MONTHLY TERN
Green is the word!
Course Manager, Matty Smith gives us his season round-up!
Robbie's Top Tips
Newburgh Pro, Robbie Stewart shares his monthly 'Top Tips'.
Summer Swings and Sunshine at Newburgh Links
What a summer we’ve had here at Newburgh Links!
From blazing sunshine and fast greens to packed competitions, charity days, and a busy clubhouse, it’s been non-stop. Here’s a look back at some of the highlights that made this season one to remember.
First off, a huge shout-out to our Greenkeeping team, led by Matty. They worked flat out through one of the driest summers we’ve had in a while, keeping the greens rolling beautifully. Anyone who played here knows how good the course has been – all credit to them.
The feedback received from our constant stream of visitors, many from overseas, shows that the effort that they have put into the course has paid off. Our members’ volunteer group has also played a big part in keeping the course in peak
condition during the drought and we are all very appreciative of their support.
August was a busy one. We welcomed Aventus Energy for their golf day, and we had our annual Gents Summer Open – always a highlight. Big congrats to the winners: Cameron Carnegie (Kemnay) for taking the Scratch prize, Ross Webster (Newburgh) in Division 1, and Edward McKenna (Peterhead) in Division 2. Ross Buchan also nailed Nearest the Pin.
Seniors Section
Seniors Convenor, Dave Burness, gives all the latest news from the seniors section.
Later in the month we hosted the GAC Golf Day – a brilliant occasion with fantastic feedback, and even better, it raised over £5,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support. Superb effort all round!
September didn’t slow down either. We had the Dyce Football Club Golf Day, welcomed the NCG Top 100 Tour, and were proud to be part of the Offshore Europe Official Golf Tournament – split over two days at Trump International and Newburgh, hosted by OGV. A brilliant mix of players and a real showcase for the club. And of course, the Jack McRobbie Memorial Open was played – an event that always means a lot to our members.
October gives us the opportunity to showcase our course to a different group of golfers. On Thursday 8th we play host to the final round of the World Hickory Open Championship with players from Japan, US and Scandinavia taking part in the event.
None of this would run as smoothly without our pro, Robbie Stewart, who’s been busy all summer giving lessons, offering tips, and keeping everything ticking over in the shop with young Robbie by his side. If you’ve had a swing tweaked or a new bit of kit sorted this summer, chances are they’ve had a hand in it!
Robbie’s regular Saturday morning Junior Coaching Sessions have been a great success with a group of around 12 new juniors all having fun and making friends as they learn to play golf. We look forward to this group continuing to grow. All in all, it’s been a cracking summer. The course has looked stunning, the events have been full of energy, and the clubhouse has been busy with plenty of laughs along the way. Thanks to everyone who played, supported, and got involved.Autumn golf is just around the corner, that means quieter fairways, crisp mornings, and those unbeatable Newburgh sunsets. See you out there!
All in all, it’s been a cracking summer – and we’re looking forward to keeping you warm, dry, and swinging through the months ahead!
Matty Smith Course Manager
x Battling the Elements: A Season of Challenges and Progress at Newburgh Links
This year has been anything but straightforward at Newburgh Links. With the driest spring in 70 years rolling straight into an ongoing dry summer, the team has faced some of the toughest course conditions in memory. Add in machinery issues and long days for the greenkeeping crew, and it’s been a real test. But thanks to sheer commitment, teamwork, and the support of our members, we’re continuing to push forward, with brighter days on the horizon.
We hope everyone has enjoyed the course these past few months. For us, it has been an extremely testing one, with several significant challenges coming our way.
This summer has been the driest in 70 years, which presented major hurdles in maintaining course conditions. Our team has shown tremendous commitment, with shifts starting as early as 2am on some days to stay on top of tasks. Despite the tough conditions, the team has battled through, and we are proud of their efforts.
One of the most difficult issues we’ve faced this season has been with our machinery. In 17 years of greenkeeping experience, this has been, by far, the most difficult start to a season when it comes to equipment reliability. The constant breakdowns and setbacks have made maintaining consistency across the course a real challenge.
We fully understand and share in the frustrations some golfers may have regarding course conditions and inconsistencies. We are aware of the areas that need additional care and attention. At the moment, any spare time and resources are being directed towards keeping our existing machines running so we can maintain the most
critical areas of the course. Your patience during this period is greatly appreciated.
