HELPING NATURE

Interest is growing concerning our ability to develop the course using 1920s methods and without any chemicals or bought-in fertilisers.

Wood, grass cuttings, leaves and mole hills are all we need and nothing this year has had to come from outside the golf course itself.

The latest group to want to get involved was The Scottish Wildlife Trust. They did a great job increasing the size of our natural pond.

Might be a while though before we see someone fishing!




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University Rugby Squad at Kingarrock

The St Andrews University Rugby Football Club made a recent visit to the Kingarrock. Two large trees, each over 100 years old, had come down in strong winds. E verything in the field is recycled.

The woodchips help to keep the paths open in the winter and the logs provide the heat for burning the molehill mix that is used as top-dressing for the greens. The strength and enthusiasm of the squad made light work of a very big job. Their expertise with wooden golf clubs was almost as impressive!



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BLGS 250th

It was great fun helping Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society celebrate the club's 250th anniversary with a weekend of hickory golf.

It started with the original 6 holes at the Meadows in the centre of Edinburgh, moved to Musselburgh for the 9-hole course on Sunday and ended that evening back at Barnton with 20 Past Champions playing 4 holes with 5 old hickories and our shortest distance golf balls. Great scoring and good fun for all was the result.

Our picture shows Michelle ensuring that both past and present senior PGA Professionals from BLGS, ably assisted by 2 enthusiastic members, pack 300 clubs safely for their journey to Edinburgh.



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AMAZING SCORE

Our 2011 season opened at Easter with a record round.
Matthew Gibb, Ned Conway and Thirnan Young, all from St Andrews University, played two rounds with the '1898' ball.

Matthew played the first 9 in 43 and proceeded to take a shot a hole off for his second ever round of Kingarrock, holing out in 34 shots.
After a hard winter, I think we should give some credit to Colin the green keeper and his 1920s methods!

Our picture shows Matt enjoying a celebratory glass of ginger beer.



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OFF-SEASON WORK

We are receiving more and more requests from golfers wishing to put together their own set of hickory clubs.

Removing decades of rust is just one of the jobs Michelle has to perform to make the old clubs playable again.

Having twice the number of visitors last summer has also meant there is no shortage of work at this time of year in repairing our own hickory clubs.
We prefer to be busy and so get in touch if we can help.



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BEWARE FIFE IN WINTER

These were the words of sound advice from the gnomes of St Andrews before we resurrected the 1920s Sharp family course.

Our 1939 set of gang mowers are certainly not much use in this weather. It is a good thing we close in October!

Andrew Carstairs (94 years young) recently confirmed that prior to its closure for the war effort in 1939, he and friends enjoyed Kingarrock as a summer experience, with the family playing their winter golf on the local links courses.



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A TAYLORMADE DAY

It was a great pleasure to welcome 70 international staff from TaylorMade recently to Kingarrock.

While half played the course with a shotgun start the remainder were busy on the Mansionhouse lawns hitting jiggers through croquet hoops and enjoying the hog roast and Arbroath smokies.

The weather stayed fair and all looked forward to improving their hickory score next time.



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1st Hole-in-One for over 70 years!

Kingarrock recently succumbed to its first ace since George Thomson had two hole-in-ones on the same day in 1939.

Our star player on this occasion was Paul Charlton who holed his 166 yard tee shot with a brassie at the 2nd named 'Stand Sure'.

Old Daw Anderson was on hand to ensure that the ginger beer was replaced by something a bit stronger for the celebrations that followed 'afore ye go'.



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WELCOME GEOFF OGILVY

Our timing for the Mansionhouse to receive its new coat of paint and be back as it was 100 years ago could not have been better.

The Open at St Andrews brought many first time guests to Kingarrock. Among them was a former US Open champion.

After his round, Geoff Ogilvy said "It can really help your swing speed and your imagination. You're learning all over again. There is something fun about playing golf like this."



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HICKORY POWERPLAY GREAT SUCCESS

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed Kingarrock's first ever PowerPlay Charity Day.

Peter McEvoy OBE awarded our trophy to Ian Gaunt (9 handicap), who after scoring only 6 points in the first 5 holes, collected another 23 points over the last 4. It could only happen with 'PowerPlay'! 2nd equal with 25 points were Neil Paton of the Old Course Hotel and Douglas McEvoy, son of Peter.

All entry fees were split 50/50 between Erskine and the Bill McLaren Foundation.



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SHOTGUN STAR TO 2010

We started our season with 60 of the best architects in the world of golf. They played Kingarrock in the morning and held a conference in St Andrews in the afternoon.

