10/9/2022 Ye Monks Final

The Final round was won by Steven Pennel with a net 63.

The Ye Monks Competition overall winner is Stephen Duffy with a total of 12 under par for his best 3 rounds.

Click here for Ye Monks Final Standings

6/9/2022 Leith Links Eclectic (Final Results)

Dear all,

Apologies for the delay in getting this result out, been a busy couple of weeks.

As mentioned before, the eclectic was calculating at 100% not 60% on VMS. As such, results are as follows

1st Tommy Greer 55-3 = 52

2nd Glenn Marsters 60-5 = 55 (better back 6!)

3rd Stevie Pennel 62-7 = 55

Congrats gents, your prizes will be under the bar.

Just missing out in 4th was Kevin McGowan on 56, Les Cranston and Brian Donkin on 57 in 5th and 6th.

Neil

27/8/2022 Leith Links Results

Hi all,

The final positions of the Leith Links this year have been published.

The Donkin brothers tied for first place, but with the highest individual round of 43 points, Chris pips Brian for top spot! Both on 153 points for their 4 rounds

In third place was Mandy Munro on 152, Charles Monheim in 4th on 151 and Tommy Greer on 150. All very close this year, well done to all of them for consistent golf.

The money for the top players will be sorted at this weeks committee meeting on Thursday evening

The eclectic, sadly, is taking off 100% of handicap from scores rather than 60%, so that too will be sorted and announced post committee meeting.

Best

Neil

18/7/2022 Braids United Silloth Sunday 21st August Tee Times from 10:00am

All just a reminder of the BU Silloth invite on Sunday 21st August, see email below. The sheet is on the notice board. You and your partner have free golf that day, so sign up or let me know and I can add your name to the sheet.

Dougie

---------- Forwarded message ---------

From: Douglas Aitken <dwwaitken@gmail.com>

Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2022, 14:20

Subject: Braids United Silloth Sunday 21st August Tee Times from 10:00am

To: all Braids <all@braids-united.co.uk>

All

Next big date for your diaries for the 125 year is the BU Silloth invite, this has been organised for Sunday 21st August, Tee times 10:00am to noon, depending on numbers.

For those not aware, this is our yearly event for members to bring a guest and play for the BU Silloth trophy. Guests are allowed to play for free as long as being accompanied by an Edinburgh Leisure member.

I'd be hopeful we can do something similar to the 125 Celebration Day and provide some food for our guests. Unfortunately myself and my wife Denise may not be available that day, so will look to others for some help to co-ordinate food on the day.

I'll put up a sign-up sheet on the club notice board this week, if you won't be at club in next few weeks but want to play in this event, let me know and I can add your name and guest name to the sign up sheet.

Regards

Dougie Aitken

Captain.

3/7/2022 BHA Championships

Braid Hills Championship 2022

9th July 2022

Rules/Format

General

1. The competition shall be open to amateur golfers who are current members of a club affiliated to the Braid Hills Association of Golf Clubs

2. Handicap Limit shall be 54 strokes.

3. Junior members may enter.

4. Competitors aged 55 years or over on the day of the tournament shall be eligible to enter the Seniors Section. This information must be indicated on the player’s scorecard /club’s entry sheet. This section only applies to the stroke play element of the tournament and is an additional section.

5. The tournament shall be organised and supervised by the host club (Harrison Golf Club ) whose decisions in any dispute will be final. Three members of the Committee shall form a Quorum. The Committee may also reject any entry without assigning a reason.

6. Entries to the tournament are via your club’s official entry sheet. All players will return scores at their own club with details then passed to the Harrison in order that Results can be finalised and the draw for the Matchplay Stages can be made.

7. The tournament will be played according to the Rules of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club and such Local Rules as are in force at the time of the event.

8. The tournament shall be comprised into four sections as follows:

● Gold Section : Handicaps to 8 inclusive

● Silver Section : Handicaps 9 to 16 inclusive

● Bronze Section : Handicaps 17 to 54 inclusive

● Seniors Section : Aged 55 Years and over

9. Competitors must pay their own green fees to the Edinburgh Leisure Golf Starter for Stroke Play and Match Play stages of this event.