We would also like to remind members that we are committed to open communication. Our Course Manager is always available to hear your thoughts, concerns, or questions. Please feel free to reach out directly via email at coursemanager@newburghgolfclub.co.uk. This direct line of communication is not something many clubs offer, and we hope you will take advantage of it.
At the club, we believe that open, honest communication is essential to the ongoing success. Listening to member feedback allows us to identify areas for improvement and make better decisions that improve everyone’s experience. Whether it's positive suggestions or constructive criticism, your input helps guide the direction of our efforts. We value every voice and are committed to creating a welcoming, transparent environment where members feel heard and respected.
On a more positive note, we are absolutely delighted to announce that we have secured a new machinery deal with Toro. This involves acquiring high-quality second-hand
equipment, with maintenance support included. Final details are currently being completed, and we expect to see the benefits of this investment over the coming weeks. This has been a tough deal to finalise, and we owe a huge thank you to Kenny and the wider team for their efforts and for their continued investment and belief in the future of Newburgh Links as a top golfing destination in the area.
Fraser, our apprentice, continues to impress all here at Newburgh. He has settled in very well, showing a strong work ethic and eagerness to learn. His development will be further helped once the new Toro equipment is in place, allowing him to work more effectively and safely.
Finally, we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our volunteers. We are fortunate to have so many generous individuals contributing their time and energy to the club, and their support is deeply appreciated by all of our staff.
Thank you once again for your feedback and the patience you have shown during this challenging period. We remain committed to delivering the best possible course conditions and experiences for all our members and visitors.
Robbie's Top Tips!
Coaching Tip 5 Pre-Shot Routines
Well, wasn’t that a fantastic Ryder Cup!!! The result obviously pleased us on this side of the Atlantic but unfortunately, much of the postmortems have focussed on the disgusting behaviour of some of the U.S. fans. As a long time PGA Member, I am equally disappointed in the actions and statements from the PGA of America as they fail to recognise that this behaviour is simply wrong!
Anyway, from a golfing perspective, do you ever wonder how these players can perform at such a high level under such extreme pressure?
How on earth did Shane Lowry manage to hole that putt when he knew full well what was riding on it and that millions of TV viewers were watching. The answer is quite simple, to be honest, and it’s something that can help every club golfer too – Pre-Shot Routine.
Adhering to a strict routine before playing every shot is something that all top golfers are fully aware of, and indeed practice continuously. When it is their turn to play, they will follow the same procedure every single time – from putting their glove on, to which hand they place on the club first, how they address the ball, how many practice swings they have, and especially how many times they have a look at the target. This consistency, without doubt, keeps a rhythm to the process and breeds confidence.
On Sunday, Shane Lowry went through his routine, trusted it to the max, and simply let it happen. And it happened!!
Experiment with finding a pre-shot routine for yourself, remembering that it must be something that you can repeat with every single shot. It doesn’t have to add any time to your shots and will hopefully knock a couple of shots off your score.
The 2 Robbies – Did You Know…
Tunes, Tails & Tales from the 2 Robbies
When they’re not keeping things running at the club, Robbie Milligan is busy cranking up the tunes and chasing down live gigs, while Robbie Stewart is out and about with his partner-incrime, Arnie the Border Collie. From music mixes to muddy walks, there’s never a dull moment with this duo!
Robbie Milligan – We are often asked who is responsible for the music selection that can be heard playing in the background in the Clubhouse. The answer is Robbie Milligan, who cites listening to music as his favourite pastime when he’s not on duty at the golf club. Robbie’s favourite bands The Specials, Orville Peck and Queens of the Stone Age – quite a variety!! He tries to attend as many gigs as possible with The Flaming Lips at Belladrum being his most enjoyable – so far!!
Robbie Stewart – Who doesn’t like a dog story? When not at work Robbie likes nothing better than taking his Border Collie for long walks around the farm in Longside where he now lives. ‘Arnie’ is now 4 years old and is happiest when doing agility work with Robbie and doesn’t always follow his commands, but then again who does? The farm walks have taken the place of the beach adventures in Lossiemouth where they previously lived.
Get a Grip on Your Game
Why fresh grips can transform your swing and keep golf fun.
I am constantly surprised, when giving golf lessons, to see the poor condition of club grips that are being used by many golfers. Whilst I am aware that there is a cost to replacing your grips on a regular basis, it really is worth it in order to gain full enjoyment from your game.
