2018 Captain's Report
Edinburgh Academical Golf Club
End of Year Review 2018
As with all the best experiences, time seems to fly past and I can hardly believe my tenure as Captain of EAGC is almost at an end. It has been an amazing experience and one I will never forget. I will remember the committee meetings, the welcome drinks, the golfing meetings, the competitions, the Halford Hewitt, the Cyril Grey, the Grafton Morrish, victory in the inaugural Captains Challenge match and the dinners fondly. However, it is the EAGC members that make this great club and have given me some of the most fun, biggest laughs and memories over the last two years.
Our objectives continue to be; the resurgence and modernisation of all aspects of the Club and to build on all the links with the golfing community of the School. We continue to deliver on both objectives. Our membership continues to increase, with members making every effort to take part in our various golfing matches and other social events. We have finally got some ‘money can’t buy merchandise’ being nifty looking Bobble hats, logoed golf balls and some very fetching silk neck and self-tie bow ties. We continue to work with the school on a number of fronts, be it the facility, the coaching of boys and girls by the Bruntsfield team or simply through our annual fixture versus the School at Bruntsfield, which this year we won 3.5 to 0.5. It was a lot closer than the score appears and everyone agreed what a great day it was.
On the results front, the 2017 Club Championship was won by John Lang (EA 1958–66). The 2018 Summer Hole and Hole was won by Henry Fairweather (EA 1953–64). The Winter Foursomes was won by John Paterson (EA 1951–59) and Iain Watt (EA 1950–64). The Spring Meeting at Muirfield was won by Iain Smith (EA 1970- 83) with a 73 and the handicap by Henry Fairweather with 32 points. The Summer Meeting at Bruntsfield was won by Willie Henderson (EA 1961-70) with a 79 and the handicap by Richard Summers (EA 1970-83) with a net 71. The Autumn Meeting at Luffness New Golf Club was won by James Lowe (EA 1974-82) who travelled over from Canada with a scratch 78; the handicap by James Godfrey (EA 1977-90) with 35 points, the over 55s by Alasdair Loudon (EA 1961-73) and the over 65s by Willie Henderson. All results are available on the Club website: www.edinburghacciesgolf.com.
However, it has been the performance of our various teams that have been the highlight of the year. It is so pleasing that so many different players play in our teams. That is what a true club is about. A year of second places but what a year. We lost narrowly 3-2 (2 games finishing on 18thand one on the 20th) to Glenalmond at the Halford Hewitt before producing some brilliant golf to march our way through to the plate final where we lost to Mulvern 3-0. The team this year was energised by some younger players which was great to see. Having shown what could be done, the older Accies at the Cyril Grey decided to replicate the performance by losing in the first round before being pipped in the final of the plate by Glenalmond 2-1. We then played out of our skins to finish second at the Scottish Wayfarers, losing again to Glenalmond, by the narrowest of margins. We retained the Edinburgh Trophy with another dominant performance, which was another splendid effort. But if there was an award for team of the year, it would go to our team at the Grafton Morrish at Mortonhall who produced some stellar golf to qualify in second place for the national finals in October. Our winning team of Mike MacPhee (EA 1969-82), John Lang, Doug Zuill (EA 1973-82), Iain Smith, Chris Paterson-Brown and Bertie Allison (EA 1996-2009) scored a more than adequate 95 Stableford points. In addition, John and Mike won the individual title with 35 points. At the national finals, we sadly lost to Heriots in the second round 3-0, which was a very creditable performance as two of their team are turning pro in the near future.
The 2017/18 Club dinner at Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society was again completely sold out, resulting in an excellent evening of magnificent food, fine wine and true camaraderie. Special thanks must go to David Maxwell (EA 1955-65) who again donated one of his signed prints for auction, which resulted in a very healthy contribution to club funds.
The Club continues to thrive with many new younger members joining this year. The modest annual fee of £35 supports and encourages golf at the School and helps to fund younger members to play in teams. Membership of the Club for under 30’s membership is totally free and if you would like to join or merely make a donation please email edinburghacciesgolf@gmail.com.
It has been my honour and privilege to have been Captain for 2 years. I would like to welcome Mike MacPhee as our new Captain in January 2019 and formally thank the committee and all EAGC members for contributing to our ever thriving club!