They brightened up a damp day and enjoyed their visit like no other group before. Our awards photo shows Andy Jeffrey and Rick Baric receiving their prize from Howard Storey of John Deere. David Anderson (Kingarrock) is on the left and David Krause (President of EIGCA) is on the right.



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WINTER ACTIVITY

The last few months have involved turning wet land into a pond, sowing yellow rattle in the rough to assist the growth of wild flowers and some strategic tree planting in keeping with a RAF 1946 aerial photograph.

The golfers are not due to return until we open again at Easter, but it is good to see others making use of the course in the meantime!



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A SPECIAL TREE FOR XMAS

In 1743 the first book on golf was published in Edinburgh called 'The Goff'.
It told the story of matches played at that time on Leith Links. There are believed to be between 5 and 10 copies of the 1st edition still in existence. Hugh Sharp of Hill of Tarvit owned two of them. Sadly they are missing.

David Hamilton, well known golf historian, in 2003 wrote and published 'The Thorn Tree Clique' to provide us all with a better understanding of the 1743 work. A thorn tree was known to dominate the 1st tee at Leith all those years ago.

We were honoured to have David be the one to plant our thorn tree in front of our 1st tee and to help us celebrate Hugh's own library of over 1,500 books.



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AN ASSIST FOR NEXT SEASON

Our first full summer has taught us where the occasional ball gets lost and so we are sowing 'yellow rattle' to the right of the 6th fairway. It thins out the grass with a pretty flower and makes the golf ball easy to spot and a lot easier to play. Our picture shows Colin Smith our Head Greenkeeper preparing the ground for seeding. We look forward to even lower scores!



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A VISIT FROM THE EXPERTS

The British Golf Collectors Society had their first official outing at Kingarrock last Tuesday.
The group included their President and current holder of the 2009 Scottish Hickory Championship Philip Truett as well as Society Captain David Hamilton, a leading Scottish transplant surgeon and well known writer on golf and its history. Stuart Lloyd of the R & A Championship Committee was also in the party and so any matters concerning the rules of the day were decided most promptly!



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STAR TURN

Peter McEvoy OBE, paid us a visit the other day and played the 9 holes with the '1924' ball in 35 strokes.
The current record with the '1898' ball stands at 36 and is held by PGA Professional George Finlayson.
It is turning into a summer of record returns!



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1744 REVISTED

We were honoured recently to have The Leith Rules Golf Society visit us.
9 holes were played with the 1898 ball and a second round with the 1924 ball. Their enjoyment was increased by not incurring a single penalty associated with Rule No.11 of 7th March 1744!



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BUTTERCUPS & DAISIES

The gift of a set of gangs from friends in Lincolnshire has allowed us to cut the fairways in a more traditional way.
And with the reduction in the use of chemicals, natural flowers are flourishing.
We are now looking for another set of gangs for the rough. If you see any lying unused, do get in touch.



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SINGING IN THE RAIN

The Fife County Ladies Golf Association held an outing at Kingarrock last weekend as part of their centenary celebrations.
The wet weather could not dampen their spirits or their finery and the gold medal was presented for a record score with the 1924 ball.
We look forward to their return next year, and lots of sun to go with their smiles!



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READY FOR PLAY

While the leaves won't appear for a week or two, we are ready for the 09 season and will be open for reservations from the 2nd April.
New planting will be apparent to those that have visited us before. More good news to the eye is the enclosure by Willow Traders of the last remnant of late 20th century activity in 'Golf Field' ( see 'The Rough with the Smooth' - 11th July 2004.)



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WINTER ARRIVES

Our first summer playing hickory on Kingarrock after a 70 year gap was most enjoyable.
We are closed now for winter and open again in the Spring on the 2nd of April.
We wish you a good festive season and look forward to welcoming you back when the days are longer and warmer!



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THE KINGARROCK ARTISAN

Members of the Kingarroch Golf Society at Craigrothie have created a club for up to 12 artisans that receive the courtesy of the course in return for assisting the greenkeeper. Our picture was taken following their first ever 'Bogey' competition won by Jack Williamson. Colin Smith was runner-up and the 'Lost Shot' award went to Jason Herkes.



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THE PERFECT START

Kingarrock re-opened on the 28th June and the sun shone brightly, but no more so than our very first visitors that reserved the 1st tee for 9am.
Bill, Tammy and Derrick came all the way from Vancouver and arrived dressed magnificently for golf in the roaring twenties. A little champagne before play did no harm to their swing and they posted scores for the board to be proud of. Haste ye back.



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RESULTS ANNOUNCED FOR 'NAME THE HOLES' COMPETITION

Nobody was spot on, but these local golfers all came very close.

Michelle Thissen, Director of Golf & Thistle, presented each winner with 3 of the 9 hand painted Wemyss tiles representing the different holes. Peter Milne, Ron Hoy and James Finnie now look forward to the real thing when the course opens this weekend.