Stroke Play Stage

10. The SCOTSMAN TROPHY shall be awarded to the player with the lowest scratch score from all sections.

11. The COMMAND PAYMASTER CUP shall be awarded to the player with the lowest net score from all sections.

12. The BOWMORE QUAICH shall be awarded to the senior player with the lowest net score.

13. In the event of a Tie for any of the above categories, the player with the lowest back 9 holes shall be the winner. In the event of further Tie the lowest 6 holes, the last 3 holes, last 2 the last hole shall determine the winner. However should this process not provide the outright winner the aforementioned shall be applied to the front 9 holes, first 6, first 3, first 2 and first hole. Thereafter a Committee decision will be final.

Match Play Stage

14. Eight players shall be eligible to compete in the Match Play Stages of

the Tournament in each section as follows:

● Gold Section : Handicaps to 8 inclusive

● Silver Section : Handicaps 9 to 16 inclusive

● Bronze Section : Handicaps 17 to 54 inclusive

15. Players shall only be eligible for the Match Play stages by indicating availability on their club’s entry sheet.

16. In the event of a tie for the eighth qualifying place, the method outlined in 12 above shall be applied.

17. Matches will be over 18 holes, with sudden death to determine winners if required.

18. If a player arrives after, but within five minutes of his starting time being called to the tee then he shall lose the first hole. Arrival out with five minutes shall lead to disqualification.

26/5/2022 Cash Sweeps Return

All

From this Saturday if you are playing, can you please come to the clubhouse before playing as we are re-introducing the random draw and £3 cash to be paid on the day, if you want to enter the sweep. We have also started the early rota, so someone will be there to organise this, Chris Wixon has drawn the lucky straw for this Saturday..

You may have noticed that Mark Munro hasn't been around much, this is due to work commitments. Mark has done a Sterling job over the last 2 years co-ordinating sweep money, but he no longer has the time to keep on top of this and it was only introduced due to covid, so we are returning to previous methods.

The good news is if you want to enter the sweep and are lucky enough to be 1st, 2nd or 3rd on the day then you could have the satisfaction of going home with some cash in your pocket.

Mark and I will work together to get all monies due to everyone on his spreadsheet, so another bonus coming your way soon, if you have a healthy balance.

Also for Leith Links on a Tuesday, if you are playing and want to enter the sweep can you leave £3 in an envelope in the clubhouse with your name on it prior to playing if possible.

Finally a request for any members to volunteer and help with the Comiston Ladies Millar Tournament on Thursday 7th July.

They are looking for anyone to help with ball spotting, starter, rules decisions and marshalling for approx 2 hour slots. If you are free that day it would be great if you could help out.

The volunteers will be catered for on the day with either a lunch or dinner depending on their timeslot and will be given adequate breaks in the day.

There is a sign up sheet on the noticeboard for volunteers and they requested details by the end of May so they can co-ordinate. Currently only 1 volunteer on the sheet, it would be good to get a few more names if possible before the end of the month, if you have the spare time.

Dougie Aitken

Captain

30/4/2022 New (and hopefully permanent) tee time process

Hi all,

Following the committee meeting this week, we have adopted a slightly tweaked process to the draw for Saturdays. This is to save on admin time for me mainly which I am sure you will all appreciate!

9 time slots will be posted each week. If playing Dawn Patrol (6:45 onwards), the slots are open and you should add your name to a tee time prior to the Saturday.

If playing in the afternoon, the slots are marked as "reserved". You just need to sign up for the competition and we will assume you are playing in the afternoon.

On the day, pop up to the clubhouse and we will carry out a random draw around 11:20am to give you your groups. You can still text a committee member to say you will be early/late, or you can show up early and ask to get off early if you need as has always been the case. The person on Rota duty will be allocated an 11:40 slot.

Tuesday nights will remain as is, pick a time slot with another member.

Best

Neil

On Behalf of committee.

28/3/2022 - Preferred lies and Summer Eclectics

Hi all,

Two things

1) the committee have agreed preferred lies will remain in place until the end of April.

2) two eclectics will run this year. One, The Summer Eclectic, we have run for a few seasons now, will take your best score on all strokeplay events only (there are about 20 of these over the summer between 1st April and 31st October). If you want to enter you must reply to this email by 30th April at the latest. Everyone who enters will have £5 taken off their sweep account and this will be divided up between top 3-5 depending on number of entries received.

