You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Friday 6th August 20<strong>21</strong><br />
Beyond Level O, not quite sure I know what that means but after 18 months of Covid does anyone<br />
really know quite where we are with legislation, rules and guidance - or what the difference is<br />
between any of them! You will find more detail on our interpretation later in the newsletter and I<br />
urge you all to open the document and read what we have in place as I feel it will be this way for<br />
many weeks to come.<br />
The Carnegie Shield starts on Sunday and the first of our overseas players arrived using the new<br />
“full vaccinaction no quarantine” system. They have all said the process was much simpler and<br />
straight forward than they expected so if you are considering travelling then this shouldn’t be a<br />
barrier.<br />
Not Quite Level O<br />
The good news from the First Minister this week was that many of the<br />
proposed changes to the lockdown rules and legislation will go ahead as<br />
planned from Monday 9th August.<br />
This means that pins and rakes can be handled freely, water fountains<br />
are back in use as are the Halfway House toilets (even when the HWH is<br />
closed) and the new toilets on the Struie Course.<br />
In the Clubhouse there is no longer a limit on the number of people and<br />
households at each table and the maximum capacity of 50 people in the<br />
lounge has been removed but please do use common sense and respect<br />
other peoples personal space.<br />
However, Track and Trace is still mandatory, as are masks when you<br />
stand up and move about and table service is still in operation. So please<br />
wait to be seated when you arrive and please follow the directions given<br />
by the staff.<br />
The locker rooms and drying rooms will be open but the showers will<br />
remain closed.<br />
It is great to have most of the freedom back again but please ensure you<br />
follow the rules that are still in place.<br />
For the full list of available services and rules that we are operating under<br />
from Monday please read this document.<br />
PAGE 1
Annual General Meeting<br />
As highlighted previously the AGM has been postponed until Friday 15th<br />
October.<br />
This is the start of the Captain’s Weekend which is a 3 day member<br />
only event and so hopefully this change will encourage many of you to<br />
participate in that as well as attend the AGM. The entry form is in the<br />
Annual Report which was emailed to you but you can also download the<br />
report here and the entry form here.<br />
Golf Environment Org.<br />
Don’t forget that whenever you are out and about, whether playing or just<br />
having a walk, and you see a different plant or flower, some insects, birds<br />
or wildlife take a picture and send it to me with permission to use it. If you<br />
don’t have your phone or camera just drop me an email with what you<br />
saw and where it was.<br />
This information gathering will be added to our portfolio for our next<br />
inspection and help the GEO understand the difference our efforts have<br />
made.<br />
All our greenstaff are trained to do this as well so between us all we will<br />
be able to provide as wide a range of information as possible.<br />
Speed of Play - Etiquette<br />
Whether you wish to play quickly, or take your time to smell (and<br />
photograph) the flowers, it is not a problem as the game is for you to<br />
enjoy at your own speed.<br />
While we are doing that we should also be aware of others on the course<br />
and our relative position to them.<br />
Letting faster groups through is not a sign that we are poor golfers or they<br />
have any superiority over us, instead it shows good manners and golfing<br />
etiquette which will help both groups enjoy their game.<br />
Please be aware of where you are and let faster groups past, whoever<br />
they may be.<br />
Rotary Club - Duck Race<br />
Sunday 5th September - The Rotary Club of East Sutherland are<br />
delighted that the Duck Race is on this year. If you want to watch 2000<br />
plastic ducks float down the River Brora to see which one reaches the<br />
sea first then make sure you are on the bridge at Brora just before 1pm.<br />
