Nairn Dunbar Golf Club Members Newsletter

Also available on the homepage of the club website.

As a club member you will receive by email the regular club update which provides lots of information on the course, all competitions and social events.  

It is worthwhile taking the time to read this document to keep yourself up to date with what is  happening at the Club. 

Say Hello to our Ladies Organising Group

 The Ladies Organising Group aims to support all lady members, both those new to golf and those with more experience, to participate in casual and competitive golf.  

It is a subgroup of the Club’s main committee and is chaired by the Lady Captain who is also a member of the main Golf Club Committee.  The main responsibilities of the group are as follows:

• Welcoming new members and introducing them to existing members
• Promoting a friendly community of golfers and hosting various social events
• Running all the ladies’ competitions and team matches including ladies and mixed opens. 
• Offering support and mentorship to the junior girl golfers.
• Keeping members up to date on competitions, events, and social golf opportunities.  Please contact the Lady Captain to get yourself added onto relevant whatsapp groups.

LOG Members 2026

Lady Captain – Catriona Mackie.

Lady Vice Captain – Sarah Murray.

Match & Handicap – Nichola Rennet.

Ladies Moray & Nairn League– Rosie Storm. Rosie also organises Mixed Foursome competitions.

Winter golf– Jane McNeill

Friendly golf outings – Anne King

Scottish Senior Women’s Golf Association Representative – Emma Borthwick. (Not a LOG member).

Typical Events.

• Season Kick Off Meeting – March.
• Ladies Annual Meeting and Prize Giving – October.
• Ladies Open – June.
• Ladies Three Ball Open – August.
• Mixed Foursomes Open – August.
• Annual Outing – August / September.
• Christmas Competition – December.

Competition Golf.

 We run competitions throughout the calendar year in a variety of different formats.  Competitions take various formats: stableford, stroke play, mixed, two ball and four ball foursomes.

 Wednesday is the main day for most ladies’ competitions, although a small number are held on Mondays and Tuesdays and occasionally on a Sunday. You will find details of all this year’s competitions on the BRS phone app and on the club website at Fixtures. Additional information about the ladies trophy competitions can be found in an attached PDF – See Below.

How To Enter Club Golf Competitions 

• You will need a golf handicap to enter a club competition (See Handicap Advice Below)
• The BRS app is used for booking casual and competitive tee times. Help is available installing and using this smart phone app from the club office – you will need a personal login setup. 
• Each competition is open for entries 3 weeks in advance – Please use BRS to book a tee time. If there is to be a draw for the competition check your tee time a few days beforehand.  
• If you cannot play within the tee times set aside for the competition you can still enter.  Simply book a tee time and when you check in at the Pro Shop ask them to enter your tee time into the competition. A playing partner need not enter the competition, but it is recommended that they do have a handicap. 
• The entry fee for competitions is £2 and should be paid at the Pro Shop when you sign in prior to teeing off.  
• It is normal practice to advise the playing partner (s) if you must withdraw for any reason.

Guidance for Playing in a Competition…

• Try to arrive at least 15 minutes before your tee off time. 
• Sign in at the Pro Shop and pay your entry fee.
• Log on to the BRS phone app for scoring or if not using the app, login using the tablet in the club foyer or in the pro shop. 
• As a backup it is always useful to record your scores manually on a scorecard in addition to the phone app. Prepare a scorecard with your full name, date, tee time, your course handicap for the tees being played and the name of the competition. 
• You should identify your golf ball to your playing partners. 
• Tee off at your designated time.
• Your gross golf score should be entered accurately at each hole on the app or on your scorecard immediately after each hole played during the round.
• Once you have completed your round finalise the app score entry or your written scorecard, ask your playing partner to assist if your unsure on how to do this.
• Remember to Collect a scorecard from the pro shop prior to teeing off.

On Completion of Your Competition Round…

• Check and agree your score with playing partner(s) or marker either using the app, the tablet or scorecard.
• If you have not used the app then enter your score on to the tablet, which is located in the club foyer.
• If you are unable to use the app or enter the score on the tablet, then put (post) your scorecard in the match and handicap office behind the Pro Shop or in the box in the foyer.  Please remember that the scorecard if used, must be signed by the player and marker.
• Your playing partners should be able to assist you if you need help completing your score, otherwise just ask the pro shop to help you.

Other Opportunities for Additional Golf

Tuesday Ladies – Valerie Baillie

• The “Tuesday ladies” play throughout the year and each week they have a competition over 13 holes. There are different formats for each competition, and it is a great opportunity to meet other ladies and enjoy fun competitions that are non-counting in terms of handicap. There is an opportunity at least once a season to submit a score for handicap over the 13 holes. After the game everyone meets for a cuppa and a chat.

