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.

2011 Stats

We’ve put together a few statistics taken from all the competitions since 1st April.  

There are no surprises in the course analysis, as once again, the 2nd comes out as the most difficult on the course.

Pilkington Cup and McRobert Thistle Open

The weekend saw Reay Golf Club host two events, but there was only one winner as Vice-captain Lee Parnell produced some stunning golf to claim victory on both days. On Saturday players were met with a tricky breeze and some squally showers as they contested the Pilkington Cup.

Parnell got his weekend off to a flying start with birdies at the par 4 2nd and 8th holes helping him reach the turn in 35 strokes. A poor start to the back nine was soon forgotten with further birdies at the 12th and 14th holes. Parnell saved his fifth and final birdie of the round for the last hole, draining an outrageous putt for his 2. Parnell’s back nine of 35 was good enough to secure a nett 65 which beat his nearest challenger Leslie Malcolm by a convincing 3 stroke margin. 

Malcolm has made a welcome return to Reay this season and he has made steady progress throughout the year with some good scores. Malcolm produced two halves of 43, with a birdie 3 at the 8th hole the highlight of his round. Matching him on nett 68 was club Captain Murray McGlasson after a fine round of 76 which included birdies at the 6th and 13th holes. A fine front nine of 36 had McGlasson dreaming of glory, but a disappointing back nine cost him dearly.

On Sunday Parnell managed to go two strokes better, scoring a magnificent gross 68 to win the McRobert Thistle Open. He showed no ill-effects after a night on the town celebrating his Pilkington Cup victory and got his round going with a rare eagle 2 at the par 4 3rd. Some deft chipping and putting helped him reach the turn in 34 strokes and Parnell continued to play some fine golf on the back nine. Eight pars and a birdie at the 13th hole were good enough for an inward half of 34 to secure victory by a single shot and a handicap reduction to 4.

Taking second place following a nett 64 was Grant Maxwell. A birdie at the 5th helped Maxwell reach the turn in 34, and he continued to play some fine golf with a run of 7 pars from the 10th. A unfortunate bogey, double-bogey finish spoiled the round somewhat and proved to be very costly in the final analysis.

In third place following a welcome return to form was Cammie Ross. Ross produced a fine round of 75 for a nett 66, with birdies at the 6th, 9th and 14th holes the highlights.

Autumn Texas Scramble

Players from all over the county gathered at Reay on Saturday to compete in the Doosan Babcock Texas Scramble. Windy conditions and the occasional heavy shower made things difficult for the three-man teams, but in spite of this some good scores were posted. 

September Medal

On Saturday players braved the strong winds and squally showers to contest the September Medal. 

Donald Campbell Open

On Sunday players gathered from near and far to compete in the Donald Campbell Open at Reay. The early morning showers soon gave way to sunny skies and several excellent scores were posted in the favourable scoring conditions.