Lothians Lowdown - all the local golf chat, including Baberton doing double again

Baberton do team double again

Baberton are the undisputed top team in Capital golf after landing back-to-back wins in both the men’s and women’s Edinburgh Inter Club tournaments.

The men retained their title at the Merchants after the women had done likewise at Murrayfield.

Baberton’s winning team are presented with the trophy by Merchants club captain Angus Walls after recording back-to-back victories in the Edinburgh Men’s Inter-Club Tournament | Contributed

Add in Riccarton, a club within Baberton, winning the Dispatch Trophy and it’s been a year to cherish.

In a closely-contested title decider at the Merchants, Baberton beat Ratho Park by one hole over the double foursome.

Scott Carmichael, Jake Edgcombe, Owen Brady and Colin Malone landed the title against a side comprising Jamie McIntosh, Cameron Fraser, Ross Boyle and David Paterson.

It was Baberton’s third title triumph in four years while they were also runners-up in the odd one out.

Babeton show off the trophy after winning the Edinburgh Ladies Inter-Club Tournament at Murrayfield | Contributed

In the women’s event, a successful title defence was pulled off by Karen Marshall, Nicky Graham, Rachael Livingston and Ella Marshall.

In another closely-fought final against a Turnhouse team consisting of Kirsty Burgess, Isla McCrone, Linda Robertson and Jen Dick, Ella Marshall clinched a 2&1 win in style with a chip in on the 18th.

In both events, the eventual winners beat the hosts in the semi-finals.

Duddingston away in Summer League quarter-finals

Defending champions Duddingston face a tough away tie against Royal Burgess in the quarter-finals of the Edinburgh Summer League.

It follows Bruntsfield Links winning nine out of ten games to finish ahead of Duddingston in Section A in the round-robin phase.

In doing so, Bruntsfield Links are at home to Kingsknowe in the last eight, where the other ties see Newbattle entertaining Musselburgh and 2023 winners Craigielaw having a home tie against Prestonfield.

In the Plate event, the ties are Baberton v Murrayfield, Merchants v Royal Musselburgh, Broomieknowe v Swanston and Longniddry v Turnhouse.

Joanne Free has joined the team of coaches at Loretto School in Musselburgh | Loretto School

New Loretto role for Joanne Free

Former Scottish international Joanne Free has joined the coaching team at Loretto School in Musselburgh.

An accomplished player earlier in her career and now a qualified coach, Free joins a team of experienced coaches and PGA professionals led by joint directors Nick Drane and Dean Halford.

“Having the opportunity to coach and develop young players at one of the country’s most respected golf schools is incredibly special,” said Free.

“Golf has taken me from representing Scotland internationally to studying and competing in the United States, and I want pupils at Loretto to feel that same sense of possibility.

“My coaching philosophy is simple – focus on the player and the game will follow. Every young golfer is different, so my role is to understand what motivates them, build their confidence and help them enjoy the game while developing their skills.”

Halford, Director of Golf at Loretto, said: “Joanne is a fantastic addition to the Golf Academy. Her highly personalised approach aligns perfectly with our ethos here at Loretto, while her experience as both an international player and coach will be invaluable to our pupils.”

The iconic hut at Bruntsfield Links Short Course has had a makeover thanks to JA The Bruntsfield | Contributed

Makeover for iconic Short Hole Course Hut

The iconic Bruntsfield Links Short Hole Golf Course Hut has had a makeover thanks to JA Resorts & Hotels.

The refurbishment of the historic green hut has been made possible through a new partnership with its neighbouring property, JA The Bruntsfield.

The upgraded hut includes refurbished exterior and interior, a new soakaway surround, a new door and new flooring.

"Bruntsfield Links is woven into the very fabric of golf's global story, and as our neighbour here in Edinburgh, it is a place we see - and treasure - every single day," said a spokesperson for JA Resorts & Hotels.

"As custodians of three destination golf experiences across the group — at JA Mar Hall in Scotland, JA The Resort in Dubai, and now at the Short Hole Golf Club on our doorstep — investing in this much-loved community course felt like the most natural extension of our commitment to the game, to Edinburgh, and to Scotland."

Open season in full swing

Home players dominated the Uphall Open as Graeme Stevenson won the scratch prize with a 67, two ahead of clubmate Lee Wilson and Craig Davidson (Longniddry).

West Lothian’s Barrie Lewis won the Turnhouse Open with a 36-hole total of 133, Turnhouse player Georgie Jackson triumphed in the Longniddry Open with a 136 total and Longniddry’s Craig Davidson triumphed in the West Lothian Open with a 138 aggregate.

Senior success at Broomieknowe

Andrew Helm (Luffness New) and John Fraser (Royal Burgess) picked up the two main prizes in the Lothians Seniors Championship at Broomieknowe.

Helm claimed the handicap honours with a net 68 while Fraser posted the best scratch score and progressed to the Seniors Champion of Champions week at Newbattle next month.

Shot of the day was produced by Glencorse member Derek Thomson as he aced the 164-yard 15th hole.