If you would like to sponsor a duck or two you can do so by popping into<br />
Linda’s Cafe in Brora, most days in the Brora Co-op Car Park between<br />
16th August and 4th Sept, until12.30 on the day at the Brora Bridge or by<br />
contacting Alistair Risk email@alistairrisk.me.uk<br />
PAGE 2
Track and Trace<br />
Even though we are “Beyond Level 0” of Lockdown you MUST still book<br />
a tee time, check in with the Pro Shop and start from the 1st hole as<br />
Track and Trace remains mandatory for everything and everyone.<br />
Signing in is also still mandatory in the Clubhouse and you can do this<br />
using the NHS Scotland App or by writing your name, phone number and<br />
time of arrival on the sheets provided. Please remember to CHECK OUT/<br />
SIGN OUT when you leave the Clubhouse as failure to do this may result<br />
in you being contacted by the NHS for track and trace purposes if a case<br />
is identified on the day you were in the Clubhouse whether you were in<br />
the building at that time or not.<br />
Clubhouse Bar & Catering<br />
The times of opening are available here. Please remember that prior<br />
booking is mandatory for all facilities along with supplying the names of<br />
all players. All the rules are available for you to read here.<br />
Hours of Service<br />
Food - 10am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 6pm from<br />
Friday to Sunday. Filled rolls are available from the bar outwith<br />
these times but only if preordered.<br />
You can find the current menu here.<br />
Latest COVID -19 rules<br />
Bar - 10am to 8pm Monday to Sunday<br />
Welcoming Visitors<br />
Royal Dornoch has a reputation around the world for being a friendly and<br />
welcoming club where members take an interest in those who have taken<br />
the time to come and play our courses. This is not a recent thing and if<br />
you read our history book will realise it is something that has gone on<br />
since the formation of the Club.<br />
I have had a couple of reports recently of some visitors feeling that they<br />
were not made to be as welcome as they expected. For many of us<br />
the reason we are here is that we were once visitors and enjoyed the<br />
experience so much that we decided to join so I hope that we can all take<br />
some time to make unfamiliar faces feel at home whenever we are at the<br />
club or on the courses.<br />
Golf in the Olympics<br />
Congratulations to Xander Schauffele on winning the Gold medal in the<br />
mens event and as I write the Womens event is entering the final round<br />
with Nelly Korda leading by 3 shots. You can follow all the scores here<br />
and find out who wins that Gold medal.<br />
PAGE 3
Junior Results - 5th August<br />
B Section 9 Holes Black Tees<br />
1st Freddie Gruber (17) 26, 2nd James MacKinnon (24) 32, 3rd Innes<br />
McAffer (12) 33<br />
B+ Section 9 Holes Yellow and Red Tees<br />
1st= Jasmine Riordan (23) 29, 2nd Liam Vass (17) 31, 3rd Boris Pavlenko<br />
(29) 35<br />
Junior success at Nairn<br />
Our A Section Juniors, Angus McFall, Erin Holden, Jamie Riordan,<br />
Mikayla MacKay, Rhianna MacKay, Ruaridh Holden took part in the<br />
Junior Open at Nairn, travelling down as a team from Royal Dornoch with<br />
Gary Dingwall and Mark McFall.<br />
The hospitality provided throughout the day from everyone at Nairn Golf<br />
Club, full use of the facilities at the range and in the clubhouse made for<br />
an enjoyable day for them all, as did the wonderful weather!<br />
All Juniors thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity of playing the course,<br />
some for the first time, which was found to be playing well and in such<br />
great condition.<br />
Mikayla MacKay leading the U14 Handicap event and U18 Handicap<br />
event with a net 58 (gross 90) 17 under on the day - went on to win the<br />
U18 Best Handicap and the Donald Cup.<br />
Erin Holden in 3rd place in U18 Best Handicap event with a net 64 (gross<br />
103) 11 under on the day.<br />
Well done to all those that entered.<br />
St Andrew’s Junior Ladies<br />
Open<br />
I am delighted to tell you that Royal Dornoch was represented by 3 young<br />
ladies at this under 23 year old open event this week. Taylor White (who<br />
