Winter Play at the Dragons Tooth

WINTER PLAY

The Greenkeepers work hard to create a special experience for you.  Please help us all to protect and improve the course through the wet, cold winter!

·       On the Greens, pitch marks encourage disease.  PLEASE repair your pitch marks.

 ·       On the Fairways, please use tee pegs or mats (mats are available from The Club House).

 

·       If your ball plugs on the fairway, just clean it then place it to the side and play from there.

 

·       It’s especially important in winter to please repair divots.

 

·       To ensure the condition of the fairways, please refrain from using electric trolleys or hand buggies.

 

Thank you for your support.  We really don’t want to go onto Winter Greens . . . . .

For those unsure of how to repair a pitchmark, here is a quick reminder:

1. Discard the loose piece of turf taken out by the ball
2. insert the pitchmark repairer tool outside the back of the pitchmark
3. lever the turf towards the centre of the pitchmark
4. Repeat this motion from all sides of the pitchmark
5. Gently tap the repaired area with your putter.   This action stretches undamaged turf over the pitchmark, providing instant recovery.

ChemEGA Cup Winner

Last year’s winner, Rory McArthur, presenting Gordon with ChemEGA Cup.

Throughout the golfing season, we get many groups wanting to hold their own competitions here with us at The Dragons Tooth.   One such group was the Chemical Engineering Golf Association of Edinburgh University.  Despite the miserable weather we had in May, they battled through the rain with Gordon Wallace emerging as this year’s winner!

A group mug shot!

Stableford Golf Prize and Winter Events at Dragon's Tooth Golf Course, Glencoe, Fort William

The Secretary of the Dragon's Tooth Golf Club has recently sent the following note out to members of the Dragons Tooth Golf Club, at Ballachulish near Glencoe, in the Scottish Highlands.  The home of great West Coast Golf also has a vibrant local golf membership club.  Members having been enjoying a Stableford Golf Competition over recent weeks, and local golfers from as far afield as Duror, Glencoe and Fort William have been enjoying some remarkable golf at the well-loved golf course in the Highlands of Scotland.   The Stableford Golf Prize winner is shortly to be announced!

West Coast Golfers wishing to join the Club, or any of the golf social events below, should contact Terry. 

Hi Everyone,

This is to let you know that the last officially organised Monday Night Stableford will take place on 26^th September, after which there will be a prize giving for the person who has won most often. As it is getting dark earlier we will expect to send out the first groups around 5:30.

Your Committee will be running the following events over the winter and hope for your support.

29^th October: afternoon “crazy” golf match over 9 holes followed by a barbeque if is raining or an indoor buffet if it is fine!!!!

12^th November: Quiz night

10^th December:   A themed food night. (Ticketed event)

14^th January:  Quiz night

11^th February:  A themed food night. (Ticketed event)

10^th March: Quiz night

I will remind everyone nearer each event and it would be appreciated if you booked your place early so that we know numbers for catering.

Regards

Terry G 

Terry Goodwin
Secretary
Dragon's Tooth Golf Club
Tel: 01855 811 104
Mobile 07802 774 047

HOLE IN ONE!

On Saturday 14th July, Christian Christoephler, holidaying in Scotland from Germany, hit the most covated shot in golf - A HOLE IN ONE!
With only one lesson under his belt, Christian credited his glorious shot on the 7th to many hours playing golf games on his games console.
Being only the 3rd person (we know of) to get a hole in one at The Dragons Tooth Golf Course, this is quite the achievement.  Well done Christian!

Dragon's Tooth Golf Open Competition 2011

What a great Open Competition it was!  The day? - Saturday the 30th July 2011.  The weather? - sun and bright skies. The Course? - in tip-top condition.  Over 45 players teed off for the Stapleford, which ran from early morning to just before 7pm.  A full event, with a number of last-minute comers sadly turned away.  Perhaps not the prestige of the Castle Stewart Scottish Open, but a strong event that demonstrates West Coast golf at its best, and proves that Fort William has some superb golfing opportunities.

Players came from across the area, with good support from friends near and far.  The Dragon's Tooth Golf Club paid tribute to all those who had attended the event, and thanked each and every player for their active participation.

