Victorious Howie Homes in on Number One Spot

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Peebles golfer Craig Howie secured his maiden professional win after a sensational final round at the Leipziger Open in Germany and surged to the number one spot in the Pro Golf Tour rankings to all but guarantee promotion to the European Challenge Tour next season.

The 23-year old former Scottish Boys Champion, playing his first season in the paid ranks, came from behind on the third and final day with a stunning 8-under par 64 which included two eagles and five birdies, leaving him tied for the lead on 16-under par with compatriot Chris Robb from Aberdeen. Having lost out in extra holes in the previous tournament, Howie held his nerve to sink a short birdie putt on the third play-off hole to take the title and with it, a cheque for 6,666 euros, which elevated him to top spot on the Order of Merit with just three events remaining. With the top five players booking a place on the more lucrative Challenge Tour next season, the Peebles man is a certainty to stay within the leading places, and has now set his sights on finishing the year as the Tour’s number one golfer.

“It’s nice to get the first win under my belt and I’m delighted to have got the job done. Getting to the play-off in my previous event was huge for me and it gave me the confidence to know that I could produce the goods when I needed to. It was nice to win in style with a low final round and perform under pressure in the play-off.” said Howie, who became the first ever Peebles golfer to win a professional Tour event.

Howie rolls in the winning birdie putt

 

Having finished runner-up in the previous two events with an accumulative score of 24-under par for his last six rounds, Craig knew he was in great form heading into the tournament in Leipzig last week.

““I’ve been playing well and scoring low so I’d approached the event with a different mentality of going for birdies and not really having to think about my score, which is a good place to be. “”

"You need that to do well on this Tour and it gives me the belief that I can do that at a higher level. My target now is to kick on and finish the season as number one, which would earn me an even better category on the Challenge Tour. I’ve achieved the goal I set myself at the start of the season and that’s satisfying.”

Craig was besieged by messages of congratulations by fellow members and received a great ovation when he returned home to the club on Saturday afternoon.

“The messages of support from back home have been crazy and it’s great to have so many people behind me. Stobo Castle have been great sponsors for me and the Club and its members have also supported me really well with fundraising from an event they did last year. We’ve got another one at the end of September so it would be great to fill all the teams and get another good turnout. It’s a nice way for me to say thank you to everyone who has supported me and help with the next stage of my career. It’s an expensive job unfortunately so I really appreciate the sponsorship I have received which has enabled me to play at this level.”

If you’d like to support Craig, you can enter a team of four in Peebles Golf Club’s Elite Golfer Support Day, which takes place in September, costing £150 for a team. To book your place, please contact the office on 01721 720197.

Craig’s next event is this week’s Starnberg Open, also in Germany, with the Tour Championship taking place from 24 – 26 September.

Elite Golfer Support Day - 21 September

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Following the huge success of our inaugural Elite Golfer Support Day in 2017, Peebles Golf Club will be once again staging an event to support our aspiring young players taking place on Friday 21 September.

All proceeds from last year's event went towards funding for players, including Pro Golf Tour player Craig Howie, who has since gone on to be number one in the rankings on the Pro Golf Tour and secure a Challenge Tour Card for next season. The support Craig has received has been invaluable in helping with the extensive travel and accommodation costs of life on tour, with events being played in North Africa and continental Europe. It is fantastic to see Craig's continued progress as he flies the flag for Peebles and raises the club's profile.

The format of the event is a Texas Scramble and entry fee is £150 for a team of four, which includes dinner. There are some great prizes on offer with an auction/raffle taking place in the evening following the presentation and a Q&A with Craig.

If you and your friends would like to take part, please contact Niall or Martin in the office on 01721 721097 or e-mail secretary@peeblesgolfclub.com

 

Enter the Odd Shaped Ball Golf Day – Saturday 18 August

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The fourth annual Odd Shaped Ball Golf Day takes place at Peebles Golf Club on Saturday 18 August and we are encouraging all golfers to take part.

Last year’s event attracted a record entry of 192 players and helped raise over £1,900 for the club’s junior section, with proceeds going towards new equipment and coaching to support the development of our next generation of golfers.

The format of the event is a ‘Texas Scramble with a Twist’, with players invited to make up a team of four to take part. The event is open to all categories of current members (gents, ladies and juniors) with the opportunity to invite guests to make up your team, or enter a team of four guests. Tee-times are available from 0730 to 1630.

The kids club challenge on the 16th hole

As well as the usual Scramble rules, we’ll be dropping in a few fun holes, including playing one of the par 3s with the kids plastic clubs, teeing off through the rugby posts, a few tricked up pin positions and other surprises! A BBQ and drinks stand will also be available throughout the day.

Entry costs £10 per person which includes a raffle ticket and thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and individuals, we can some fantastic team and raffle prizes on offer.

If you are a member, you can enter via the online booking system linked below:

> Book your team now

If you’re not a member but want to take part, please call the Office or Pro Shop on 01721 721097.

The event is part of the local Odd Shaped Ball campaign which has raised more than £27,000 for local sport in Peebles over the past five years across golf, rugby, football, cricket, hockey and netball.

For more details on the Odd Shaped Ball, visit: https://www.facebook.com/OddShapedBallPeebles/

Peebles Men's Open - Sunday 8 July, Draw

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To view the draw for the Peebles Men's Open on Sunday 8 July, please click on the link below. We still have a number of spaces available in the times highlighted so if you are looking for a last-minute booking, please use the 'Enter our Opens' button on the home page.

> The Draw

Players should report to the check-in desk in the clubhouse foyer no later than 10 minutes prior to your tee-time.