The second eclectic is the Leith Links. Similar to the winter league, 50p of your sweep will be allocated to the eclectic pot for this Tuesday competition, 50p/£1 to the overall pot and the rest on the day.. Which starts in a couple of weeks. You will be automatically entered if you play in the Leith links at anytime.

Both Eclectics will operate on 60% of your handicap index.

Best

Neil

On behalf of the committee

20th April 2022 - Leith Links reminder

Hi All,

Just following on from Neil's email below, the Leith Links competition will run most Tuesdays starting from next week 26/April until 23/August. Please check the fixture list on the club website for all the dates.

For all new members, this is a stableford competition played off white tees. There is a weekly sweep and the entry fee of £3 will be taken from your electronic sweep account as normal.

The weekly payout will be the top 2 or 3 scores depending on playing numbers.

The overall winner will be the person with the best 5 combined scores.

There will be a payout for the top 3 players at the end of the competition.

There is also an Eclectic competition which is specific to the Leith Links and you will be 'auto enrolled' in this as part of your weekly entry fee. There will be a payout for the top 3 in the eclectic competition.

Whilst we would encourage members to play as a group between 4:30-6pm this is not compulsory. You can play at any time during the day providing you play with a BU member.

Please get in touch if you have any questions.

Best regards,

Mark R

BU 125 Celebration Invitational: Sunday 22nd May

All a reminder that we are having a BU 125 Celebration Invitational on Sunday 22nd May, tee times from 10:00am

This day you can bring a partner for free to play in a competition over the Braids celebrating 125 years. I'm hoping all members will try and make this event and celebrate this unique club of ours. The competition will be a 2 man Texas scramble so less pressure on you and your guest.

I need to block book times with Edinburgh Leisure, so need numbers for a few weeks before so the event.

There will be a sign-up sheet at the clubhouse, or if you can let myself or Mark Munro know if your playing and also your partners name (Edin Leisure need these details).

More nearer the time, but hopefully there will be food before and after the event, so I'll be asking for members to help make this a successful day.

Dougie Aitken

Captain

Newsletter w/b 28th March

In this weeks newsletter

• Results - Winter League Culmination

• Upcoming Fixtures

• Competitions for signup

• Bar Training / Rota

Firstly a very enjoyable celebratory dinner for the 125th anniversary of Braids United took place at Merchants Golf club last Friday. Much drinking and cavorting as expected accompanied with an excellent speech from the Captain, some very good food, and one table won all the raffle prizes. There are some photos attached, and we are going to try and set up an album of photos from the night so if you have any you took please forward them onto myself

RESULTS - Winter League

So the final round of the Winter League was played on Saturday 26th. None of the 40+ point rounds this week. The two players finishing in front with 38 points were Glenn Marsters, and Dougie Aitken. Glenn took first place and £20 with an back nine of 21 points. Dougie in second wins £10. But the big weekly winner was Ian Meyer who had two 2s, on the 12th and 13th holes. He wins a double roll over prize of £33.

No surprises in the overall winner of the Winter Long Competition - Les Cranston with 5 rounds of 40 or above. He also wins the eclectic. Full details below, but he will no doubt be under the scrutiny of the Handicap Committee who met this week to discuss season handicaps….well done Les - a tremendous winter, and special mention to Roger Lockhart for second place in both. And thanks everyone for turning out in big numbers every week

Winter League

1st Les Cranston 209 pts (£75)

2nd Roger Lockhart 204 pts (£45)

3rd Graeme Thomson 201 pts (£30)

4th Brian Donkin 199 pts (£15)

Eclectic

1st Les Cranston 48 (£45)

2nd Roger Lockhart 49 (£26)

3rd prize of £18 is split equally between 3 players who finished on 52 - Graeme Thomson, Ian Meyer and Mark Robertson

Upcoming Fixtures

2nd April - April Medal

3rd April - Heriots against Braids United (at Gullane 2) - team selected

9th April - Heriots Trophy

Remember preferred lies are in place until the end of April. And as we move into the new season we are very keen to avoid slow play. Dont forget the Captains email - if you fall a hole behind the group in front you MUST wave the group behind through

BU pair in the national Daily Mail Foursomes (M. Munro & S. Oliver) have a second round tie against Craigmillar Park next week.