Quite simply, if you are playing with grips that are worn, hard and maybe even shiny, you have to hold on to the club more tightly in order to retain control of the club. This tightness, or tension, will then have a detrimental effect on how the wrists and hands work during the swing, causing a variety of different bad shots, in particular slices and topped shots.
If you are playing say, a couple of times a week then I’d recommend changing your grips every couple of years, or every year if you’re playing more often than that. Grips will also last longer if you give them a regular wash – a simple scrub with lukewarm soapy water and an old nail brush is ideal and will certainly prolong the life of the grips.
We have a selection of grips available for sale in the Pro Shop and offer a 10% discount when fitting a set of 8 or more grips. In addition, we only charge for the cost of the grips and fit them free of charge, usually within 24 hours.
Please pop into the shop at any time for any advice on your grips, or for an honest evaluation of the condition of your current grips.
Power Up Your Game with Wilson Dynapower Irons
Custom-fitted performance, higher launches, and unbeatable value.
Looking for a new set of irons without breaking the bank, then look no further than the new range of Wilson Dynapower Irons. Many of our members have already taken advantage of our free custom fitting service and are now enjoying the benefits of this latest offering from Wilson Golf, why not do the same?
With a low centre of gravity and a high MOI, the Dynapower Max irons offer the player a higher ball flight and plenty of stopping power into greens. Engineered with forgiveness in mind, the material in the clubhead improves sound and feel, and the open-heel construction also contributes towards a consistently high launch.
Contact the pro shop team to discuss or to book a fitting.
Ryder Cup Fun at Newburgh Links
Our ladies embraced the rivalry, dressing in USA and Europe colours for a day full of laughter, camaraderie, and golf-inspired fun.
The Ryder Cup spirit came alive at Newburgh Links as our ladies got into the action with a bit of friendly fun. Decked out in red, white, and blue for Team USA, and blue and yellow for Team Europe, the friendly rivalry was on full display both on and off the course. Laughter and playful banter marked the day, showing that while the competition was inspired by golf’s biggest showdown, the real winner was everyone enjoying the camaraderie and festive Ryder Cup atmosphere at the club.
Gear Up for Winter at the Pro Shop
Robbie Stewart unveils the Pro Shop’s latest autumn–winter collection, perfect for tackling the elements in style.
With the cold, wet mornings now lurking just around the corner, there’s no better time to refresh your golf wardrobe and get winter-ready.
The Pro Shop at Newburgh Links has just taken delivery of a fantastic range of autumn, winter clothing to keep you warm, dry, and swinging freely, whatever the weather throws at you.
First up, our winter jackets. From Under Armour’s lightweight, storm proof Drive Wind full zip and half zip jackets to Sunderland’s Valberg jackets, which come with a lifetime waterproof guarantee, we’ve got outerwear to suit every golfer. These pieces are designed with performance in mind, giving you the freedom to play your best even on the toughest days.
Our new PING clothing range is all about tackling the elements head on, so you can focus on your game come wind, rain, or shine. Add in the fresh arrivals from the #UnderArmour Autumn, Winter
Transatlantic Tee-Off: A Hole-in-One to Remember
It was fantastic to welcome golfers all the way from the US to Newburgh Golf Club.
Dave, Frank, Randy, and Trevor, it was a real pleasure to meet you and share some time on the course together. The day was already full of great shots and friendly competition, but then – lo and behold – Mr Dave Scholz aced the Par 4 15th hole! ���� A hole-in-one on a par 4 is a rare feat anywhere. Thankfully, it wasn’t a Ryder Cup omen, as Europe went on to win! Regardless, it was a memorable day filled with laughter, fantastic golf, and the warmest welcome for our transatlantic visitors. Here’s to more epic rounds, unforgettable moments, and, who knows, maybe a few more hole-in-ones at Newburgh!
collection, including the stylish Drive Pro midlayer, and you’re set for both comfort and style on the course.
We’re also delighted to have the new #SunderlandOfScotland Autumn, Winter collection in store, renowned for quality, durability, and protection, as well as the latest #Glenmuir knitwear, bringing a touch of classic style to your winter golf look. ��
And don’t forget the finishing touch: “If you want to get ahead, get a hat!” Our brand new PING bobble hats are now in stock, available in a variety of colours and priced at just £29.99. Perfect for keeping warm and looking sharp through the chilly months.
