Gowf November 2015
THE DIRTY DOG IS BACK
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CONTENTS
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He’s back.
GARY THE DOG Photos by Benjamin Palmer
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I
f ever there was a man who shouldn’t play golf, it’s RGU hotshot Gary Brownlee. Brought up on the shores of North Berwick the Robert scene following a brief hiatus. Ready to duel when called upon, and ready to slay almost on command, “The Dog” is never one to shy away from a challenge, his concoction of alcohol and female-wooing tales a highlight of Scottish university golf Sunday mornings.
In an impressive debut season, Gary went from a nobody to the man all within the course of few months. Now he’s back for second year and he’s doing it better than he ever did before. Speaking of his impressive matchplay record, The Dog said: “Ten and Eight,I bring a whole new meaning to the term. I only ever play to the standard of ten, and eight? Well you’ll need to ask my team-mates about that.”
“I don’t hit it that hard, but when I do, it knows about it.” Gary’s ball striking has always been something controversial for his team-mates, particularly due to his regular sub-par rounds. “I like to go deep,” he adds. “If you can
His team-mates refused to answer - citing potential litigation procedures. Gary doesn’t care, at the weekly team training he looks up from his stance over a four iron and cracks a wry smile, looking down again before ripping the stinger over 190 yards before it dissapears into the dark.
With the university golf season coming to a close, he’s now looking to concentrate on his actual studies. “We have a great team spirit, this season has been a lot of fun, but we all know it’s about knuckling down now. No education, no uni golf. It’s as simple as that.”
ponent and makes it a lot easier. How do you come back against that?”
BROWNLEE By Benjamin Palmer
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Winter Edition.
Gowf Gear
by RGU Golf Photos by Benjamin Palmer
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Palm Grove Zip Sweater
Adidas Climacool Lightweight Jacket On a budget, but still require quality? Palm Grove are for you.
Smart, stylish, and according to RGU Golf, sexy.
This is a comfy sweater that comes at a bargain price. Although not yet a household name, the quality of this Palm Grove jumper will be evident as you stand warm on the tee.
Unrestricted in the arms, this lightweight Adidas effort will not only make for a good look when playing in a winter medal, it’ll also feel as though you’re playing in a polo. Only negative is its lack of warmth through its thin layer.
£40
£70
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“Hit it, and hit it hard.” Photos by Benjamin Palmer
GG TIPS
Golf by Glen Gardiner
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Know your target
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Keep your tempo - don’t rush your backswing
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Head down and hit that ball hard
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Follow through and pose like McIlroy
your golf will improve. Look at that fairway off the tee, look at the pin from the fairway, know exactly where that ball is going. Swinging fast will cause you to lose balance, even the pros don’t swing it like an axe. Relax. Don’t take your eye off the ball, even after you hit it. And you hit it hard.
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By Benjamin Palmer
RGU Go Third RGU’s golf side have climbed up to third position in the third tier of Scottish University golf. Victory over inter-city rivals the University of Aberdeen at Royal Aberdeen golf club meant the RGU side have reached their highest league position in two seasons. It was a weakened RGU side who did the business with six of the regular starting eight unavailable through other commitments, most notably the spawner of the “Houpmin Slinger” Cameron Dixon.
Photos by Benjamin Palmer
“Last season? Tatties.”
Dixon has been somewhat imperative to RGU’s storming up the table but in the derby match he wasn’t even needed as reserve players stepped upto the mark, particularly David Walker, storming round the links with a level par round in only his second ever university match, recording a sound victory in the end. Also popping up with impressive results were newbies Lewis West, David Ritchie, Scott Goodman and club captain Scott Stewart, scraping by his opponent 2&1. Stewart spoke after the match of his pride at his sides performance, and said: “After last season where we narrowly avoided relegation, the lads have done the university proud by solidifying their place in the middle ranks of university golf. It builds a basis for us now to challenge for proUniversity on the 22nd of November before hoping to continue their cup run when they face Abertay University in February. “Last season was just tatties for us, we’ve did ourselves proud this term.”
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Tucked away in the North-East of Although not recognised as ScotMoray Firth offers a more than nature, the mainly links hybrid unnerving from the tee, the slaloming layout has many minute nooks that provide the old classic risk reward challenge.
On any average day, the Sutherland mountainous backdrop provides a picturesque view which can be can seen from the majority of the back half. To the south lies the arable and pastoral farms of between spats of forestry. On the border of the town of Buckie, it’s the scenery rather than golf.
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B U C K P O O L
Every course has a signature hole, Buckpool’s is as memorable as any. At over 220 yards, the par 3 15th is not one to shy away from. With the green just about reachable, the golfer is faced with the dilemma of going for it over 150 yards of outof-bounds gorse, or instead taking a mid-iron and hitting towards the fairway that sits to the left of the green. Should you decide to go for the green, be warned, a hidden bunker lies to its rear along with out-of-bounds bordering the back of the green.
A little known fact about Buckpool is that former Open champion Paul sional competition at the course: the Grampian Pork Factory Open. But it isn’t his only ever round at the course as he is known to play here regularly, perhaps most famously when he took a 10 -ten- at the par 4 tenth hole, launching three balls out of bounds. Impreswith a 4 under par 66.
By Benjamin Palmer
Photos by Benjamin Palmer
Going close - Buckpool 13th green
Buckpool from the north-west
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A storm brewing by the 10th at Buckpool
November Contributors Benjamin Palmer Glen Gardiner Ewen Grant Gary Brownlee
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