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BBC COMES TO HILL OF TARVIT

Our picture shows Peter Alliss and Phil Tuffnell celebrating inside Foresters Cottage after a successful days filming on the Kingarrock golf course. The comparison between old clubs and new was ably demonstrated.
What will appear on the One Show in July nobody knows, but G & T can confirm that under the able tutelage of caddy Peter, Phil's very first attempt at using hickory resulted in a birdie 2 at the 7th!



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NEW FROM OLD

A small bridge was needed to cross the cundy at the 7th hole.
All the stone used to build it has come from within the Hill of Tarvit estate.
We thank Alan Boyd, our local stonemason from Ceres for doing a wonderful job.



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WIND POWER

February gales caused the sad loss of a Poplar to the right of the 6th fairway.
It was planted in the early part of the 20th century when the course was first designed.
New planting that is taking place will more than make up for its loss and there is a good chance that the trunk and roots that remain will come to life again.



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FAITH, HOPE & CHARITY

Friends of Golf & Thistle recently sent us three young hickory trees in the hope that they might survive the Scottish weather and one day grow to their North American height of 80'. Our picture shows Peter and Chick from the National Trust, with over 40 years experience between them managing the gardens at Hill of Tarvit, doing everything possible to give our very special new arrivals a chance to live and prosper between the 1st and 9th fairways.
Meantime, Michelle stands by wondering how long it will take before she can cut them down and use the wood for repairing any broken golf clubs!



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KEY PLANTING

A very big THANK YOU to the Thistle Camp that came to stay at Hill of Tarvit in week 44. The planting that they carried out to the right of the 1st tee and to the left of the 3rd fairway, is probably the most important to take place in the next 100 years. The Design Landscape will be improved and the general public better protected from a wayward shot!



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IMPROVING THE COPSE

Week 43 this year involved Chris White of Treevolution giving CS30/31 Chainsaw Training at Hill of Tarvit. Our copse that separates the 4th green from the 8th hole proved the ideal location for instruction. The deciduous trees now have much needed room to breath. It should also prove easier to find the odd lost ball!



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A SPECIAL CASE

During the last week of August, Phil Keoghan, star host of TV show The Amazing Race, arrived from the USA at Inverclyde to walk across Scotland hitting a golf ball with only a 7 iron. His shortest route to St Andrews was via Hill of Tarvit.
Our picture shows our Greenkeeper Colin Smith preparing the 9th hole for play for the first time in 70 years in Phil's honour. His bogey 5 with a hickory club and without a single practice shot was a fine effort.



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SCOTTISH ELM for COMFORT

Four A2 Design & Technology candidates from Strathallan School recently delivered their most lovely pieces of work made specifically for the use of golfers playing hickory at Hill of Tarvit.
Julia Morrison, Head of Department, said, "It had been a privilege for the school to be involved in this unique project, which had been a most rewarding experience for each of the young designers."



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We Have Water

Thank goodness we made one of the redundant old sewage tanks capable of storing water. (See 'Preparing for Drought' 4th May 2006.)
One minute we are complaining about a wet winter and now we are experiencing a hot and dry spring.
Our picture shows the 6th green being the first to benefit.



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Key Appointment

The time has come for Golf & Thistle to have its own Head Greenkeeper to now take responsibility for 'golf field'.
Our picture shows Bob Robertson, a man very much with his roots in Fife, now in the 'chair with arms', rapidly making Hill of Tarvit look like a golf course for the first time in nearly 70 years.



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Forester's Cottage

Happily the weather has not held back progress on our starter's house. It is located only a few yards from the course itself and is also the same distance from the Putting Green on the lower lawn of Hill of Tarvit.
Original hickory putters and golf balls will be available this summer.



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Our wettest Winter

You have not heard from us as much as we would have wished as we have been severely affected by the wettest winter ever. If we are lucky we may still play some golf this year but are advised not to take firm bookings before 2008.
Patience is a virtue!



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Green again at last

Our picture, taken on the 1st September, looks over the 1st fairway to the 9th tee (in shadow) and on up to the 3rd fairway. Brighter green is fairway and lighter green is rough. After four and a half years, any green is beautiful!
We now also have a supply of water to the field tank and can look forward to sowing the tees and greens as well.



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A Wonderful Shot for a Special Occasion

Sunday 27th August was chosen to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Mansionhouse. The Sharp family had their own "Clock Golf" for putting on the lawn, and so as part of the celebrations, a hole was cut for the first time in over sixty years.
Andrew Wilson (8 years) hit the first shot of the day and immediately had a "hole-in-one". It was a magnificent and memorable way to start the day.
Our picture shows Andrew, in the company of his grandmother Kate Dalrymple, receiving his "Hill of Tarvit" hickory cap from "Old Daw Anderson II".



