Three weeks ago I was looking forward to playing a Tartan Tour event at one of my favourite courses, Blairgowrie GC; arguably the best inland course in Scotland. Unfortunately, fate had other plans with Tonsillitis putting paid to visiting Blairgowrie.
After the above set-back it was on to a pair of Tartan Tour events; Leven Links and The Renaissance Club, two top venues. The Tartan Pro Tour is a development tour for male & female golf professionals, based in Scotland. Set up and ran by Paul Lawrie, the 1999 Open Champion, Tartan Pro Tour provides tournament playing opportunities to challenge players over some of the country’s best courses. The objective of the tour is to provide a stepping-stone for aspiring tournament professionals to reach the highest levels of competition. This year events are played over 36 holes across two days.
Leven Links – After the recent EuroPro event held at Leven the course was in excellent condition for the weeks Tartan Tour tournament. An uneventful first round 70 (level par) was followed by an up and down second round, highlighted by an eagle three on the par 5 12th hole for a total of 68 (-2) and a tied 14th finish. Pleased with my golf from tee to green, like the weather the putter was cold in both rounds. If you find yourself in the area I highly recommend staying at The Old Manor Hotel next door to Lundin Links GC.
The Renaissance Club – First time visiting The Renaissance Club and it did not disappoint, what a fantastic course and venue. To say this was a tournament of four nines would be an understatement! First nine holes of the first round saw me down at the wrong end of the leader board at seven over par (two double bogies and three bogies), yes, you read that correctly +7, not where you want to be. The next nine holes made better reading with three birdies, no bogies for a first round total of 75 (+4) and tied 41st. Second round was one of my best rounds of the year, three birdies on the front side followed by four on the back side made for an excellent round of 64 (-7), total of 139 (-3) and tied 10th. Golf really is a crazy game; don’t you just love it.
To read more on the Tartan Tour head to –
https://tartanprotour.co.uk/#/
Focus now turns to the 2021 Tartan Tours final event: The Tour Championship at Carnoustie Golf Links, really looking forward to this event at one of the world’s finest and toughest courses. Fitting that the Tartan Tour has its climax at Carnoustie, the site of Paul Lawrie’s (Tartan Tour founder) Open Championship victory in 1999 and one of the ten oldest golf clubs in the world.
One more hurdle to go, let’s make it a good one.
Thanks, as always for your support, it is much appreciated.
Happy golfing,
Robbie