So whether you’re battling a frosty morning tee time, braving the coastal winds, or simply looking for something stylish and practical for the season, we’ve got you covered. Pop into the Pro Shop today and check out the full autumn, winter range — you’ll be glad you did
100 Club Winners:
The next 100 Club year starts in October so to be in with a chance to win you can purchase your numbers £25
2025 Pize Winners
Congratulations everyone!
Lifeboat
Horn
Loutit
Esslemont
Headmaster’s
Seniors Summer Open
Your roundup of all things Seniors at Newburgh Links,
It’s been another busy and brilliant season for our Seniors at Newburgh Links!
From our popular Seniors Opens to fun outings and competitive inter-club matches, the summer has been packed with great golf, laughs, and plenty of friendly rivalry. Huge credit goes to our greens team for keeping the course in tip-top condition for every event. And with one final Seniors Open still to come, there’s still a bit of summer action left to enjoy!
Congratulations Jeff who was as proud as punch as can be seen from the photo (right) Well done Jeff, who celebrated his feat with the traditional bottle of malt whisky left on the bar at Newburgh Golf Club…..which sadly is all gone by the time you read this.
Duff House Royal
41 players made the journey North. Frank Rattray had the best score of the day, closely followed by Dave Walllace and Ben Christtie. Congratulations Frank.
The team competition was a landslide victory for aforementioned Frank, Dave Wallace and Peter Scott.
It was quite fitting that Frank Rattray featured in the prizes – he kindly donated 5 bottles of plonk which were awarded for nearest the pin shots on the par 3’s. Much appreciated Frank. ��
Turriff
Another popular venue as was evidenced with 39 Senior members making the trip, all full of enthusiasm….to begin with.
Yet again the course was in excellent condition and a real pleasure to play. And the much anticipated 2 meat carvery didn’t let us down either. Always a highlight.
Congratulations to our winner Kenny Lyon who bags his 2nd outing trophy of the year with a very impressive round of 41 points.
Seniors Outings
Organised by Jim Allan and Grant Leslie and open to all Senior members, our 3 annual jolly boys outings are extremely popular, and normally blessed with good weather, and this year was no different with each outing attracting around 40 members.
Alford – 7 May
Alford continues to be a popular outing venue. 39 intrepid venturers made the journey with the winning team being Jim Allan, Ron Wilson and Vinnie Stewart on a combined score of 104.
Congratulations to Kenny Lyon who collected the Campbell Trophy with an excellent stableford score of 40 points. Individual prizes were as follows:
Best team score was 106 points by Brian Docherty, Bill Dowie and Ian Adie.
The full winners list is as follows:
Seniors Inter club matches
The Seniors summer calendar includes welcome Inter club matches with near neighbours Portlethen, Craibstone and Peterhead. Here’s a summary of how it went down in 2025.
Portlethen
Our Season opener was a wet and windy Monday morning in April away to Portlethen. The traditional golfer’s coffee and bacon roll was a welcome start to the day. Sadly, things went a little downhill once we stepped onto the course where we slumped to a resounding 8-0 reversal.
The mood improved significantly on returning to the clubhouse where we were treated to an excellent spread and a warm welcome from the bar and catering staff.
Our home tie v Portlethen is yet to come (6 October) so look out for an email from Derek Ball, our inter club team captain, should you want to play in this event.
Craibstone
The home leg was played in traditional blustery conditions over the Newburgh Links with the home players delivering a resounding 6 – 2 victory. In the return leg on 10th July we suffered a 5 ½ to 2 ½ defeat. Pleasingly this result was just enough to take the bragging rights for another year with a combined score of 8 ½ to 7 ½. A very close affair and a pleasure to play.
Peterhead
Our match v Peterhead is only once/year and this year saw our 3-year reign as holders of the LIDO Shield come to an end, narrowly losing out to the triumphant home team 4 ½ to 3 1/2 . Inter club organiser Derek Ball is pictured presenting the trophy to Peterhead’s Athol Gauld. Congratulations Peterhead.
Buchan Seniors
Thank you to Nigel Briggs for organising this season’s foray into the Buchan Seniors, taking the reins from Bobby McClymont.