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The Stone pickers

We want to avoid those hickory golf clubs coming in contact with stone wherever possible. Just prior to sowing is as good a time as any to spot the rocks!
Our picture shows one of the many gangs helping out during the school holidays. In the driving seat of the NTS tractor is our resident conservation stonemason Tom. Brothers Loïc and Ivan Wattier, who have come all the way from Antwerp in Belgium, assist him on this occasion.



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Let's get it right

On further examination it became clear that there was still more to do prior to sowing.
There were too many stones, too many humps and bumps still to smooth out and a surface that wasn’t firm enough for successful sowing.
Different machinery was required than anything we had used before and we were lucky to have Ian Brown’s contracting business only 3 miles away with everything we needed.
Our photograph shows Ian with the latest ‘stone burier’ a few hours before the last roller goes to work.



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A last look at the colour "brown"?

On the 27th June, Jamie Coggle of Barbarafield had the majority of "golf field" ready for sowing our four different seed mixes for the tees, greens, fairways and rough areas.
Thanks to Bruce Welsh of Monifieth for getting the seed mixed and delivered to Hill of Tarvit in good time and we look forward to the colour "green" in the not too distant future!



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Professional interest

Recent Schools and College visits have included Strathallan School (Art, Sculpture, Design and Technology Dept. discussing fitting out Forresters Cottage) and the Adam Smith College from Glenrothes (Video Pilot as part of their 3 year film and media course).
It was especially pleasing to welcome a group of green keepers on block release from Oatridge College together with their senior lecturer Graeme Bryce.
John Quinn of Greenmaster acted as host for the day and an excellent sharing of ideas was enjoyed by all.



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Maintaining the cundy

It has been a pleasure to have Tomasz Ciszewicz join the team on the 1st of June and start work on repairing the centuries old underground conduit. There is evidence to suggest that the "cundy" appeared at the surface of the field in at least two places and the plan is for it to be visible to golfers at both the 6th and 7th holes.
Our picture shows Tom receiving a visit from the Trust's No 1 stonemason Andrew Bradley of Culzean Castle.



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NTS Play Hickory

19 turned out on the 19th May for a game of golf at Turnhouse, only to find that their tee shot at the short 11th had to be played with an original 100 year-old hickory club! Nobody missed the ball or broke a club and it would seem that for some their game improved!
David Anderson of Golf & Thistle presented the Wemyss hand painted Hill of Tarvit Centenary tile to Sandy Weir for being nearest the pin.
Our photograph shows one of the teams on the tee and includes the winner of the best-dressed golfer of the day!?



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Fife's next Swilken Bridge?

Recent excavation of the ‘condie’ in front of the 7th green has resulted in the discovery of an inspection chamber that is situated exactly where Peter McEvoy would like to see golfers approach the green. It’s time for Golf & Thistle to look for a stonemason!



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Back where it belongs

Jim Nicholl of Geddes arrived for the first time at Hill of Tarvit at 7am on Monday 15th May to take charge of a 360 degree 20 ton excavator and put the best topsoil from ‘golf field’ back onto the greens.
Our picture shows him being kept busy and ably supported by Dave Stewart using two tractors with tipping trailers and a JCB.
We were lucky with the weather again. The job was completed by Wednesday night and the heavens didn’t open until Thursday!



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Feeding the monster

The speed with which this machine separated everything into three different grades meant that Ian was kept busy in satisfying its appetite! If it ever had a bit of indigestion the excellent support staff of Geddes were there in no time and it was soon back eating the earth again. The result could not have been better with approximately 95% proving good enough to go on the greens.



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Arrival of the Dinosaur

The next task of finding out how much of the soil, would be fit for use on the greens, required Ian's colleagues at Geddes to lend us something a bit bigger than anticipated! The 1400 Chieftain Power Screen arrived from its quarry in Haddington and was successfully manoeuvred off its transporter and through the west gate into position in "golf field" in less than ten minutes, all under its own steam with the help of a hand held remote!



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Preparing for flood

On Saturday the 29th of April, Dave Stewart and his team finished laying the drainage systems for all nine greens as well as related soakaways. All except the 3rd will take the excess water straight to the "cundie".
Our picture shows work in progress on the 7th green.




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Preparing for drought

Reference was made earlier to Bar Systems who are our irrigation specialists. Their work continues over a period of many weeks and as they are enjoying themselves so much getting down and dirty we thought it was only fair to put faces to the names and so here we see boss Tony Barnett (on the left) doing his best not to get in the way of main man Mike!

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