History Repeats Itself at Club Championship Finals

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It was a case of déjà vu at the Peebles Golf Club Championship Finals on Saturday as Jamie Morris and Sheila Cuthbertson both chalked up another title success at the end of a superb week of golf over the Kirklands course.

The scorching heat was matched by scintillating play over five days of knock-out golf, with the course looking more like an Open Championship links as golfers across six different categories went head to head in the club’s blue ribbon event.

In the Men’s Championship, Jamie Morris made it ten wins in the space of just 21 years, overcoming the challenge of old rival Allan Turnbull in a superb final. The game ebbed and flowed over the first 18 holes with Morris recording no fewer than six birdies, but the match turned in Turnbull’s favour after the former Scotland international chipped in for birdie at 15 before Morris levelled at the halfway stage with a fine birdie on the 18th. The second round followed a similar pattern with Turnbull, looking for his first win since 1992, edging ahead early on. Ever the competitor, Morris battled back strongly and sealed victory number 10 by a 2&1 margin on the 35th hole to etch his name into the Peebles history books. On the Friday night, Morris earned a comfortable win over Jordan Lamb to reach the final, while Colin Fraser had put up a great fight with Turnbull in the other match, narrowly missing a birdie putt on the final green which would have taken the match to extra holes.

Sheila Cuthbertson clinched her 21st championship title with a win over June Ann Clark

The Ladies Championship Final had a familiar look to it, with Sheila Cuthbertson battling hard to edge out Mandy Rodger in an excellent semi-final tie to earn her place against June-Ann Clark, who impressed with a comfortable 5&4 win over Denise Richards. Looking for her first ever title, Clark had a narrow lead at the halfway stage, but the experience of Cuthbertson – 51 years after winning her first championship – won the day, eventually closing out the match on the 17th hole.

Experience was also to the fore in the Men’s B Championship, as 70-year-old Jimmy Nicol stormed through the field to take the title. The three-time Boys’ champion showed his class throughout the week, defeating Sam Anderson in the semis to set up a final with another member of the Clark family, June Ann’s husband Allen, who overcame the challenge of Davie McAllister on Friday evening. It was Nicol however who belied his age to earn a comfortable 4&3 win, much to the delight of his watching family and fellow pipe band members.

There was a second successive Ladies B Championship success for Lillian Smith, who beat Mandi Bain 4&3 to lift the Laverock Cup, while the closest battle of the day came in the Men’s C Championship, as David Rusnack held off the challenge from Les Shortreed to clinch a popular win.

New junior champion Jack Kinghorn

Earlier in the day, the club saw a rising star clinch the Junior Championship title, with 7-handicap youngster Jack Kinghorn – younger brother of Scotland international Blair – storming to a 7&6 victory over Rueben Sterricks. Congratulations to both players on reaching the final and it was great to see such a strong field take part in this year’s knock-out stages, with more juniors coming through the ranks to challenge them next year. The future looks in good hands!

The club would like to thanks the various volunteers who supported Championship Week through starting and refereeing and the fellow members who came out to support the players in the final. To see more photos and videos from Championship week, visit our Facebook page.

Job Vacancy - Club Administrator

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CLUB ADMINISTRATOR

All applicants must have good IT skills, an interest in golf would be useful and a commitment to providing good customer service is essential. Peebles is consistently recognised as providing a warm welcome and the successful candidate must be able to demonstrate a commitment to service excellence.

The post is integral to every aspect of Peebles Golf Club’s operation and is heavily relied upon by the members, visitors and staff. Applicants must be available to work occasional weekends.

> Click here for the full job description

Club Championship Draws

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Congratulations to all golfers who have qualified for the knock-out stages of the Club Championship across our various categories, with matches being held from Monday 25 June through to our Finals Day on Saturday June.

The eagerly anticipated draws have now been made so to find out who is playing who in the first round, click on the links below:

> Men's Club Championship: 1st round on Wednesday 27 June

> Ladies Championship: 1st round on Wednesday 27 June

> Men's B Championship: 1st round on Tuesday 26 June

> Ladies B Championship: 1st round on Monday 25 June

> Men's C Championship: 1st round on Monday 25 June

> Junior Championship: 1st round on Monday 25 June

Should you require any further information on the Club Championship, please contact the office. We would encourage all members to come and support the players throughout the week or join in the celebrations at the presentation, taking place in the evening of Saturday 30 June.

Ladies Open Greensome Results

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We hope all those that took part in the Ladies Open on Saturday 9th June enjoyed their day despite the thunder and lightning delay. Nice to see a strong field taking part and look forward to having you back soon. The results are as follows:

1st - Judy Cairns & Sue Nelson (both Peebles GC) - 66.8

2nd - Sheila Horsburgh & Lorna Rutherford (both Peebles GC) - 67

3rd - Val McKean (Peebles GC) & Maureen Pia (Liberton GC) - 67.2

4th - Mary Ann Richmond & Liz Tweedie (both Biggar GC) - 68

Best scratch prize - Jane Herd (Gullane GC) & Sal Shepherd (Craigmillar Park GC) - 78

Nearest the pin on Hole 1 - Sheila Cuthbertson (Peebles GC)

Nearest the pin on Hole 7 - Cat Cheape (Grangemouth GC)

Nearest the pin on 12 - Sal Shepherd (Craigmillar Park GC)

Nearest the pin on 16 - Sandra Hennessy (Broomieknowe GC)

Longest drive on hole 9 - Anne Brownie (Mortonhall GC)

All Peebles members, prizes will be available to collect from behind the bar. All visitors who won prizes will have vouchers sent to their respective clubs.