The Split Stane Challenge

On Saturday players gathered at Reay for the annual Split Stone Challenge which pits players from the east against players from the west in a team event. Sunny skies and a strong wind from the south-east made for pleasant but tricky playing conditions. 

Top 10 Best Caddy Responses

Golfer: "I think I'm going to drown myself in the lake."

Caddy: "Think you can keep your head down that long?"

Winter Eclectic Round 1

Saturday saw golfers at Reay competing in the first round of this years Winter Eclectic competition.  Over the coming months competitors will play six rounds over the course, with their best score recorded at each hole counting towards their final tally. In this format of competition, players are looking to accumulate as many birdies as they can, but the windswept conditions on Saturday meant these were few and far between.

Lowest score on the day was a splendid nett 65 recorded by Richard McDonald. McDonald covered the front nine in a mere 36 strokes, managing seven pars and two bogeys. A steady back nine of 37 included a solitary birdie at the par 5 14th hole. McDonald’s gross score of 73 was comfortably the lowest of the day, and gives him a solid foundation for the remaining rounds.

Cold weather expert Sandy Chisholm took second place after a nett 67. After a very successful winter campaign last season, he showed his rivals that he has lost none of his touch in the wind with a steady gross 78. Chisholm covered both halves in 39 strokes, with his solitary birdie coming at the par 4 13th hole.

Joining Chisholm on nett 67 was Willie Williamson, following his gross 85. Williamson recorded an outward half of 42, and he continued to play steady golf with an inward half of 43. A shot further back following their nett 68s were Hugh Millar who birdied the ninth, and Ian Ross who managed his solitary birdie at the 6th. The only player in the field to manage two birdies was Stuart Grieg, with a 4 at the 6th and a 2 at 9th helping him to post a fine nett 69.

October Medal

Alex Mackay became the latest player to feel the wrath of the handicap secretary’s chopper, after a spectacular performance at Reay on Saturday. Even the most optimistic of forecasters could not have predicted the calm and dry weather that met the players in the morning, and these conditions coupled with some favourable tee locations allowed several competitors to shoot low scores.

Winter League Stableford Round 1

The beginning of October heralded the start of the winter season at Reay, and players got down to serious business on Sunday with the first round of the Winter League Stableford, which was held in overcast conditions.