Drambuie Ayrshire Golf Classic 2004

The Drambuie Ayrshire Welcome Reception

The first Drambuie Golf Classic of 2004 is underway and it was launched to the tune of The Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra at the famous Burns National Heritage Park in Alloway, birthplace of Robert Burns.

The drinks reception was attended by almost all of the players and their families and they not only enjoyed some magnificent Celtic tunes courtesy of the Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra but an excellent buffet and of course a first taste of Drambuie on Ice.

The reception is intended to put the competitors at ease ahead of the first day's play at Turnberry and from the comments received it had the desired effect. The entry for 2004 is more cosmopolitan than ever with golfers from throughout the UK, Germany, Belgium, France, Sweden, the States and Ireland and it was clear that they appreciated both the wonderful venue and the Orchestra.

The Burns National Heritage Park consists of not only the Tam O'Shanter Experience where the reception was held but also the grounds and of course Burns' Cottage where the bard was born and brought up.

For more information visit http://www.burnsheritagepark.com/park.htm

But the undoubted stars of the evening were the Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra who played a wonderful selection of traditional Scottish tunes. A number of CD's were sold on the evening and if you're interested in hearing some more you can download some tracks from their CDs at www.fiddleorchestra.com/download.htm

Thanks are due to Laurie Black and his team at the Heritage Park for their superb hospitality and ensuring that the Drambuie Ayrshire teed off on the right note.

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Day 1 - Monday May 3, Turnberry

May Day Bank Holiday, normally that in itself is enough to ensure rain! So with some trepidation we're sure, the competitors for the fifth Drambuie Ayrshire Golf Classic made their way to Turnberry on Ayrshire's west coast.

The play on Day One was split over the two wonderful links courses with half going out in the morning over the Open Championship Ailsa and the rest over the newer but maturing Kintyre.

Sitting in the magnificent clubhouse under the barometer the only real distraction was the fluctuating Wind Direction and Wind Speed Dials; the early morning peak of just under thirty miles an hour never really seemed under too much threat during the afternoon and the north westerly breeze seemed to be doing its very best to ensure that any forecast rain sailed by. The end result? Just the absolute perfect spring day on a links course in Scotland. And when it's put like that what better way really to spend a Bank Holiday Monday!

The field was made up of just under a hundred golfers from "aw pairts" - the length and breadth of the UK, a touch of Ireland, Germany, France, Belgium, Sweden, Canada, The States and Spain - and reflected exactly what the Drambuie Scottish Golf Classics were set up for five years previously. Social golf with a competitive edge aimed at giving golfers the perfect way to play golf in Scotland - and unbeatable value for money.

In previous years the championship course at Turnberry has always inspired the visitor to quite seriously good scoring. For those in the field with an eye on the prizegiving table a good start was essential.

Day one scores posted on the Ailsa included a superb 38 from Gerry Healy playing out of Walsall Golf Club but hailing originally from Ireland. Nearest to him was his Pairs partner Jim Wyllie form Bury, Ian Bett from Whitemoss and Aurora Montilla from Manenass golf club in Spain.

Best score in on the Kintyre were two 34's from Arthur Anderson from Ham Manor (who lead the 2003 event for three rounds) and Rene Basilvecchia from Pierpoint in Belgium.

The average points for the day were 25.65; broken down The Ailsa played at 25.97 whilst the Kintyre averaged at 25.35 so in spite of what the players may have thought both courses played quite evenly.

The Pairs event is being lead by Healy and Wyllie with an highly impressive 71 points six ahead of James and Hume on 65 and the Spanish pairing of Moya and Montilla on 64 points.

Nearest the Pin

The fourth hole at Turnberry is a notoriously difficult 165 yarder. It's location close to the sea ensures the wind plays a major role in the final destination and the very shape of the green will see many a promising look shot from the tee roll gently but persistently off the right hand side. In the end the closest to the pin was Mike Stikvist from Chislehurst. (missed the putt though!!)

The longest drive on the Kintyre was at the excellent closing hole and the winner by a mile with by all accounts a nicely drawn drive was Didier Berger - still only made par!

So all in all a dry day fro day one; on to Barassie near Troon for Day Two and a pessimistic weather forecast!

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Day 2 - Tuesday May 4, Barassie Golf Club

There is always an underlying theme about golf in Scotland - the weather. The fascination with what the forecast is becomes almost fever pitch when you're running an event and the Drambuie Ayrshire Golf Classic is no different.

If you are continually told that the west of Scotland is always wet you really should start to think again. The Ayrshire coast often seems to be sheltered in its own micro climate, perhaps protected by the Isle of Arran, I don't know, but whatever the reason the players at Barassie on day two of the Drambuie Ayrshire were thankful for it.

With expectations of heavy rain forecast, waterproofs, umbrellas and towels were on prominent display; what transpired was a day for shirt sleeves, a light wind and a magnificent day for golf over a superbly set up Championship standard golf course.

