John Murray

Greetings from John Murray
Moray Golf Club - PGA Golf Professional

I hope you've all had a fantastic week on and off the golf course and welcome to another exciting edition of the Moray Pro Shop weekly newsletter, bringing you up-to-date with all the latest news and gossip from within the walls of MGC.

Team news

Super Sunday

The Moray and Nairn Handicap League had its traditional climax to the season in Super Sunday which this year was hosted by Nairn Dunbar.

The day started with the outcome of the title resting between last year's winners, Moray and Hopeman looking for their first win in seven years. The draw had them facing each other but Hopeman started favourites as a win or draw would give them the trophy whilst Moray required a win. Unfortunately that small margin was to prove decisive!!

Moray had the overall edge for much of the afternoon but it was Hopeman who got the first points on the board when Chris MacKenzie at the top of his game scored an early point which was then followed by Wayne Jeynes winning 3/2.

Dave Clarence in a tight game that finished on the last green also got the better of his Moray opponent until Richard Denning opened the Moray team’s account. With Moray’s Stephen Houston, James Stephen and Terry Scholefield all being in control of their matches, the outcome was always going to hinge on Hopemans team captain, Ernie Hayes against our very own team captain, Ben Whitefoot.

Super Sunday - All Teams Ready to Rumble!!

The game was close all the way but one up with one to play in Hopeman’s favour, a half on the par 5 eighteenth was enough to give a final 4-4 score line and Hopeman were celebrating their first League win since 2010.

Unlucky to the Moray team who made a great last match and came so close to snatching victory in the final match. Hopefully they can go one better in 2018!!

Product spotlight

New Titleist Irons

This week I had a visit from my Titleist Rep to show me the new range of Irons which are coming very soon. We are expecting our fitting heads and new shafts in the next 2 weeks which will allow us to start custom fitting and taking preorders before the official release date of October 2nd.

I was lucky enough to take these down to the range for a hit. There is a new AP1, AP2, AP3, CB and MB in the range as well as the option to have a full set of T-MB Irons if you have a spare £1400!!!

I did love the feel of the T-MB’s but im not sure how many people are likely to look at these based on their price!!

The usual irons in the range all looked great and with some new shaft options available and plenty tungsten weight in the AP range, it makes these incredibly stable and forgiving irons.

The new AP3 was probably the iron which stood out for me which looked very similar to the AP2 in looks (slightly more offset and slightly longer from toe to heel) but felt far more forgiving on off centre strikes (I can definitely vouch for that!!)

The new AP1 are expected to be £699 for a 7 Iron Set while the AP2/AP3 are expected to be nearer £899 for 7 sticks.

Look out in the next couple of weeks for these heads arriving into the shop and we will carry out some testing of our own using our GC2 launch monitor.

Click here if you would like to request a fitting.

Capro Cup

Final Qualifying Event

There is now a short break until the final qualifying event of the season to make the Capro Cup team! The last event will be the September Monthly Medal on Saturday, 30 September with the event taking place on Sat/Sun, 14/15 October.

Click here to view the scores after last weekend’s qualifying event.

If anyone is in the running for qualification but will not be able to make the 2 days, please contact me to let me know ASAP. I will also be starting to make preparations for the event so will need everyone's top size in adidas (If unsure please try a top on in the shop as once ordered this can’t be changed for the event).

Golf day

Castle Stuart Members Away Day

I have now also received good news from Castle Stuart that we can have 28 places for our proposed Members Golf Day on Saturday, 23 September. The cost of the trip will be £90 per person which will include the following:

- Coffee & Bacon Roll on arrival
- Free Practice Balls
- Free Push Trolley
- Goody Bag
- Greenfee - Tee Times 12.40-1.40
- Choice of Main Meal after round
- Entry into Stableford Competition with prizes for best 2 stableford scores

We are also checking on the cost of having a bus pick up drop off from Moray GC on the day which we will confirm ASAP.

Anyone wishing to secure their place should drop in their £90 to the shop and also let us know if they would like the bus or are happy to arrange their own transport.

Unfortunately this date has clashed with a wedding in attending so I'm not going to be able to come along but in my place will be our resident Assistant PGA Professional Derek Ramsay who will look after things on the day.

Shop news

Shirt Amnesty

We are continuing to run our own shirt amnesty which will basically allow you to hand in any old golf shirt and get £10 OFF a new one (preferably clean shirts please!!). We will hand all old shirts into a local charity shop and you can refresh your wardrobe so a win win for everyone!!

