7th December

36 TAMS sat down for yesterday's Xmas lunch. New members ware made welcome as were returning members Ronnie Watt and Warner Hardie. Warner gave the Grace.

In recognition of this being TAMS 30th anniversary every member was presented with a place mat showing pictures of players over the last 5 years. A large photo montage has also been produced which we hope to have displayed on a wall in the clubhouse. Thanks to Jim Walker and Brian Robson for all their work in what has been a mammoth production.

Trophies were presented to winners as listed below. While every winner was generously applauded there was a very special round of applause for our oldest TAM, Steve Baczkowski, when he was presented with the Stanley Ridgeway Trophy.

Winners were: Winter Competition 22/23 - John Varney

Roddie McAlpine Gavel - Keith Ackerman

Ken Bowie Salver - George Cunningham

John Forsyth Putter - Tony Kinder

Stanley Ridgeway Trophy - Steve Baczkowski

Summer Competition - Ian Tate

Ian Tate Scramble - Alister Lambie ,Graham Mackie and Sandy Macfarlane

There was a fun prize [supplied by Graham Mackie] for the best Festive outfit which was awarded to David Forsyth.

George Langlands thanked all who attended and gave special thanks to Brian Robson, David Wallace and Jim Walker for their support. He also confirmed that

Graham Mackie had agreed to come on board to keep the wheels rolling on the TAMS bus.

Finally Agustin and the Scratch catering team were thanked for an excellent lunch.

Results for 23rd November

14 souls braved a wild and wet morning the conditions making points scoring very difficult. David Forsyth led the field with 12 points with Alister Lambie taking 2nd place from another 3 players all on 11 points. Brian Robson was nearest at 7 having hit his driver off the tee!

Numbers are building up for the Xmas lunch on the 7th December with menu selections well advanced.

Results for 16th November and farewell to David Wallace. ( photo added)

24 players enjoyed the challenge of the first TAMS scramble. Ian Tate has generously provided a Trophy for the winning team which will be announced at the Xmas lunch.

Today was David Wallace's last TAMS outing. In recognition of the invaluable role which David has played in the organising and running of TAMS over the years he was presented with a suitably engraved Quaich expressing the Group's best wishes to him and Isobel as they start their new life with their family in Canada. He will be greatly missed.

Thanks to Wilson Struthers who donated 4 dozen brand new golf balls to the ball stock.

We will start taking numbers to attend the Xmas lunch next week.

Results for 9th November

The clouds lifted and 22 of us enjoyed a lovely sunny  Autumn morning.

Sandy Morris and Chris Malcolm  were tied for 1st place on 16 points and we needed to go to the second countback to separate them with Chris just edging it.

Chris was also nearest at the 7th.

Birdies remain scarce.

We will play the TAMS 3-man Texas Scramble on 16th November as the forecast is reasonable.

Results for 2nd November

The dismal weather forecast put several players off. 8 did play with George Cunningham scoring 16 points for first, Roger Key coming second with 15 points.

Gordon Fisher was nearest the pin at 7.

Weather permitting we hope to play the 'Scramble' on the 16th November.

Results for 25th October

21 players turned up on a dreich Autumn morning. At least the rain stayed away. Scores were wide ranging with several in single figures. Chris Beaumont came in with 19 points to take first, while Brian Taylor and John Hutton [one of our country members] tied on 17 points, John winning the countback.

Brian birdied the first hole while Roger Key was nearest at 7 and birdied the 9th for an impressive 5 points.

A date in November is to be agreed for last week's postponed scramble.

Results for 12th September

24 ventured forth, despite the frost, to be rewarded ,once the sun was up, with a fine autumn morning. Once the frost melted ,however, it proved difficult to find balls in the first cut of rough, never mind finding the fairway with the shot. Many struggled to score double points but one of our newest members, Graeme Murray, and Alister Lambie both scored 19 points with Graeme taking the honours on countback. Keith Ackerman was nearest at 7.

Next week will be a first TAMS scramble. David Wallace will be sending out the appropriate rules/instructions/

The Xmas lunch is booked for the 7th of December.

Results for 5th October

On a dismal rainy morning a gallant turnout of 22 players got a good soaking.

At our weekly prizegiving we celebrated the 97th birthday of Steve Baczkowski, who played a few holes today before giving in to the wet conditions.

Steve is the last remaining member of the TAMS who fought in WWII.

There was a tie for first place on 18 points between David Ward-Gittos and John Varney.

It needed  recourse to a second level countback to separate them and it was John who took the honours.

Brian Robson was nearest at No 7 (from a distance it looked like it might just go in) and Gordon Fisher birdied No 7 even though he was not nearest.

Results 28th September

Despite the threat of storm 'Agnes' 22 players turned up to find a breezy but dry, fairly mild, morning. Ground conditions were challenging, however, reflected in several scores in single figures. Top of the double figures were Chris Malcolm and John Forsyth on 18 points, Chris taking the honours on countback. Chris also birdied 9 as did David Little with Richard Edmonds also contributing a birdie at 7 where John Varney was nearest the pin.

