Pupils enjoy golf festival at Hollandbush

Jun 25 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

SEVERAL talented golfers took part in the third annual South Lanarkshire Secondary Schools’ Golf Festival last week.

Organised by South Lanarkshire Leisure, the event took place at Hollandbush Golf Club, Lesmahagow.

Unfortunately, the weather on the day was typical of a Scottish summer, with very strong winds and driving rain making it difficult for players.

The annual event is specifically designed to allow children with higher or no golf handicap the opportunity of representing their school in a competition.

The individual competition is for players with a single-figure handicap.

The team Texas Scramble competition comprises of four players – a beginner, one with a handicap of 10-18, one with a handicap between 19-28, and a teacher or helper from the school.

In the individual competition, James Steven from John Ogilvie High in Hamilton returned an excellent score of 71 scratch to win the boys’ scratch competition.

Andrew Lewis won the boys’ handicap competition with a score of 72, while Kirstie McLeod from Lesmahagow High won the girls’ event with a very good score of 69.

Lesmahagow High also triumphed in the team event with a score of 60.8. Their team was made up of Andrew Paterson, Fraser Brown, Reece Hunter and Mr Bruce Biggart.

They were closely followed by Hamilton Grammar in second place and Cathkin High in third.

Chair of South Lanarkshire Leisure’s board, Councillor Gerry Convery, and South Lanarkshire Leisure general manager Gerry Campbell attended the prize-giving.

Councillor Convery said: “This is a fantastic event for the young pupils. It is said that it never rains on the golf course, and although the weather conditions on the day certainly belied this not one of the young players complained about the soaking they undoubtedly suffered!

“The competition was fierce and the camaraderie was excellent. I’m sure many new friendships were formed.”