Drambuie Speyside Golf Classic 2003

Back to Speyside in the autumn and there really is few places in Scotland to match this particular part of the Highlands. The first day's play was over Newtonmore, the most southerly of the four courses being played this week. It is also the longest of the group and offers some lovely holes and vistas and a great opening day challenge.

The weather was perhaps typically autumnal but all in all not too bad for golf and the result was some tremendously high scoring particularly from the local players in the event. Two golfers filled the top three places from Newtonmore and the third from Boat of Garten with the leading "outsider" coming in the shape of Connie Figari from Childwell Golf Club.

The leading scores were as high as for any previous Drambuie Scottish Golf Classic and the averages well above the norm. The leader Graeme Spinks playing of six carded a gross one under par and a total of 42 points equalling the highest score carded in any of the previous events.

Two points back on 40 points was Millie Douglas from Boat. In total there were eleven players carding thirty-six points or better; twenty-seven players beat thirty points.

The team scoreboard reflected the local influence with the leading three teams coming from Speyside with only Helal and Laird breaking the pattern.

The new event for this year courtesy of sponsors was the Drambuie Threes - the winner will be the person with the most points on the par threes over the four days; the strange statistic given the individual leaderboard was the fact that only one of the local golfers made the top twenty over the par threes! Nine points was enough to hold the lead shared by Greg Peacock from Ballyclare in Northern Ireland and Nina Croft from Beaconsfield.

Tuesday - Kingussie
Tuesday seen us returning to the scenic Kingussie and some of thebest views and course in Scotland has to offer and today was no exception as we were blessed with some truly great weather so the last week in September.

The winning total was scored by Richard Armstrong from Bangor who carded a great total of 39 points playing off an 18 handicap. Only three points back on 36 was a group of four player, Mille Douglas, Sue Gardner, Graeme Spinks and Tim James who came second due to a count back. A futher point behind was another group of five players all scoring well.

Wednesday - Grantown-on-Spey
Another glorious Autumn day was upon us and after a small delay while the mist cleared we were treated to another great day of golf at the wonderful Grantown course.

Paul Gardner from Kirbymoorside posted the days highest total with a cracking 43points with a gross score of 78 including a 9 at one hole! Local Laurie Skuodas from Newtonmore was just pipped to second place by German Henning Thiel both scoring 41 poinnts but Henning Theil had a better inward half.

Tim James also posted another good total of 39 points with a group of six players just behind on 37 points. Going into the final day it local Laurie Skuodas sitting at the top of the overall leaderboard with 113 points, Tim James a further three points on 110 points and another local Graeme Spinks just 2 points behind.

Thursday - Boat of Garten - Final Day
As usual on the final day we sent out the competitors in reverse Leaderboard order. Some nerves were starting to show and one or two of our competitors were starting to feel the strain even before teeing off. The scene was set for an excellent finish to what had been an excellent four days golf.

As it turned out the last fourball struggled to maintain their high scores of the rest of the week and the best result from the group was that of Tim James (pictured above) whose 34 was in the end enough to lift him into first place with 144 points. Overnight leader Laurie Skuodas had his worst round of the week and with 28 points dropped back onto a total of 141 and third place. The best round of the day went to our Spaniard Joaquin Marin with a superb 38 points which was enought to lift him into second place with a points total of 141 equally Laurie Skuodas but beating him on the last 36 Holes.

The Drambuie Par 3's Competition was won by Sue Gardener with 33 points posted on the par 3's over the week. Just 2 points behind on 31 points was a group of 5 players.

The team event was won by two of our locals playing in the event, Laurie Skodas & Rod Spinks (pictured with Muriel McMillan from Drambuie) both from Newtonmore with a combined total of 276 with our Belgian team of Jan Willem Kruyne & Martine Valcke in second place with a total of 263 points.

So with that, the golf over for another year and in total we’d experienced some of the finest weather the Highlands could provide for this Autumnal event. Great golf courses, great socialising. What more could you want from a golf break?

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Drinks Reception
A Focus on Aviemore Highland Resort
The drinks reception this year is being held at the Dalfaber Resort in Aviemore - the reason? Well we thought that with the long awaited redevelopment of Aviemore now well under way it was a good opportuntiy to showcase the work that's taking place to re-establish the town as Scotland's premier all year ound leisure and conference destination. Interested in finding more click www.aviemorehighlandresort.com for full details

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Prizegiving Dinner and Steam Train
The prizegiving dinner is again being hosted by our friends at The Cairngorm Hotel in Aviemore. The evening kicks off at 7.30pm at Aviemore Station where the guests will be welcomed aboard the Strathspey Steam Train and enjoy the short journey north to Boat of Garten station for a drinks reception. Those staying in Boat can meet up with the party shortly before eight and enjoy the trip back to Aviemore where guests will be piped across the bridge by the infamous Spud the Piper. The steam train runs throughout the season and offers a unique experience and a great way to start an evening.

For more information visit www.strathspeyrailway.co.uk

Dinner will be served at apporximaltely 8.30pm but even if you're not on the train don't miss the pre dinner surprise. After dinner entertainment will be provided this year by John McKelvie who had the players at the Drambuie Highland in May in stitches.

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Drambuie Black Ribbon Par Threes: Some Things Can Never Be Equalled
We're delighted that in addition to their overall sponsorship of the Scottish Golf Classics, Drambuie will be giving an extra special prize for the Drambuie Par Threes at Spetside. The winner - the player with the most stableford points over the three days - will be presented with a bottle of Drambuie Black Ribbon.

The Black Ribbon is a unique Scotch malt whisky liqueur using only Scotland's finest single malts, all aged 15 years or more. These, blended together with Drambuie's genuinely secret recipe, make Black Ribbon a liqueur of unrivalled excellence.

Tee it up carefully, swing gently and Sip slowly over plenty of ice and appreciate a fine experience. More Info

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Monarch of the Glen - New Series
Just as the drinks reception for the Drambuie Speyside Golf Classic finishes the new series of the popular Monarch of the Glen starts. The programme which shares its geography with the Drambuie Speyside Golf Classic is now entering its fifth series has helped promote the Speyside area and the visitors will recognise real life stations and in particular will play on Glenbogle Golf Club on the Tuesday visit to Kingussie. For mopre information visit Glenbogle!

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Speyside	Classics
Peugeot 807	Drambuie

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