The event was led by the Dragon's Tooth Golf Club, with superb organisation clearly apparent to all.  Terry Goodwin, Club Secretary, led the organisational team and on the day, both Carol Goodwin and Kate Ward were there to meet entrants and ensure the whole competition went smoothly.

Prize Giving took place at 7pm, with an introduction from Vice Captain Bill Bryce. Awards were presented across numerous categories, and warm praise was also awarded to all those local businesses who sponsored the day.

    

Bill Bryce also paid tribute to David Lawrence, Greenkeeper and to his assistant Robert Morrison. It's their flair and dedication that has turned Dragon's Tooth Golf Course from a good 9 hole, to a truly remarkable gem of a course.

A video of the prizegiving is on facebook http://www.facebook.com/DragonsToothGolf

For more information, see content on the Dragon's Tooth Web Site at http://www.dragonstooth.co.uk/news_and_events.php

Best Golf in Scotland

Looking for the best golf in Scotland?  Well, the Ottawa East daily newspaper recently ran a feature on "Scotland - The Home of Golf" . . . . and didn't mention The Dragon's Tooth Golf Course at all?!?

http://www.emcottawaeast.ca/20110623/sports/Scotland+-+The+Home+of+Golf

Yes, it spoke of the joys of the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie, and Muirfield but the reporter didn't sweep his eyes up the West Coast of Scotland to Oban, Fort William and rest on Ballachulish!  Or perhaps he DID, and he found something that he didn't want to let others know about.  Maybe he wants to keep the gem of The Dragon's Tooth Golf Course a secret all to himself.  It may be he loves the quiet calm, the peace of the place.  He, like others, values the ability to just turn up and play.  Maybe he loves the fantastic location, nestled at the foot of 3,000 metre mountains, with the sea almost in touching distance.  Perhaps its the challenge of the 9, demanding holes.

Whatever, when the connoisseurs of golf are in the Glencoe area of Scotland, we see them at the Dragon's Tooth Golf Course, and they are always very welcome.   

Scottish Segway Centre Opens

After the months of meetings, planning and talk about Segways and setting up The Scottish Segway Centre, it was really good to see the Segway UK van pull up the drive at Dragon’s Tooth Golf Course.  And to witness the first of the fleet of seven Segways come down the ramp.

Not only a sense of relief that something was happening at last, but also a feeling of real excitement; we were about to ride a Segway!  Eleven of us had gathered to be part of this moment, and all were eager to see a Segway first hand – and to get on one and to glide away just asap. The group comprised the three Directors of Glencoe Activities Limited (the company acquiring the Segways), plus two members of the Vertical Descents team (the company that will operate the Segways) and David Lawrence (Head Greenkeeper)/Robert Morrison (Assistant Greenkeeper), along with Fiona and Glenn from the Club House and Pete from SeaXplorer.  Pete was joined by another local, Jonny Henshaw and the two of them will hopefully become the core of a wider team of Segway Guides.

As David from Segway UK rolled the first Segway off the van, conversations dropped and the group grew quieter.  They closed in to take a closer look and then fell silent as David began his introduction.  First, a quick overview of the technical bit – not really much to say; few moving parts, lots of hi-tech wizardry and all easy and simple to maintain.  Then, on to the ride.  Well, the glide really, because “you glide a Segway .  Relax, loosen those hands, stand straight.  Press gently on the toes and the Segway goes forward.  A little pressure on the heels, and the Segway slows”. 

WOW!  What a sensation!  Stepping up on the Segway is slightly un-nerving at first, but it’s quick to get balanced and once grasped, seems to come instantly every time.  And it’s extraordinarily true, this really is “like nothing you have done before!”.   Something in between floating on air on the one hand, and sense of freedom of riding a bike on the the other.  As one glides away, with the silent platform below, there’s a feeling of liberation, anticipation and pleasure.  Somehow it bubbles up as a smile of pleasure “Ah! There’s the Segway Smile”.

We made a video of David’s first tour with us, and it’s here onYouTube.  A memento for us of the memorable arrival of Segways at the fledgling Scottish Segway Centre, and perhaps a useful introduction to those who will come to Glencoe, to experience the fun of a Segway Tour for themselves.