And if you haven't put your name down for the Spring outing to Dunbar on Sunday 17th April please let Neil Porter or Mark Robertson know you would like to be there

Competitions for SignUp

Nine Hole Championship : The R&A every year run a national 9 hole pairs competition. The UK final will be played at The Old Course St Andrews on Friday 8th July - in the week leading up to the Open there. We are holding a qualifying round for this over the Wee Braids on Tuesday 19th March from 5.30. If you want to take part pair yourself up and let me know you want to play (if you dont have a partner I can pair you up - just let me know you want to be included) . There will also be a sign up sheet at the club

The competition is Stableford and the pairs score will be the points for both players over the 9 holes. The winners will play in the Scottish final at Dundas Parks on the 9th and 10th of June - top places in this will go to the national final at St Andrew

Siveright Tropy (Foursomes); If your handicap is between 5.5 and 18.4, and you want to play in a Lothians Golf Competition, please let Neil Porter know you are keen. He is looking for a squad of up to 16 players to provide cover for the teams in this knockout competition across the season

BU 125 Celebration Invitational: Please remember as well that Sunday 22nd May is the day when you can bring a partner (for free) to play in a great competition over the Braids celebrating our 125th year. - Sign up sheet will also be at the clubhouse, or let me know you would like to be involved. Tee times from 10am

Bar Training / Rota

As you all will know the Braids United club is pretty much run by the members. We rely on every one taking a turn in helping with Pre Match and Post match in the clubhouse. To work behind the bar, you need to have taken a short training course which our Licensee (Neil Porter) is in charge of. If you would like to be bar trained to be able to get drinks in the Clubhouse, Neil is running some training on Saturday before the medal. Please drop him a line to let him know you want to take part

We also all like to share around the pleasure of helping behind the bar with food after each match day. This is done on a rotational basis, so the more people who are happy to help, the less it comes round. I hope you all understand that you make the club, and doing a little bit to help very occasionally makes the club what it is. The “ROTA” is done automatically, and you get an email asking you to help on a certain day, If you cant make it you can always “pass” and it will go onto someone else. You can also pre populate the days you cant make, so you wont be asked. Please let me know if you are happy to be included in the group that help with this. It is all very helpful!

And thats it for this week - enjoy the start of the season proper on Saturday

Mark

Mark Munro

Secretary, Braids United

Newsletter w/b 21st March 2022

This weeks Newsletter contains

• latest results

• upcoming comps (including the Sandy Rennie individual Matchplay draw)

• New member welcome

Also attached is an outline of most of the competitions and trophies played for throughout the year. Many new members said they were a little confused as to what the comps are, and what the details are of things like the Order Of Merit etc. I hope this document will help make things a little clearer and act as a handy reference document

Results

Another fantastic turnout for the penultimate round of the Winter League. 36 players trying to catch up with Les Cranston in the over all field. However the fact Les finished 2nd with 33 points (winning another £15), might have kiboshed any hopes of that. The only player to do any better was another man in form Roger Lockhart. He wins the first prize of £25 with an excellent 45 points. Two players finished on 40 points with Identical back 9s. So it was a back six holes of 16 points that gave third place and £11 to Neil Burgoyne. Bad luck Mick Ahern, but nice to see you back at the club!

Three players got twos, but no-one got two twos, so the twos money carries over again and will make a decent sized pot (£25 and counting) for any player scoring more twos than the rest of the field

Upcoming competitions

Next week is the last round of the Winter League and then the season starts properly on the 2nd April with the April Meda following that:

3rd April Club match v Heriots at Gullane (Representing the BU on this occasion are Dougie A, Mark M, Andy W, Chris W, Stef O, Fraser R, Ross D, Ron H, Mick A and Gordon B, with Wilf M and Roger L as reserves)

9th April Heriots Trophy

Please also remember to get your Sandy Rennie ties arranged. Deadline for preliminary round is 24th April. You can view the draw on SG app, but have also attached it here. Dont sit back and wait for your opponent to contact you - just get in touch with them (all contact details on BU website - and I believe you can also contact through the SG website clubpage, though this is untested!)