is one of our UHI Students), Hannah Riddell and Zara MacDonald. All<br />
three acquitted themselves very well and I am pleased to report that both<br />
Hannah and Zara qualified for the handicap matchplay. Unfortunately,<br />
both girls lost in their respective semi-finals but have gained a lot of<br />
experience playing in this popular national event.<br />
PAGE 4
Winston the Bear<br />
This is the first children’s book to be written by our fellow member<br />
Catherine MacCulloch.<br />
It is about Winston, a the bear who reads a story about a fiery dragon<br />
that once terrorised Dornoch, the town where he lives and he wonders<br />
if the tale could be true. Curious, he sets out to investigate and his<br />
investigations take him all through Dornoch and its many wonderful sites<br />
and sounds.<br />
You can read more about the book and Winston here https://www.<br />
winstonthebear.co.uk/ and if you wish to buy a copy members receive a<br />
10% discount by using the code winstongolf<br />
Pink Day - Wed 4th August<br />
51 ladies in teams of 3 took part and while it was a fun event here are<br />
those who performed well:<br />
1st - Eliz Coghil, Margaret Seatter, Una Reid - 59 pts<br />
2nd - Aileen McAllister, Annie Harding, Christine Ramsey - 58 pts)<br />
3rd - Margaret Ross, Kerry MacKay, Florence Berner - 57<br />
4th - Bel Shepherd, Shirley Gunn, Avril Grant - 56pts<br />
Thank you to everyone who bought a raffle ticket over the last few days<br />
as the ladies have managed to raise over £2000 raised for Breast Cancer<br />
Now - a wonderful contribution to a very important charity. Raffle winners:<br />
1st - Denise McBride (hamper from Dornoch Stores)<br />
2nd - Anne Harding (hamper from Dornoch Co-op)<br />
3rd - Ian Thomson (hamper of bath and body products)<br />
Many, many thanks to our sponsors in Dornoch Stores and the Co-op for<br />
their contributions.<br />
Property for Sale<br />
There is a house located just outside Dornoch that is now on the market.<br />
You can view the brochure here and via the <strong>Members</strong> Area of the<br />
website.<br />
PAGE 5
Captain’s Par 3 Scramble<br />
On Friday 10th September we shall have a 12 hole Par 3 event which<br />
uses some of the Struie Course and all three of the Academy holes. All<br />
12 holes will vary from 150 yards to as short as 60 yards. The format will<br />
be a Three Player Team Scramble - Ladies, Men & Mixed all allowed. The<br />
first tee time will be 14:00. Further details and how to enter will be issued<br />
soon.<br />
Top 100 Courses<br />
Have you played the 100 best courses in the world? Well one of our<br />
members has and he has put this amazing journey down on paper in a<br />
book that he has now published. The introduction has been written by<br />
Lorne Rubenstein which tells me that the content must be pretty good!<br />
The book is available for sale here https://globalgolftravels.com/ but<br />
unfortunately only in the US. If any Royal Dornoch member buys the<br />
book they will also receive an 8” x 10” of the author’s favourite scene at<br />
Royal Dornoch which you can see opposite.<br />
When you order, drop Greg a quick note at gohlendorf@comcast.net to<br />
let him know you area member so he can include the photo.<br />
Exclusive Member Offer<br />
Due to a recent cancellation, Fionn Lodge, the 5 star self catering<br />
property overlooking the first green of the Championship Course, is<br />
available to book (minimum 5 night stay) between 6th and 19th August<br />
inclusive. Fionn Lodge are offering a 25% reduction from their normal<br />
tariff exclusively for Royal Dornoch members. You can contact them<br />
direct on enquiries@fionnlodge.com<br />
What’s on in Dornoch<br />
The last 18 months have seen many events cancelled so it is great to see<br />
that they are starting up once again and we can get back enjoying what<br />
Dornoch has to offer its residents and visitors.<br />
It starts with the return of the Festival Week (in a slight shortened format)<br />
on Friday 6th & Saturday 7th and Friday 13th & Saturday 14th August.<br />
You can read all about what’s taking place on the Facebook page here<br />
www.facebook.com/DornochFestivalWeek<br />
The Community Markets are also back and they take place from 9:30<br />