Wednesday Winter Ladies – Jane McNeill

• During the winter there is an opportunity to play with other ladies on a Wednesday morning in a fun competition.  

Winter Eclectic – Jane McNeill

• This involves players submitting one full round as their first eclectic card.
• Thereafter they update the scoresheet on display in the changing rooms when they improve their gross score at any hole.
• Before playing any ‘eclectic’ rounds you must sign the eclectic book in the changing room.  
• The eclectic will show your best score on the course for each hole over a number of rounds, in this case, over the winter period.

Thursday Evening Golf – Catriona Mackie

• Starting in May each year, every Thursday there are 3 tee times booked in the early evening and anyone is welcome to come along and play a few holes. It is an opportunity for ladies who are new to golf to play with more experienced players and to get some practice and learn more about the rules/etiquette of the game.   Contact Catriona if you would be interested in participating.

Friday Social Golf – a number of tee times are booked on Friday afternoons for people to just turn up and join other ladies for a social round.

Moray & Nairn League – Rosie Storm

• Five clubs play in the local league: Nairn Dunbar, Nairn, Forres, Elgin and Moray and during the season there are 2 home and 2 away matches. There are 2 divisions within each match and each club has 5 players in each division. The format is match play. Division 1 (Silver) is for those with a HCI of 18 or less and Division 2 (Bronze) for those with a HCI of 18.1 or more. It is competitive but friendly and there is always a complimentary meal after the match. At the end of the season one of the participating clubs hosts a dinner and prize giving. 
• If you are interested in playing in the league but have no experience of Matchplay get in touch with Rosie Storm who organises the Nairn Dunbar team. There will be opportunities for ladies to play some bounce games with experienced players to learn about matchplay and group coaching sessions are also offered to participants at the start of the season.

Friendly Matches – Neighbouring Clubs  – Anne King

• The friendly matches are played throughout the season and are a mix of home and away  fixtures. Friendlies are played against the Cameron Club at Nairn, Boat of Garten, Fortrose and Inverness ladies. There are teams of 8 players and the format is greensomes and there is a complimentary meal after each match.

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Scottish Senior Womens Golf Association (SSWGA) – Emma Borthwick

• Ladies of 50 years or older may join the Highland division of the Scottish Senior Womens Golf Association. Details of the Highland fixtures can be found at SSWGA.  There is a waiting list so if you wish to be added please contact Emma Borthwick.

 Scottish Golf North 

• Details of Ladies Fixtures for the north area can be found at Scottish Golf North

A Brief Guide to Golf Handicaps 

The World Handicap System (WHS) was introduced in 2020.  A handicap index value is now automatically allocated to golfers with handicaps using the best 8 out of the players previous 20 recorded scores.  A course handicap is used when actually playing golf, this handicap can vary from course to course depending on its difficulty.  Information is available at each golf club to show your course handicap.  While this sounds quite complex it is actually very easy to do.

Golf handicaps help all golfers to play at an equal level in competitions, while not essential to play golf we would encourage all our new members to get a golf handicap as soon as they can, we can help any new member to do this quite easily

A member is allocated a initial handicap index after submitting some initial scores (usually 3 rounds), which is always converted into a course playing handicap and you will find easily used conversion tables on display between the Pro Shop and the first tee and on this web page at WHS Conversion NDGC  to find your course playing handicap.  You will also need to convert your index handicap to a playing handicap when playing other courses, using their own individual conversion tables.   Our office or pro shop can help you get your initial handicap and then help you find your course handicap if necessary.

Every playing member also has a CDH number that is their personal identification number under WHS. If  you have never had a CDH number, then you should contact the club office who will arrange for you to get one. Those who have previously had a CDH number but cannot access it, should  also contact the office for further help, you will always need a CDH number and handicap to play in competitions. 

Members can access and view their individual World Handicapping System (WHS) information  by visiting Scottish Golf Website and downloading the Scottish Golf smartphone app – this is  recommended. You will need to register your details on the app but there is no cost to you for  doing this.  

In competitions, a member is responsible for playing off their correct handicap. Please contact  any member of the Ladies Organising Group or the club office if you have any queries or need further  information or help with your handicap setup. You will need an official handicap before your able to play in any competitions or team matches, should you of course wish to play competitive golf. 

For further information you can visit the Scottish Golf website scottishgolf.org

Also view our club handicap information page for more details.

Keeping a Good Pace of Play 

The R&A who govern golf in the UK (Royal and Ancient Golf Club, www.randa.org) have brought in a new approach in playing ‘ready golf ‘to help speed up the game and which everyone should always try and follow.  This encourages individual players to play when they are ready to do so, rather than adhering strictly to the ‘farthest from the hole plays first’ stipulation. This does not apply to match play competitions where the player further away will always play first. 