We plan to have a scramble on the 19th October -more information will be forthcoming.

Results for September 21st

A pleasant autumn morning saw 23 players take up the weekly TAM'S challenge. Despite the good conditions some very low scores were recorded. Highest points were returned by David Ward-Gittos and David Forsyth with 18 points, David Forsyth taking the countback. Keith Ackerman was nearest at 7.

Results for September 14th

19 players found the course in excellent condition despite the challenge of a wet first cut of rough. 10 players scored 15 points or more of which 3 tied for second on 16 points, Ken Davey taking the glory after countback, from John Varney and Wilson Struthers. First place on 17 points went to our most recent TAM, David Little whose handicap immediately reduces by 2. Ken Davey was also nearest at the 7th.

Report for 7th August

24 players turned out to play for the JF Putter the result of which will be announced at the Xmas lunch.

Birdies were recorded by Ken Davey, Bill Hardcastle and Sandy Macfarlane who was also nearest at 7-inches from a hole in one.

Results for 31st August

27 players took part on a lovely morning.

Many scores were in the 15 - 17 points range.

Best scores came from Keith Ackerman and Steve Baczkowski ( good scoring by our oldest member ) who both scored 18 points.

Keith winning on the count back.

The only birdie was recorded by Chris Malcolm at the 7th hole.

Wilson Struthers won nearest the pin at the 7th.

Results for 24th August

23 players enjoyed a pleasant summer morning. Many scores were in the 12-15 point range but the two Brians-Robson and Taylor-separated from the field with 18 points-Brian R taking the honours on countback and also winning nearest the pin at 7. The only birdie was recorded by Roger Key at the 5th.

A fit Jim Pettigrew was welcomed back after several weeks absence-he was one of the 15 pointers.

TAMS sponsorship fund of £400 was credited to the club on Monday.

A reminder that we will play for the JF Putter in 2 weeks time-the 7th September. Putters are not allowed but the usual TAMS rule of a 'gimme' ie a ball within the length of the grip of the club from the hole applies. On the green the ball must be struck by the head of the club chosen-not by the end of the shaft as in snooker-there are some imaginative TAMS around!

Results for August 17th

A pleasant morning welcomed 20 players. Scoring overall was mediocre with over half the group clustered around 12 to 14 points. Tied for second on 16 points were Sandy Morris and George Tucker, George taking the place on countback. Alister Lambie was a deserved winner with 20 points. George Tucker was nearest at 7.

We will play for the JF Putter on the 7th of September. Putters will not be allowed on the greens-another club must be used instead.

Jim McAuslin - one of the TAMS founders

With profound sadness I have to tell you that Jim died at home last evening.

Jim's wife, Jean, wrote to us to tell us that Jim had contracted Covid which developed into pneumonia. After a few days in hospital he was allowed home to be with his family when he died.

The Kingdom of Fife has lost one of its finest, a man of great warmth and generosity, a polymath and a fine golfer, a past winner of the Thorburn Cup even.

Jim was one of the founders of the TAMS and he continued  to play golf as long as he was able.

I remember Jim telling me that having bought a new Taylor Made driver at the age of 90, he found to his chagrin that he was driving the ball into the burn at the eighth hole

We had all got used to seeing Jim leading Jean in line astern towards the High Street on their mobility scooters.

You will be greatly missed Jim!

In days to come we will discuss how we will remember Jim.

Yours respectfully

David Wallace

Results for August 3rd

The prospect of a dry morning brought out 18 players. Ian Tate and Keith Ackerman both returned 18 points, Ian taking the honours on countback. George Langlands was nearest at the 7th and converted the putt for the birdie.

Graeme Murray and Derek McLachlan were both made welcome.

No TAMS next week because of the Seniors Open.

Results for 27th July

Early rain soon dissipated and 14 players enjoyed a pleasant morning. Chris Malcolm celebrated his return to TAMS scoring 20 points. Second on 17 points was Steve Farrar who also holed a 20 foot plus putt on 5 for birdie. Tony Kinder was nearest at 7 converting the putt for his birdie.

20 July. Happy birthday, Peter

24 TAMS enjoyed a lovely summer's morning playing for the Ken Bowie Salver. The result will be announced at the Xmas lunch as is the tradition.

George Tucker did birdie the 7th and Chris Beaumont was nearest the pin.

A birthday ball was presented to Peter Barclay who will celebrate his 90th on Saturday. Peter was also presented with a bottle of Rioja to mark the occasion.

Results for 13th July

Holidays, grandparent duties and participants in the senior's match were reflected in a low turnout of 13 players. It looked as if 15 points would win the day until the last group came in with Gordon Innes [our newest member] returning 17 points and Wilson Struthers in close pursuit on 16 points. Wilson was also nearest the pin at the 7th.

Next week is a 5 club competition playing for the Ken Bowie Salver.