am to 1 pm on the Cathedral Green on 11th and 25th August, and 8th<br />
September.<br />
You can find out about the above and more of the great things in Dornoch<br />
here https://www.visitdornoch.com/whats-on/<br />
PAGE 6
Open Competitions<br />
We will have the following events open for 20<strong>21</strong>. Click here for full details on each one.<br />
• Glenmorangie Open, Sun 29th August - Entry forms available on website<br />
• Fraser Gardner, Sat 4th September - Wait list in operation<br />
• Senior Ladies Open, Mon 6th September - Entry forms available on website<br />
• Donald Ross Junior Open, Sat 2nd and Sun 3rd October - Entry forms available on website<br />
• Senior Open 4 Ball Better Ball, Tues 12th October - Entry forms available on website<br />
• David Urquhart Memorial Trophy, Sun 31st October - Entry forms available on website<br />
Matchplay Competitions<br />
So you can keep up to date with progress the latest results are linked to the newsletter. Just click the name of<br />
the event that you are interested in. These were updated on Friday 30th July.<br />
If you have played a tie and are unable to enter the result via the app please email it to andrew@royaldornoch.<br />
com or proshop@royaldornoch.com<br />
Ladies Events<br />
Sutherland Cup (Handicap Singles, Struie); Sykes Cup (Handicap Singles); Barrow Cup (Handicap Foursomes)<br />
Gents Events<br />
McNaughton Rosebowl (Handicap Singles, Struie); Ryle Jug (Handicap Singles)<br />
Murray Vase (Handicap Singles); Cadzow Quaich (Handicap Foursomes)<br />
President’s Cup Scratch; President’s Cup Handicap<br />
Mixed<br />
Patterson Trophy (Handicap Foursomes)<br />
Senior Men<br />
Barry Watson Quaich (Handicap Singles)<br />
Pro Shop<br />
The pro shop hours for August will be from the first tee time to 5pm 7 days a week. Contact them on 01862<br />
811924 or email proshop@royaldornoch.com. The online store is available for you to make purchases here and<br />
to get your members discount you have to register on the site and verification may take a day or two.<br />
Office Hours<br />
For August the office opening hours will be 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday. It is still closed to visitors so<br />
please contact them on 01862 810<strong>21</strong>9 or bookings@royaldornoch.com<br />
PAGE 7
Golf Courses<br />
We have now had the forecasted rain, so things are starting to green up and the cutting routine is back in full<br />
swing. This week we are concentrating on preparing the courses for the Carnegie Shield. This has involved,<br />
brushing, rolling and spraying the Championship Course greens with Iron sulphate. The Struie Course tees and<br />
areas of rough were sprayed with herbicide while other areas of rough were cut and collected. Other jobs over<br />
both courses included bunker faces being cleaned, some pathways tidied, strimming, flymowing, marking all<br />
hazard lines and trimming sprinkler heads.<br />
The Course Manager’s expanded report is posted on the <strong>Members</strong> Facebook page and on the <strong>Newsletter</strong> page<br />
of the <strong>Members</strong> Area of the website.<br />
PAGE 8
Upcoming Club Events<br />
• Sun 8th to Sat 14th Aug - Carnegie Shield<br />
• Wed 11th Aug - Wednesday Seniors J N Patterson Quaich (Struie)<br />
• Fri 13th Aug - Annual General Meeting POSTPONED until Friday 15th October<br />
• Sat 14th Aug - Ladies Greensomes (Struie)<br />
• Mon 16th Aug - Championship Course closed until 10am<br />
• Tues 17th Aug - Seniors 3 Man Team (Struie)<br />
• Wed 18th Aug - Ladies Medal<br />
• Thurs 19th Aug - Ladies v Bonar Bridge/Ardgay (Away)<br />
• Sat <strong>21</strong>st Aug - August Medal; Ladies Medal & Strokeplay Club Championship 1st Round (Struie)<br />
• Tues 24th Aug - Seniors v Hopeman (Away)<br />
• Wed 25th Aug - Wednesday Seniors K Milne Whisky Greensomes (Struie)<br />
• Wed 25th Aug - Ladies Medal & Strokeplay Club Championship 2nd Round<br />
• Fri 27th Aug - Ladies v Tain (Home); Juniors A/B Skinner<br />
• Sun 29th Aug - Glenmorangie Open<br />
Thanks for reading.<br />
Happy Golfing!<br />
Neil D. Hampton, General Manager<br />
Stay safe. Protect others. Save lives.<br />
www.royaldornoch.com
Change language