‘Ready to play’ according to the R&A’s Pace of Play Manual consists of simple behaviours such as arriving to your ball with your glove on, assessing your shot and making a decisive club selection while playing partners are hitting their shots. By thinking and preparing ahead, golfers can be ready  to play as soon as it’s their turn. 

Try to always walk briskly between shots and make sure you know the number of shots you have taken when you reach the green. Ensure your clubs/trolley are left at the point of exit for the next tee, and move away from the green to the next tee when your group has finished the hole before marking scores. Make sure that your group keeps up with the group ahead and if there is a hole between you and the players in front then your group should ensure that the pace of play increases or the group behind is let through. 

Understanding the Various Golf Competition Playing Formats

There are a lot of different formats for scoring in a game of golf, some of which are described below.

Match Play (Singles or Team) 

• In matchplay individuals or pairs win holes by having the lowest score on a hole, either with or without handicap strokes, when you are ahead in holes by more than the holes left – you have won the match, in the early days most golf games were matchplay format.
• In club individual matchplay knockout competitions there must be a winner or loser, and thus  extra holes or a rematch may be required – please note team matches can be halved. 
• Concessions are a feature of matchplay and help to speed up play. You may concede the match at any time prior to the start or conclusion of the match. You may also concede the hole at any time prior to the start or conclusion of that hole. You may concede your opponent’s next stroke at  any time, provided the ball is at rest e.g. If you are 5 into a greenside bunker and your  opponent is 3 and next to the pin with a tap in putt, then you may choose to concede. 
• You should declare handicaps and determine shots before the match is played. It is up to each  player to know the holes at which handicap strokes are to be given or received. 
• In match play, you should play in order, i.e. the ball furthest from the hole is played first. If you play out of turn, there is no penalty, but your opponent may immediately require you to cancel the stroke and replay it in the correct order. 
• A player may disregard a breach of the rules by their opponent provided there is agreement to waive a rule. The general penalty for a breach of a rule of golf in matchplay is loss of hole. 

Strokeplay (Medal Competition) 

• A form of play where a player competes against all the other players in the competition.
• You count every shot played and any penalties you may have, and this is then your gross score and must be entered on the scorecard.
• The course Handicap is deducted from the gross score to produce a net counting score. 

Stableford 

• A form of stroke play where points are awarded depending on the number of strokes taken at each hole.
• The playing handicap is used at each hole to adjust your stableford score, which is usually from 1 through to 4 points.
• If your score is too high on a hole you will not score any points for that hole. 

Four-Ball Betterball 

• Played either in stroke play or match play where partners compete as a side with each playing a separate ball.
• The side’s score for the hole is the lower score of the partners on that hole.

Foursomes 

• In 2’s you take it in turns to tee off and then hit the one ball alternatively.
• Usually played in  either a stableford or matchplay format. 

Greensomes 

• Greensomes is a competitive golf format for two-person teams. It’s very similar to foursomes, the only difference is that both players hit a tee shot.
• The better tee shot is then selected, and  alternate shots are played until the completion of the hole. 

3 Ball Alliance 

• Team Alliance (usually Stableford). Three players per team.
• Usually, 2 best scores to count on  each hole. 

Amam 

• Played as a team of 4 where the best 2 or 3 stableford scores are combined to make a team score. 

Waltz 

• Played in teams of three.
• Best score 1st hole, best 2 scores 2nd hole, best 3 scores third hole and repeat. 

Rumble 

• Played in teams of 3.
• 1 score to count on holes 1 to 6, 2 scores on holes 7 to 12 and all 3 scores  on holes 13-18. 

Texas Scramble 

• Played in 3’s or 4’s.
• Everyone tees off.
• The position of the best shot is marked, and everyone takes their next shot from that point.
• This process continues until the hole is played out. 

Florida Scramble 

• This is a variation of a Texas Scramble, usually played in 4’s.
• The 4 players tee off and the best of these is selected.
• The golfer whose shot is selected sits out the following stroke.  Therefore, in a Florida scramble, aside from the drives, each stroke on a hole is played by only 3 of the 4 golfers in a team. 

Skins 

• If one player wins the hole outright, then she wins the ‘skin/point’.
• If no-one wins the hole outright, the value of the skin/point gets added to the skin/point for the next hole.
• All players can compete for these held-over skins/points even if they had not tied for the win on the previous hole. 

Hidden Partner 

• An individual stableford. 
• A draw is made for a player’s hidden partner and the 2 scores added together to find a winner.

Throwout 

• An individual stableford.
• The players 2 worst scores on the front 9 and the 2 worst scores on the back 9 are thrown out and counted as 0. 

Coloured Ball 

• Played in teams of 3. Stableford play.
• Players take it in turns to play with the coloured ball and the stableford score for that ball is doubled on that hole. If the ball is lost the scoring reverts to normal.