Barassie lies just to the north of Troon and in the past ten years has undergone a major transformation of its course and facilities. It now has 27 holes and excellent new catering and changing facilities. The new layout is maturing well and the whole presentation of the course is to be complimented.

It is also a great test of golf.
Average score for the day was a reasonable 28.1 points; about 2.3 points better than Turnberry the day before and the best score carded was an excellent

Longest Drive - Leif Gustafsson & Pauline Walker
Nearest the Pin - John Crawford

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Day 3 - Wednesday May 5, Belleisle in Ayr

Belleisle Golf Course in Ayrshire is often touted as the best public golf course in Scotland outside Carnoustie and St Andrews and in all honesty it is difficult to think of much better. In contrast to the golf of the first two days it is mature parkland laid out by the famous James Braid, with the rain the previous week the course played a little soft but still produced some very positive comments and golf.

The longest drive was at the thirteenth hole and Europe once again took the honours through Aurora Montilla from Spain Magnus Lilja from Sweden. Must be something in the water! The nearest the pin also went to Magnus.

But the main event was of course the stableford and after his back-to-back 38 pointers Irishman Gerry Healy carded a highly respectable 32 points to maintain his lead into the last day over Leigh Dorling. But both these golfers were overshadowed by two par breaking points totals from Aurora Montilla with 39 points and a superb 40-point total from Burton on Trent.

The rain dampened spirits a little for those out later and certainly helped to reduce the afternoon scores but overall a good day's golf with some excellent scoring on a completely different course and totally different paced greens from the first tow days. Back to Turnberry on Thursday.

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Day 4- Thursday May 6, Final Day at Turnberry

Final rounds are always a little bit different with this time three or four players still in with a shout of victory over the Ailsa or Kintyre courses. Another calm day at Turnberry certainly gave the chance of a high last day total to come through and as the averages showed the last day at Turnberry played a whole two points easier than the first day! However the benign conditions didn't lead to a final surge from anyone and the best total carded was a gross level par score (38 points) from two handicapper Justin Percy from Dalmahoy. Best on the Ailsa was a superb 37 from Angela O'Shea from Carlow in Ireland's southeast. Tim James was the only other player to match or better par with 36 points; enough to pull some points back on Gerry Healy but not enough to catch him.

Gerry sealed his Drambuie Ayrshire Golf Classic victory with a final round of 33 points guaranteed that he wasn't going to be caught. Behind James and Healy was the leading lady golfer of the week from Spain, Aurora Montilla.

Longest drives and nearest the pins were again were dominated by overseas golfers with Magnus Lilja striking gold at the eighteenth on Kintyre and John

Owen nearest the pin at the fourth on the Ailsa. Aurora once again out drove the other ladies.

So that was the golf over and done with for another year but the fun not yet over.

The prizegiving dinner has become a traditional way to cement the friendships that have developed over the week and this year was even more sociable than ever with the format being changed to include a ceilidh band to sign it off.

The prizes were distributed to a wonderfully international field - Spaniards, Swedes, Belgians, Germans, French, Irish, Welsh, Scots, English, Canadians, an Australian and an Estonian all participated - with some humour injected by our friends from Romford Golf Club; each nationality being accompanied by an appropriate clichéd tune!

The nights and indeed the week was signed off by a great set from the Gary Blair Ceilidh band and the competitors headed off back to there own countries with some great memories.

This event more than any had epitomised just exactly what the Drambuie Scottish Golf Classics are about. Sure there was great golf but it was the camaraderie and new and lasting friendships that will we result in meetings at future events that made the week what it was.

The organisers can put together the golf, book some rooms, pray for the weather but the success of the events is in the hands of the players.
Congratulations therefore must go to the competitors in this year's Drambuie Ayrshire - you did a great job!

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The Peugeot 407 Unveiled

Steve Harris from Peugeot, the vehicle sponsors of the Scottish Golf Classics, is pictured delivering the preview brochures for the all new Peugeot 407 due to be launched in June 2004 to Scott Campbell of the Scottish Golf Classics.

Steve thanked the competitors for joining the event which was now in its third year of sponsorship with Peugeot and hoped that the players from all over the world had a great few days golf.

The 407 is the outstanding new car from Peugeot - designed to satisfy the world's most demanding consumers.

The all-new saloon - which will soon be followed by an SW model - will carry forward Peugeot's key values of dynamism, visual appeal and innovation.

Peugeot's reputation for producing vehicles with outstanding dynamics will be further enhanced by the new 407 which features racing-inspired double wishbone front suspension. The underlying specification of the 407 has been designed to meet Peugeot's demanding requirements for road holding, driveability and safety.

www.peugeot-avenue.com

Ayrshire	Classics
Peugeot 807	Drambuie

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