Scottish Boys’ moved to summer date

Scottish Golf has announced an overhaul of its national championships for 2017 that will see the Scottish Boys’ moved to the summer and the Scottish Youths Championship disappear altogether.

Earlier this year, Scottish Golf refused to rule out a Scottish Boys’ schedule change after being left ‘disappointed’ with the event’s failure to attract a full field. Bruntsfield Links’ Eric McIntosh, pictured above, triumphed at Murcar Links in April with only 234 players out of a possible 250 entering the event.

The Scottish Boys’ will now be played during the school summer holidays and, for the first time, alongside the Scottish Girls Championship.

The format of the Scottish Boys’ will also be changing. Both the Scottish Boys’ and Men’s Amateur Championships will move from straight knockout to 36-hole strokeplay qualifying, with the leading 64 players and ties reaching the matchplay stages.

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Chair of Scottish Golf Eleanor Cannon, pictured above, said: “It is important that we embrace the traditions and history of the game, but equally vital that we look to the future and ensure our championships remain relevant to participants.

“The Scottish Golf board is acutely aware of the increasing demands on people’s time, both the players and the parents of competitors, which has an impact on a number of our events, while consideration was give to why players compete in events, which is often different between male and female competitors.”

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The Scottish Youths Championship has been removed from the schedule with Scottish Golf saying the category ‘no longer compliments the national structure or international amateur calendar’.

The Scottish Women’s Amateur Championship will be held at Royal Aberdeen, pictured above, for the first time since former Solheim Cup star Janice Moodie won the event 25 years ago. Royal Troon’s Old Course, pictured below, will continue to host the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship accompanied by the Troon Portland course.

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Prestwick, pictured below, and Prestwick St Cuthbert will be the venue for the strokeplay qualifying the Scottish Men’s Amateur Championship and Western Gailes will welcome the leading male amateurs for the Carrick Neill Scottish Stroke Play Championship.

Completing the changes, the Scottish Boys’ and Girls Stroke Play Championship will move to the Spring holiday slot between April 10 and 12

“We stage national championships not only to give our players a great experience on courses which showcase their talents, but also to profile our clubs,” continued Cannon.

‘Our member clubs provide us with their facilities free of charge to enable us to deliver quality championships for players at all levels’ – Eleanor Cannon, Scottish Golf chair

“Scotland has a fantastic variety of courses and we are hugely grateful to all member clubs who support our events, who can hopefully benefit from the spotlight being on them for that particular week.

“Our member clubs provide us with their facilities free of charge to enable us to deliver quality championships for players at all levels, whether competing at the very top of the amateur game or enjoying the experience of competing on the national stage for the first time.”

Details of dates and venues for the various area, county and club team championships will be confirmed later in the year.

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Full 2017 Scottish Golf schedule

Scottish Junior Tour U18
Venue TBC, April 1-2

Scottish Boys’ Open Stroke Play Championship
Monifieth Links, April 10-12

Scottish Girls Open Stroke Play Championship
Montrose Medal, April 10-12

Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship
Royal Troon & Troon Portland, April 21-23

Scottish Junior Tour U16 & U14
Venue TBC, May 13-14

Carrick Neill Scottish Men’s Open Stroke Play Championship
Western Gailes, June 2-4

Scottish Women’s Amateur Championship
Royal Aberdeen, June 6-10

Scottish Senior Men’s Open Championship
Royal Burgess, June 21-23

Scottish Senior Women’s Open Championship
Blairgowrie, June 28 – July 1

Scottish Boys’ & Girls Championship
Scotscraig & Drumoig, June 30 – July 5

Scottish Boys’ U16 Open Championship
Fairmont St Andrews Kittocks, July 11-13

Scottish Girls U16 Open Championship
Venue TBC, July 17-18

Scottish Men’s Amateur Championship
Prestwick & Prestwick St Cuthbert, July 31 – August 5

Loretto School Scottish Boys & Girls U14 Championship
Crail Balcomie Links, August 12-14

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Scottish Boys’ Championship in summer move: Your thoughts?

Do you think Scottish Golf is right to move the Scottish Boys’ Championship to the summer holidays? What do you think of the Scottish Golf 2017 schedule changes? Let us know in the ‘Comments’ section below.