Kingsknowe to stage new Lothians Handicap Stroke Play Championship

Kingsknowe is to stage the new Lothians Handicap Stroke Play Championship, which could be the catalyst for a fixture shake-up next year.

Open to players off six to 28 with a home club in the Lothians, the event will take place on Sunday, September 23 and will be split into three handicap categories.

“On the evening that I became the president of the Lothians Golf Association, I emphasised my desire to reach out to the ‘average club golfer’ by introducing a handicap event that would be open to the large majority of our members,” said Paul Gibson.

“While we serve our low handicap players, our Juniors and our Seniors, extremely well, it is important that we offer as many players as possible, the opportunity to compete against each other with a handicap event being the ideal platform.

“Centrally located, Kingsknowe is an ideal venue for our inaugural event and should attract a large number of keen competitors.

“Depending on its success, other similar tournaments may be on the radar in the future and look forward to the dawn of a new chapter in the competitive arena of the Lothians Golf Association.” Entry fee is £12 and the closing date is noon, August 31. Enter via www.lothiansgolfassociation.org.uk

Meanwhile, entries for the re-arranged Lothians Boys Championship, which now starts on August 12 after being fogged off earlier in the year, is tomorrow.