Caddie Golf Tours

A wonderful weekend of golf lies ahead of your St. Andrews caddie. The first of the premier annual amateur competitions begins this Saturday with the St. Rule Trophy.  This is played by the leading lady amateur golfers from across Great Britain, Europe and the rest of the world that have a handicap of 4 or better. In this years event I shall be caddying for one of Scotland's bright young talents, Laura Murray. We met in this very event in 2007, when I was caddying for the British Ladies Amateur Champion, Heather MacRae, Laura played in our grouping and then was once again in our trio of players for the 2008 tournament, both times with her father carrying her bag. I met Laura in earlier this year, in March, at the Scottish Golf Show  and it was there that she asked if I would be interested in working for her during the St. Rule Trophy. I truly jumped at the chance. The opportunity to work with one these great young Scottish golfers cannot be turned down and it always adds interest,

The former British Amateur Champion, 2005, Heather McRae who is now working as an assisitant professional at the wonderful Gullane Golf Course, based forty minutes south of Edinburgh, has played herself into a starting spot in the Scottish PGA Championship to be played at Gleneagles in June. Heather lined up at the qualifier, played over Downfield Golf Club in Dundee, and was one of 47 to get through the 18 hole shoot out, which will make her the first women golfer to contest the Scottish PGA since 1933. I caddied for Heather during the 2007 season at St. Andrews in the St. Rule Trophy, one of top level amateur tournaments held during the golf season, finishing a respectable 10th. We then went on to play at the final qualifying over the New Course at St. Andrews for the Ladies British Open eventually won by Lorena Ochoa and in the resurrected Scottish Ladies Open played at the Carrick on Loch Lomond. The Scottish PGA will be a great event and all the better for having Heather McRae to

The Swiss Open , the first proper Ladies European Tour event, was completed today and I am really pleased to report that three of the Scottish Rookies performed admirably, making the cut as well as earning a few thousand Euros for their efforts. The top placed of the Scottish girls was, the very focused, St. Andrews protege Krystle Caithness who finished tied for 18th on -6. The wonderful Michele Thomson, former Scottish Amateur Champion,  followed with a tied position of 35th at -1 and Pamela Feggans finished with a score of +1 and a tie for 44th. This will give these girls a massive confidence boost, completing four rounds in their first professional tournament and finishing so well. They all now know that they can compete at this level so I would hope that this experience will stand them in good stead for the forthcoming events. Well done all.  

In what must be the first time for many years Scotland will have six representatives taking part in Deutsche Bank Swiss Ladies Open, in what is effectively the opening tournament of the Ladies European Tour (LET). The super six are LET stalwarts, over the last 3 years, Lynn Kenny and Clare Queen who will be joined by no less than four LET rookie who include Michele Thomson, Krystle Caithness, Vikki Laing and Pamela Feggans. All of the girls have been working real hard over the winter with Michele winning her first professional tournament during April, in Florida. We wish them all well and for a really good start to the golf season.

The legendary American golfer Mr. Arnold Palmer is to play the Old Course, St. Andrews, on Thursday 7th May in what will be his 80th year. Mr. Palmer will be playing in the annual Spring Meeting of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club (R&A) which begins on the Old Course on Monday morning. His playing partners are the current Captain of the R&A Mr. H. Ritchie and five time British Amateur Champion Mr. M. Bonnalack. Unfortunately I am not caddying for Mr. Palmer (drats!) but my good friend 'Eck' has been given the honour of following in the footsteps of the revered St. Andrean caddy Tip Anderson who caddied for Mr. Palmer over 40 years when he played in Great Britain. Together they won numerous events along with two back to back Open Championships in 1961 / 62. When I asked 'Eck' what he was hoping from the round he replied " As long as I get him over the bloody Swilcan Burn & on the green I'll be delighted"! I shall naturally be in position to see