Senior Section Overview

The Senior Section meets every Thursday from late September through to mid-April. Both ladies and gentlemen are warmly welcome. Players gather in the clubhouse for the draw at 9:30 AM.

Each week, we run a 15-hole Stableford League competition. Over the course of the season, the player with the best six scores is awarded the Brown Cup, while the Trophy goes to the runner-up. In addition to the league, we play a variety of other formats throughout the season — including monthly scrambles and other fun competitions.

We also enjoy three away days at different courses, competing for 36-hole and 18-hole trophies. An annual fixture is our friendly match against Kirkcudbright EGGS.

In May, we take a much-anticipated three-day trip to the Borders, organised by Dave Nielsen — a highlight of the Seniors calendar.

About the Seniors Section

The Seniors Section is an independent and informal group, separate from the main club sections. It was established in 2003 during Mick Wood’s time as Club Captain. The initiative came from Eddy Yates and Derek Shipley — Eddy acted as Convenor and organiser, while Derek served as Match Secretary.

From the start, it was agreed the Seniors would not be a formal section like the Ladies. Initially, play was on Wednesdays, before moving to the now-traditional Thursdays. During the winter league, a unique handicap system was introduced: the winner of each week’s game had their handicap cut by 2 shots, and the runner-up by 1 shot. The weekly winner received £10, and there was a draw for a sleeve of club-branded golf balls.

At the beginning, the group was gentlemen-only, but it soon became a mixed section — keeping the focus firmly on social golf and camaraderie.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

The first Borders trip was arranged by Eddy Yates and held at the Castle Hotel in Coldstream. The hotel had plenty of charm — with sloping, creaky floors and paper-thin walls — except for the spacious end room, where senior member Roddy Hermon held court.

Pre-dinner drinks were hosted in Roddy’s room, and dinners were a lively affair, with the entire hotel effectively ours for the trip. Let’s just say most found their way to bed in high spirits. Highlights included Roddy’s rousing rendition of “On Ilkla Moor Baht’at” and Eddy’s unforgettable mouth organ performances.