There’s much to cover so I’ll keep it down to headlines only –
Cruden Bay – Dave Burness – 39 pts for 2nd in Div 1
Newburgh – Kenny Lyon, Peter Scott and Ian Mundie each scoring 39 points. Inverallochy – Sadly no Newburgh highlights to report Oldmeldrum – Ron Wilson an excellent 44 points to grab 2nd spot in Div 3. Fraserburgh – Angus Lee 38 in Div 1 and John Stewart 37 in Div 3
Longside – Perhaps the best performance of the season. Ian Mundie topping Div 2 with a staggering 46 points closely followed by Peter Scott in 3rd position with 41 points. Well done Ian and Peter flying the flag for Newburgh.
Peterhead – A solitary representative in the prizes. Congratulations to George Annand with an excellent score of 40 points to secure 2nd spot in Div 2.
Inverurie - One person in the prizes seems to be the norm as was the case at Inverurie in August. Well done Kenny Lyon grabbing 5th spot in Div 1 with a score of 37 points.
In the season finale at Longside on 18 September there were two podium finishes. Peter McAllister grabbed 3rd in Div 2 with a net 61, and in Div 3 Brian Andrew missed out on top spot with a net 62……only 6 shots behind the winning score of NET 56!!! Tough school.
House of Commons Cup
Dave Burness Seniors Convener
This competition pits 12 of our Buchan Seniors competitors in a 4 ball, better ball, match play format. The HOC cup was donated to the Buchan Seniors by George Ritchie of Inverallochy Golf Club and first played for in 1997. This series of matches commemorates a home/away match from 1905 between local fisherman and a team of local MPs.
For more history on this match and relevant pictures visit buchanseniorsgolf. com and access Mens History site and pictures. A really worthwhile read.
Newburgh had a very worthwhile run in this year’s competition winning our opening tie against Fraserburgh with a narrow 6 ½ to 5 ½ victory over the 2 legs.
In the semi-finals we were pitted against a strong Ellon side where we drew 3-3 in the home tie at Newburgh. The return leg proved tricky, and the home side (Ellon) triumphed 5 ½ to ½ to secure their spot in the final eventually going on to win the coveted trophy with a win over Cruden Bay.
Thank you to all HOC players in what was a dogged run to the semi-finals. We’ll regroup and give it our best shot again next year.
Ythan Challenge 2025
On the subject of our near neighbours Ellon….we hold an annual home/away tie with them called Ythan challenge. Each tie is a stableford format with the best ten scores from each team counting towards the total.
The away leg took place at Ellon on Monday 18 August with the hosts racking up a very convincing lead, winning with an impressive 381 points to Newburgh’s 328. Congratulations to Peter Scott who bagged himself the only two of the day earning himself the full cash pot of £33 – ching ching Peter.
The home leg was hosted at Newburgh the following Monday and whilst we rescued some pride with a narrow 332-to-318-point victory, this was insufficient to overcome the impressive 53 point lead amassed by Ellon from their home tie. Congratulations (again) to Ellon on another Ythan Challenge victory.
Seniors Club Championship
Our Seniors Champion is decided from our 7 monthly medals (April to October), with the best 4 scores NET from those 7 counting. With one round to go Grant Leslie holds a 4 shot lead from John Stewart
In the SCRATCH
Seniors Treasurer Norman Stephen
As many of you will know, Norman suffered a health set back some months ago and his presence at the club has been sorely missed. Whilst his initial recovery was promising there has been a couple of setbacks along the way. I’m sure everyone will join me in wishing Norman all the very best in his continued recuperation. Take care Norman, all at Newburgh Links are thinking of you and hoping to see you back with us soon
Just for Fun
Across
1 Scented (8)
6 Tear (3)
9 Spiral (5)
10 Disapprove strongly of (7)
11 Cut short (7)
13 Astound (5)
14 Playground item (6)
15 Important person (4-2)
19 Storehouse (5)
21 Appalling (7)
22 Legacy (7)
23 By oneself (5)
24 Regret (3)
25 Toll road (8)
Down
2 Make bigger (7)
3 Mend (3)
4 Interfere (6)
5 Moral corruption (9)
6 Spanish wine (5)
7 Portion (5)
8 Young birds (6)
12 Flat (9)
16 Poisonous plant (7)
17 Covering for a curtain rod (6)
18 Roof beam (6)
19 Exclude (5)
20 Feeling of resentment (5)
23 Snake (3)