As we have very little in ladies offerings this year, check out the Glenmuir website and we will offer 20% discount on any items on their website (excluding sale items)

Double Up with TaylorMade Golf

We have a great promotion in-store this month which gives our customers a double trade up price. We will basically get you a golfbidder quote for your current product. TaylorMade will then double up this offer when buying any M Series Driver, Fairway or Hybrid.

Come in past the shop and have a chat about this promotion and see what we can do for you!

This promotion will run until the 14th September so be quick!!

Moray Bonus Ball Draw

This week we have a 4 ball voucher for 2017/2018 season for Royal Dornoch up for grabs at £10 per ticket (59 numbers available).

All money taken from this draw will be put towards our proposed 2 bay undercover practice facility which we hope to put up in the next couple of months.

Competition news

Murray Finally Gets Hands on Bookless Cup

Moray member, Graham Murray finally got his name engraved on the Bookless Cup which is presented to the leading amateur at the Northern Open.

Congratulations Graham and hopefully you can defend your Title next year when the event is hosted at The Nairn Golf Club.

Monthly Medal [6] (CSS 73)

Division 1
D. A. Edwards (7) 65; R. Duncan (7), P. McPherson (3) 67; K. Herd (4) 68; R. Webster (5), M. M. Macleman (4), D. Fletcher (5), B. Stewart (7) 69; S. R. Little (4) 70; M. Atherton (9) 71; Jo Edwards (1), N. Stables (2), K. Thomson (0) 72

Dvision 2
D. Gee (21) 67; G. D. Adam (18) 68; S. M. Phillips (16) 69; G. J. Madigan (14), R. Hornby (11) 70; M. Murgatroyd (17) 71; J. Dennis (11) 72; H. Flett (13), J. S. Flett (11) 73

Magic 2’s were worth £4.82 to the following players:
N Stables, E Devine, SS Little, R Duncan, G Devine, A Casey, JR Souter, JW Stephen, A Dunn, DA Edwards, J Edwards, SJ Houston, P McHardy, K Thomson (2), WE Macleman, AJM Cameron, G Masson, JC Macgregor, Sean Phillips, Sandy Mitchell, Charles W Stewart

Seniors section

Stewart Lyon Financial Services - Senior Open (CSS H. 73; V. 74)

Scratch Section
M. M. Macleman 73; J. Grant (Royal Montrose), I. Angus (DHR) 77;
M. J. Dean 78.

Handicap Section
J. D. Murray (Banchory) (12) 68; R. E. Little (11), C. A. Harper (Inverness) (8) 70; B. Bathgate (8), B. Colwell (Maverston) (16) 71; S. Mitchell (10), D. Main (Buckpool) (11) 72; A. Cowie (10), C. Adams (Cruden Bay) (14), B. D. M. K. Munro (Newmachar) (16), I. J. McKenzie (6), J. G. Doherty (18) 73

Senior Stableford [5] (CSS 70)

G. M. Stewart (12) 40pts; J. G. Doherty (18) 38pts; S. Low (9), J. Murdoch (11), R. E. Little (10) 35pts; A. G. Neish (12), J. W. Stephen (6) 34pts; A. Cowie (10) 33pts

Magic 2’s were worth £4.50 to the following players:

Jim Doherty, Steve Low, RE Little, Alan Cowie, Roy Crane, GM Stewart

Ladies section

Ladies Autumn Cup (CSS 78)

D. Crane (19) 33pts; S. Harding (33) 30pts; D. Bethune (21) 29pts; I. Smith (18), I. Wilson (19) 27pts

Ladies 9 Hole Stableford

Ashleen Pickthall - 19pts
Sarah Harding - 18pts
Joan Pratt - 18pts
Jennifer Campbell - 17pts
Anne Souter - 16pts

Rule of the week

Bob's third shot to the 2nd green old finished on the green to the right side. He left his trolley on top of the bank and went forward to study his putt from behind the hole. Walking back to his ball he noticed that his trolley had moved down the slope and collided with his ball. Bob turned to Stuart and asked because the wind caused my trolley to move does that mean I have to play from where the wind had moved my ball.

Unfortunately Stuart had to disappoint Bob by explaining that it was his trolley, which is Bob’s equipment, and not the wind that moved his ball and under Rule 18-2 he incurred a penalty stoke and had to replace his ball.