITORS) or by phoning the Pro Shop on 01358 789058 option 1. And again, we will hold a raffle to support Senior funds.
The all-important PWG Trophy, awarded to the best placed Newburgh player, was won by Peter Scott. Well done Peter.
Thanks to the generosity of our members in donating a raft** of raffle prizes, a grand total of £318 was amassed towards Senior funds. Thanks to Norman Stephen for organising.
**for clarity, no-one donated a raft ��
Seniors prizegiving
Thursday 5 December 2024
Afitting culmination to what I believe was a very positive and satisfying 2024 golf season. We’ve come a long way in a very short period. I hope as many of you as possible will attend.
A “save the date” email was issued to members previously. Further communications with regard to time, menu choices, cost etc. will be issued by email – if not already done – along with a request for names of attendees, meal choices etc.
At the time of going to print we are finalising the menu and awaiting costs from the caterers.
Seniors AGM
Monday 18 November 2024
See how I neatly segwayed into this? Our annual Seniors AGM will be held in the clubhouse on Monday 18 November.
The AGM will be preceded by a front 9 hole Irish Stableford team competition which will be a SHOTGUN START at 09:00 so all players arrive back at the clubhouse around the same time for refreshments, tea/coffee etc.
1st Wullie Dyker (37)
Michael Gray (40) Alford
2nd Kenny Lyon (36 BIH) Peter Scott (39)
3rd Brian Cumming (36 BIH)
Derek Ball (38)
4th Graeme Ingram (36) Ballater
Michael Millar (37) Torphins
Nearest Pins
5th Roy Roxburghe (Deeside) 16th Colin Parker
Winter is coming... Buchan Seniors
And with that we have our newly devised Seniors Winter Calendar It proved to be a fruitful day for our players when the Buchan Seniors visited Ellon on 5 September
All senior member should now have received an email from myself with our upcoming Seniors Winter calendar.
You’ll see that I’ve added a few new Team competitions to the mix, namely Yellow Ball Challenge, Conveners challenge and a Double Irish. Specific colour coded scorecards will be provided for each of these new team competitions. Don’t worry, your starter on the day will keep you right. I hope you enjoy and look forward to having your feedback in due course.
We will re-introduce our own Seniors handicap system for the Winter season 2024 – 2025. Your Seniors Winter handicap will be maintained in accordance with our WINTER HANDICAP RULES which was issued to Senior members by email.
In damp/dreich conditions Vinnie Stewart secured 4th place in Div 1 with 36 points, whilst podium places were also bagged by Bill Dowie in Div 2 (3rd –36pts) and Brian Andrew 5th in Div 3 with 37 points.
The final test of the season was The Kelman Cup played at Cruden Bay. Well done to Ken Johnston for his 3rd place in Div 2 (15-19) with a net score of 71 (17).
On the accumulated prize money list, Newburgh wilted in the last few outings to 6th place with a season total of £270. Cruden Bay led the field with an amassed fund of £415.
Our current Buchan Seniors rep, Bobby McClymont, (pictured) who has been in post for many years, will step down from this role at the end of the season and I’d like to thank Bobby for his dedication and hard work over those many years. His tenure saw many highs, most recently Captaining the side to a marvellous House of Commons victory in 2022. He’ll be a hard act to follow but follow we must.
This leaves a vacancy of Buchan Seniors club representative to fill and nominations are sought ahead of our forthcoming AGM in November. More on that below. If you’d like to be considered for that role, or you’d like to learn more about what it entails please feel free to contact Bobby McClymont direct or drop me an email on dave.b136@sky.com. We’d love to hear from you.
And finally….
It’s been a hectic few months since I assumed the mantle of Seniors Convener. I’m not going to lie…..it’s been a testing period and has taken more of my time than I originally envisioned. But on the plus side it’s been a (largely) enjoyable and rewarding experience.
I and your hardworking committee endeavour to do our very best for you, our Senior members at NOYGC, but if there are areas for improvement going forward then please do not hesitate to drop me a (constructive) email at dave.b136@sky.com
Assuming I’m re-elected at the forthcoming AGM
Dave Burness Seniors Convenor
