A memorable afternoon's golf was enjoyed on the Championship Course when twelve members of the Long Cove Golf Club in South Carolina made a return visit after their first sojourn in 2007. Having booked to play Carnoustie as part of their 2011 Scottish tour, the club was quick to contact Colin Sinclair to see if a "re-match" could be arranged against a Dalhousie select; Colin needed no hesitation and a fine afternoon's golf ( only briefly interrupted by a shower of rain ) saw Dalhousie end up with a splendid victory by five matches to one. Star of the day was unquestionably Colin himself; an outward nine of 32, which included an eagle at the sixth and a birdie at the seventh, preceded an inward 36 for a superb - and untouchable - score of 68. The day was rounded off admirably by an excellent meal in the Carnoustie Golf Hotel - the bill for which was graciously and unexpectedly taken care of by the Long Cove members, who clearly - despite defeat - had again thoroughly enjoyed both their tussles with the big course and the camaraderie thereafter. Suggestions of a return trip to the United States were, of course, raised.....over now to Colin/Council/Dalhousie members to ponder that lip-smacking possibility! 

All good things must come to an end eventually, but the disappointment felt by Dalhousie Seniors at Edzell after a four and a half to two and a half defeat on August 22nd was tangible. Perfect conditions greeted the visitors; the course was in magnificent condition and hardly a breath of wind disturbed the atmosphere during the entire afternoon. Taking full advantage of the conditions, the more elderly (??!! ) home team benefited from the use of the yellow tees and - in at least one match - took full advantage of their higher handicaps with three net birdies and one net eagle in the outward nine! ( One Dalhousie couple was out in a better ball 35 yet found itself no less than four down!! ) It was, however, another splendid golfing occasion, played in the true spirit of the game and, as always, the Edzell hospitality was second to none ( well, perhaps Panmure at Barry - but that's a different story! ) The final Seniors match of the season is against Forfar at Cunninghill on the 31st, when, with a bit of luck, winning ways will be restored.....

It was generally accepted by those who took part in the weekly sweep on the Championship Course on August 20th that the stiff, gusty wind did make conditions difficult. Nevertheless, one Dalhousie member ( who, for obvious reasons, has to remain anonymous - but he is an immediate past captain ) informed the writer that nothing but astonishment greeted the news ( after his quartet had putted out on the short eighth ) that the par which one of them achieved there was the FIRST in the thirty two holes that, among them, they had so far completed! The success of that particular member was then put down to Dextrosol tablets which had been handed out a few minutes beforehand on the eighth tee. Three questions arise:- 1) Is the single par recorded after thirty two attempts a new Dalhousie ( unwanted ) record? 2) Who handed out the Dextrosol tablets? 3) After the aforementioned success, should they now be classified as a performance-enhancing substance and banned from future use? To be fair.....it WAS a difficult morning.....

In what has rapidly developed as one of their most successful seasons for many years, Dalhousie Seniors recorded yet another victory - this time in the inaugural match against the New Club of St. Andrews - over the Championship Course. Enjoying the solitary day of the week on which superb weather blessed the links, the victory by three and a half points to two and a half was ( as captain Gordon "heads must roll at the top" Wilson put it ) down to the final four matches, from which three wins and a very exciting 'half' were extracted. These reversed the serious thumpings of the top two Dalhousie pairings ( no names, no pack drill, but - as UK politicians are currently reminding us day in, day out right now - lessons will be learned! ) and it goes without saying that the announcement of the final result was greeted with a mixture of both relief and surprise. The first joust between the two clubs was thoroughly enjoyed by all; happily, indications are that efforts are already underway to make the fixture a permanent one in the Dalhousie calendar over the coming years.

Sadly, through lack of numbers, the annual joust between the Captain and Vice Captain, together with their respective "crews", has had to be postponed once more - it had been re-scheduled for August 12th. Members are asked to keep an eye on the notice board in the hotel, as well as the club website, for a new date on which the competition can be staged before the end of the season.

The pronounced improvement in the form of the Seniors continues unabated, with a visit to rain-lashed Panmure resulting in a resounding success by four and a half matches to two and a half. The course, which had hosted one of the qualifying rounds for the Ladies' Open at Carnoustie, was in outstanding condition, although a timely warning was issued by the home team prior to lunch and drinks ( or should that read drinks and lunch? ) that the rough was severe. The spirit of the Dalhousie team was indomitable, however, and in spite of two hours of pretty solid rain and the aforesaid difficulties encountered "off fairway", the fourteen members of the team performed admirably. Graeme Paton was captain for the day and, unsurprisingly, claimed most of the credit for the victory following his pre-match team talk. Bearing in mind the ages of several members of the team, however, it is more than likely that his words of encouragement had been forgotten long before they reached the changing room prior to battle commencing!  ( The writer, in fact, came across Gordon Adam at the Ladies' Open the following day and he took the view that it was HIS team selection and astute pairings which had tipped the balance towards Dalhousie winning - aye, right!! ) One way or another, it was a splendid victory after - once again - outstanding Panmure hospitality.

The significant - and impressive - improvement in performance by Dalhousie Seniors continues unabated. At a rain-soaked Panmure the victory against the HIGHLY talented home side was by four and a half matches to two and a half. The course had hosted one of the qualifying rounds for the British Ladies' Open at Carnoustie and was in tremendous condition, although - as promised by several of the Panmure members prior to kick-off - the rough was especially difficult. Not only did Dalhousie overcome this potential handicap, however, the abstinence which was displayed beforehand over lunch and drinks ( or should that read drinks and lunch? ) was to the eternal credit of the fourteen seniors who did battle thereafter. Graeme Paton captained the side and, naturally, claimed most of the credit for the win after his pre-match team talk. Bearing in mind the age of many of those taking part, however, its content had been completely forgotten by the time most of them reached the changing room after lunch! ( In any event, the writer met Gordon Adam the following day at the Ladies' Open and, not surprisingly, it was HE who claimed all the glory for his astuteness of team selection and subsequent pairings - aye, right!!!) One way or another, it was a splendid victory amidst outstanding Panmure hospitality - as always.