Following the latest COVID Update from the First Minister, Scottish Golf has been working with our partners at sportscotland and the Scottish Government to receive approval on our latest COVID-19 Guidance ahead of mainland Scotland moving to Protection Level 0 on Monday 19 July 2021.

We have now updated our guidance and all clubs should note the key changes effective from Monday 19 July:

Outdoor bubbles (coaching & competition) up to 500 with no participant limit per day
Locker Rooms/Changing Facilities can re-open
Indoor Hospitality extended to groups of 10 people from 4 households
All golf course furniture may be returned for normal use, including the removal of flagsticks, standard hole cups and bunker rakes

Preferred lies in bunkers may remain in place at club’s discretion, recognising that not every golfer will wish to use a communal rake. Ahead of implementing these changes, we would recommend that clubs carry out a risk assessment that is specific to the situation at their club.

While this latest update is a further step forward in the return to golf and its traditions as we know it, until such time as restrictions are lifted fully we would urge everyone to continue to risk assess for their specific environment and respect differing perspectives in relation to risk will still be evident across the wide range of golfers in Scotland.

We know that today’s update will have a positive impact on all affiliated clubs and their members, and on behalf of everyone at Scottish Golf, we would like to thank you for your continued patience and strict adherence to the restrictions that have been in place.

Keep up to date on the latest COVID-19 Updates from Scottish Golf here.

Women in Golf Charter Webinar for Clubs. Find out everything you need to know about the Women in Golf Charter and #FOREeveryone campaign in our latest Zoom Webinar which will take place at 3pm on 24 June. On the call, clubs will have the chance to hear from Jackie Davidson, Assistant Director - Golf Development at The R&A, and Jessica Hedderman, Account Director at Performance54.

Clubs will find out more about the purpose, desired outcomes and impact of the Women in Golf Charter, as well as getting a look at #FOREeveryone, the public facing campaign designed to support clubs to increase participation amongst women and girls.

Date: 24 June 2021
Time: 3pm – 3.45pm
How to join: Please click the button below to register and you will receive an email invite with a link and instructions on how to join the webinar. 

Jackie and Jessica will also be answering any questions you may wish to ask when registering for the webinar. Read the full club newsletter here

OpenPlay will allow the 500,000 Scottish golfers who aren’t members of a golf club to obtain and maintain a handicap for the first time. Scottish Golf has today (3 June 2021) unveiled its innovative new online scheme, OpenPlay, which, for the first time ever, will allow golfers throughout Scotland to register with the Scottish Golf App to maintain a handicap without being a member of a golf club.

The launch of OpenPlay, one of the biggest changes to the sport in a generation, will open up handicaps to an estimated half a million golfers in Scotland who do not currently hold a golf club membership OpenPlay’s introduction follows on from the successful integration of the World Handicap System which came into effect in Scotland in November 2020.

Read the full article here

Congratulations to Fraser Grant of Ralston Golf Club, winner of the McKinnon Wood Cup competition. The 2 round tournament took place at Cawder Golf Club on Sunday 30th May.

With perfect weather for golf, Fraser shot a superb total of 135 (-5) with rounds of 69, 66. 

Fraser - who was the only player to shoot under par in both rounds in a high quality field - is pictured receiving the trophy from Cawder Club Captain, Gary McDonald. The win shoots Fraser to the top of the Order of Merit table after one event.

Also in the field were GGU players Paul Gault of Haggs Castle, Lindsay Miller of Cawder, and Scott Wearing of Bishopbriggs who all pick up points for this season's Order of Merit competition.

For more information on this season's Order of Merit, click here

We wanted to provide an update on our current status regarding the ability to look up handicap and post scores to various parts of GB&I outside Scotland. As you know, Scotland went live with WHS on the 2nd of November 2020 and our handicap calculations have been working as they should from that date.

Our system has been ready to integrate with the other countries for over 7 months now, but we have been waiting for the API (tech spec) from DotGolf, the WHS software provider for the rest of GB&I. As of last week, we have now been given the proposed coding requirements and OCS (Scottish Golf provider) will now start the technical work required to get this up and running as soon as possible. We will come back to all clubs when this process has been complete, but this will require some testing of the functionality before we release this to clubs.

Read the full newsletter here

The GGU Champion of Champions draw has been made and is now available to view on the Competitions Menu. This year 10 champions will contest the coveted title.

We are also pleased to announce the Order of Merit qualifying competitions have been added and start with the McKinnon Wood Cup which will be held at Cawder Golf Club on Sunday 30th May.

There are a total of of 9 qualifying competitions, 5 must be played to award the Order of Merit.

To view the OOM table click here

Scottish Golf is offering coaches and volunteers the opportunity to attend a free Introduction to Coaching Children workshop. The workshop has been developed as part of sportscotland’s physical literacy coach CPD pathway.

It is designed to support those working with children aged between 5-12 years.

It will allow coaches to support children to develop positive behaviours through play, physical activity and sport so they can thrive as lifelong participants in golf.

The course is also integrated to the Physical Skills Module in the Scottish Golf Learn to Golf  junior coaching programme.

Attendees will gain an understanding of:

• The key principles that influence all-round development of the basic movement skills and physical literacy.
• A holistic approach to child development and the development of the whole child through sport.
• How to develop basic multi-skills.

The webinar will be delivered virtually over two 90-minute sessions on the 7th and 14th June from 7pm – 8.30pm on both evenings.

Book Your Place on the event here

Following our most recent COVID-19 Update on Friday, we have been working with our partners at sportscotland and the Scottish Government to seek further clarity on enhanced travel restrictions for Level 3 Areas (Glasgow and Moray). We have now updated our guidance. All clubs currently in a Level 3 area should note that this guidance is effective immediately:

Adults living in Level 3 areas may leave their local authority area (up to 5 miles) to take part in a casual game of golf.
Adults living in Level 3 areas should only travel locally to take part in a competitive or qualifying round.
Children Under 17 may travel to and from Level 0, 1, 2 and 3 areas to take part in informal exercise and organised sport, training and competition.
All travel to and from the venue must take place on the same day with no overnight stays permitted

The latest indication we have from the Scottish Government is that these restrictions will be in place for at least one week from Monday 17 May. We will continue to monitor the situation and keep all clubs updated should anything change.

Keep up to date on the latest COVID-19 Updates from Scottish Golf here.