New Member

We have a new member join the club this week - James Monan, previously of Prestonfield GC. Welcome James.

Player Handicaps

The handicaps of all club players can now be viewed on the Scottish Golf app

If you are going to the 125 celebration dinner tomorrow night, make sure and enjoy! and dance a lot - there may be photos in the next news letter

Mark Munro

Secretary, Braids United

Newsletter week beginning 14th March 2022

Results

Firstly the BHA Winter Shield was a great success 10 days ago with 72 players from the 4 hill clubs competing and many gathering before and after in the BU Clubhouse for food and refreshment. Harrison won both the Scratch and the Handicap competition, but special mention to Stevie Pennel and Mark Robertson who were best scratch pair on the day

On Sunday, the March medal took place - only three scores were below par, but quite spectacular they were. A rare podium finish for George Letham who got third place and £11 with a four under par. Roger Lockhart was in second place with an excellent -8 and wins £16. Beating him by one stroke and ignoring the Captains Curse was Dougie Aitken…congratulations to him, and £21 goes his way. There were three 2s on the day, but only 2 of those people are in the sweep so Glenn Marsters and Walter Grieve take equal share of the £12 Twos prize. Dont forget as well the top 8 players in the 12 medals get points towards the annual Order of Merit competition. The standings for this can be viewed on the Scottish Golf app Under Comps>OoM tab

And last Saturday there was a great turnout for the latest round of the Winter league. An unprecedented 51 points (yes fifty one!!) from Graeme Thomson secured first place and the £21 prize. Chris Donkin wins £13 for second place with an impressive 48 points and Tam Bourhill had the better inward half than Stef Oliver to come third with 44 points. With two rounds left, people are closing in on the long term leader Les Cranston - lots to prove on the next two Saturdays

Winter Foursomes

The final of the Winter Foursomes was played last week, and previous winners The Hack Street Boys (M.Munro & A.White) came out on top of The Black Olive Hookers (Blackwood & S.Oliver) winning 4&2. As Andy White will be in Berlin for much of the next few months, the BU representatives in the National Foursomes competition will be Mark Munro and Stef Oliver

Sandy Rennie

you have a few hours to get your name in the hat for this years Sandy Rennie tournament, one of the clubs Majors…..sign up for it on the Scottish Golf app

125 celebrations

The Celebration dinner takes place a week on Friday. The captain requests that all attendees (members and guests) take a Lateral Flow Test before attending the dinner. Much Drinking, Eating, Dancing and Cavorting then to be had.

Mark Robertson is taking names for those interested in the Spring / 125 anniversary outing to Dunbar on Sunday 17th April

Please make sure you have paid your club subs for the year.

Mark Munro

Secretary, Braids United

10/12/2021 Clubhouse and Omicron Virus

Gents

With the recent publicity of the Omicron Virus and the Scottish Government suggesting cancellation of parties or large groups, I just want to take time to make sure we follow guidelines and keep safe.

We want to try and keep the clubhouse open, but also keep members safe. So if using the clubhouse tomorrow can we please remember to

● Wear face coverings unless seated

● Sanitise hands on entry and departure

● We think it would be prudent when seated tomorrow to space out a little for the foreseeable future.

● Suggest opening windows for ventilation, perhaps open the kitchen windows.

We will monitor this situation carefully and update any changes for following weeks.

I don't think I'm playing tomorrow because I have to work, but a possible 5% chance I may play, depends on how the software upgrade goes.

So keep safe and hope to see some of you soon.

Regards

Dougie Aitken (Captain)

2/12/2021 - AGM reminder and Sunday Medal update

Dear all,

The AGM on Saturday sees the start of a new two year cycle in governance of the club, and the "changing of the guard" coincides with the December medal on Sunday.

To mark the occasion, in addition to the medal and sweeps (including a two's sweep since it is a monthly medal) there will be nearest the hole prizes at all of the par 3s. Hot food will be available in the clubhouse post-golf.

We look forward to a good day on Sunday - weather permitting of course!

Regards,

Wilf and Dougie