The winter golf section

Uniquely, Poloc Cricket Club also plays host to the UK’s only R and A-recognised six-hole golf course.

Founded in 1889, the section's centenary was marked by a letter of congratulations from the custodians of the game's rules based at the home of golf.

With the cricket bats, helmets and pads all safely locked away in attics and back bedrooms for at least a few months, attention for many turns to golf at Shawholm in the early autumn.  The club would love to hear from anyone interested in taking part in golf over the autumn and winter months - read on to find out more about the unique challenge that is a round at "Wee Poloc".....there are monthly medals with club competitions every fortnight throughout the season.

Some English county grounds have trees within their boundary ropes; at Shawholm the greens and tee boxes make unique features on the cricket ground in the summer months!

Golf section news

End-of-season gongs [posted 27/03/10]

Today's AGM saw the end-of-season goings handed out by out-going Captain Kenny Robertson.  The big winner on the dau was the season's Champion Golfer accolade going to Ian Adshead after his win over Charlie McBride on the eighteenth green in a closely-fought Maynard Quaich final.  Other prize-winners announced on the day were:

Ecelectic prize: Keith Sheridan (57)

Lowest scratch score: Stewart Shearer (64)

Consistency Trophy: Peter Alexander 

Allan Veteran Trophy: Stewart Shearer (192)

Somerville Shield: Keith Sheridan (138)

Harry Morgan Trophy (best four net scores): Peter Alexander (253)

Other business at the AGM saw the 2010 Mini-Masters qualifiers being confirmed as Stewart Shearer, Keith Sheridan, Peter Alexander, Charlie McBride, Stephen Sharkey, Brian Spence, Keith Young, Gordon Kennedy and John Hardy.  The 2010-11 Golf Section Committee was also elected and comprises Keith Young (Captain), Jimmy Duncanson (Vice-Captain), Charlie McBride (Honorary Secretary), Brian Spence (Honorary Treasurer), Colin Scott (Greens Convenor) and Gordon Kennedy (Ordinary Member).  Spenny's election as Hon' Treasurer marks the end of Stewart Allan's stalwary service in this role, and he was thanked by the section's members in this regard, the vote of thanks being proposed by Stephen Brown from the floor.  Thanks Stewart.  The next golf season will also see a couple of new competitions - in the main replacing existing monthly medals: the October Medal being replaced by a Juniors versus Seniors match, the December Medal being replaced by an Hon' Sec' versus Hon' Treasurer invitational tournament, and the February Medal being set aside in place of a Members & Guests event.  More info' to come.

Medal Final result [posted 21/03/10]

Stewart Shearer won Sunday's Medal Final "out of the park"!  A sometimes over-used expression, it nonetheless is entirely appropriate for Dangermouse's handicap-busting net 54 - yes, net fifty-four!  A couple of chip-ins helped, but these shouldn't take away from Stewart's crushing nine-shot victory over the field.  The only other point of note on the day was suspicions of handicap-preservation by Adsy as multiple-putting the last saw him preserve his shots for Sunday coming's Maynard Quaich final against the Hon' Sec'.   

Golf results [posted 13/03/10]

Busy day of golf today at the 'Loc.  The March Medal was on,.....so was the Captain's Prizes,.....a few Maynard Quaich ties,.....the February Medal play-off,.....oh, and the determination of the Somerville Shield winner.  Phew.  In order, Charlie McBride's net 60 was good enough to scoop both March's medal spoon and Captain Robertson's prizes.  But given his disqualification () in the Vice-Captain's prizes comp' earlier in the season meant he had to concede the Somerville Shield to Keith Sheridan.  And so the Quaich results: wins for McBride, Alexander and Sheridan.  Peter Alexander's round was also good enough to see him pip Gordon Kennedy for the February Medal spoon - well played Mr A.  The semis of the Quaich are now all-but known with Peter, Charlie and Bean just awaiting the winner of Youngy and Adsy to complete the quartet.  A couple of final pieces of admin': Stewart Shearer's and Charlie's rounds earned them handicap cuts of 1 and 2 shots respectively, and the Medal Final competitors were clarified after today's medal - they are, respectively, Messrs. Adshead, Alexander, Brown, Kennedy, McBride, Robertson, Scott, Sharkey, Shearer, Sheridan, Spence and Young.  The Medal Final is next Sunday, starting at 1pm.

Membership and office bearers

Membership of the golf section has, historically, always been separate from that of the parent cricket club itself.  Our winter golf section does, however, warmly welcome new members and if you would like to know more about joining us for golf over the autumn and winter months, please get in touch with the club.

Season 2010-11's Captain is Keith Young. his Vice-Captain is Jimmy Duncanson.  Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and Greens Convenor are, respectively, Charlie McBride, Brian Spence and Colin Scott.

Details of the current subscription rates can be found on the Joining Poloc section of the website.

Local rules

Rule 1 - the boundaries of the course

These are as follows: a) the near side of the path adjacent to the river cart; b) the fence adjacent to the sixth tee and first and fifth greens; c) the tennis courts as defined by the wire netting; d) the pavilion enclosure as defined by the iron railings; and e) the cricket square as defined by the markings in place.

Rule 2 - the practice wicket area

A ball finishing within the practice wicket area as defined by the markings in place must be lifted and dropped, under penalty of one stroke, within one club length of the defining marking on the teeing-ground side of whichever hole is being played.

Rule 3 - preferred lies

These apply at all times and apply to any ball within bounds and outwith the easily recognisable rough near to the boundaries of the course.  Cases of doubt to be referred to a playing partner.

Rule 4 - ball plugged in the rough

A player may, after consulting his partner, lift and drop a ball plugged in the rough without penalty at the same point where it is plugged.  If the ball rolls more than one club length away, it should be re-dropped.

Rule 5 - ball plugged and lost in the fairway

If a ball is lost in the fairway, and its flight has been witnessed by at least one playing partner who is certain that the ball landed and stopped in the fairway, and this certainty is not disputed by any other playing partner, then the player may replace the ball and play the next shot without penalty from the approximate point where the ball stopped as indicated by the playing partner(s).

Rule 6 - putting green

A player may, without penalty, tap down all spike-marks and any other irregularities on the putting surface, including those on the line of the putt.

In all other case the rules of golf as laid down by the R and A Club, St. Andrews, will be observed.

Handicaps and competitons