Brian Hay Smith (EA 1970-84)
EAGC Captain 2017-18
End of Year Review 2018
As with all the best experiences, time seems to fly past and I can hardly believe my tenure as Captain of EAGC is almost at an end. It has been an amazing experience and one I will never forget. I will remember the committee meetings, the welcome drinks, the golfing meetings, the competitions, the Halford Hewitt, the Cyril Grey, the Grafton Morrish, victory in the inaugural Captains Challenge match and the dinners fondly. However, it is the EAGC members that make this great club and have given me some of the most fun, biggest laughs and memories over the last two years.
Our objectives continue to be; the resurgence and modernisation of all aspects of the Club and to build on all the links with the golfing community of the School. We continue to deliver on both objectives. Our membership continues to increase, with members making every effort to take part in our various golfing matches and other social events. We have finally got some ‘money can’t buy merchandise’ being nifty looking Bobble hats, logoed golf balls and some very fetching silk neck and self-tie bow ties. We continue to work with the school on a number of fronts, be it the facility, the coaching of boys and girls by the Bruntsfield team or simply through our annual fixture versus the School at Bruntsfield, which this year we won 3.5 to 0.5. It was a lot closer than the score appears and everyone agreed what a great day it was.
On the results front, the 2017 Club Championship was won by John Lang (EA 1958–66). The 2018 Summer Hole and Hole was won by Henry Fairweather (EA 1953–64). The Winter Foursomes was won by John Paterson (EA 1951–59) and Iain Watt (EA 1950–64). The Spring Meeting at Muirfield was won by Iain Smith (EA 1970- 83) with a 73 and the handicap by Henry Fairweather with 32 points. The Summer Meeting at Bruntsfield was won by Willie Henderson (EA 1961-70) with a 79 and the handicap by Richard Summers (EA 1970-83) with a net 71. The Autumn Meeting at Luffness New Golf Club was won by James Lowe (EA 1974-82) who travelled over from Canada with a scratch 78; the handicap by James Godfrey (EA 1977-90) with 35 points, the over 55s by Alasdair Loudon (EA 1961-73) and the over 65s by Willie Henderson. All results are available on the Club website: www.edinburghacciesgolf.com.
However, it has been the performance of our various teams that have been the highlight of the year. It is so pleasing that so many different players play in our teams. That is what a true club is about. A year of second places but what a year. We lost narrowly 3-2 (2 games finishing on 18thand one on the 20th) to Glenalmond at the Halford Hewitt before producing some brilliant golf to march our way through to the plate final where we lost to Mulvern 3-0. The team this year was energised by some younger players which was great to see. Having shown what could be done, the older Accies at the Cyril Grey decided to replicate the performance by losing in the first round before being pipped in the final of the plate by Glenalmond 2-1. We then played out of our skins to finish second at the Scottish Wayfarers, losing again to Glenalmond, by the narrowest of margins. We retained the Edinburgh Trophy with another dominant performance, which was another splendid effort. But if there was an award for team of the year, it would go to our team at the Grafton Morrish at Mortonhall who produced some stellar golf to qualify in second place for the national finals in October. Our winning team of Mike MacPhee (EA 1969-82), John Lang, Doug Zuill (EA 1973-82), Iain Smith, Chris Paterson-Brown and Bertie Allison (EA 1996-2009) scored a more than adequate 95 Stableford points. In addition, John and Mike won the individual title with 35 points. At the national finals, we sadly lost to Heriots in the second round 3-0, which was a very creditable performance as two of their team are turning pro in the near future.
The 2017/18 Club dinner at Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society was again completely sold out, resulting in an excellent evening of magnificent food, fine wine and true camaraderie. Special thanks must go to David Maxwell (EA 1955-65) who again donated one of his signed prints for auction, which resulted in a very healthy contribution to club funds.
The Club continues to thrive with many new younger members joining this year. The modest annual fee of £35 supports and encourages golf at the School and helps to fund younger members to play in teams. Membership of the Club for under 30’s membership is totally free and if you would like to join or merely make a donation please email edinburghacciesgolf@gmail.com.
It has been my honour and privilege to have been Captain for 2 years. I would like to welcome Mike MacPhee as our new Captain in January 2019 and formally thank the committee and all EAGC members for contributing to our ever thriving club!
Brian Hay Smith (EA 1970-84)
EAGC Captain 2017-18
