Golf for Great Cause

Following hard on the heels of the inaugural Scottish Junior Masters in his memory, the Barrie Douglas Foundation will be hosting another local event – a charity golf day – at Craigie Hill Golf Club.

The event is sponsored by the GS Group whose managing director, George Stubbs, was a long-time friend and one-time Perth and Kinross county player.

Barrie - who was a member at Blairgowrie Golf Club - was also a member and past champion of Craigie Hill, making it the perfect place to host this second event of the year. The charity day sold out within just 24 hours.

“That is a testament to just how popular Barrie was,” Stubbs said, “in golfing circles and beyond.

“As a company we are delighted to help support the Foundation created in his memory. Barrie would have been delighted to see so many people supporting a charity which will help nurture young golfing talent.” Barrie would have been delighted to see so many people supporting a charity which will help nurture young golfing talent.

The event tees up on Friday 8^th June and follows the Scottish Junior Masters held at the end of last month. That event attracted praise from local European Tour star Bradley Neil, as well as big names in Scottish golf such as Paul Lawrie, Stephen Gallacher and Richie Ramsay.

Speaking of his friend, George was quick to draw attention to the role Barrie had on nurturing grassroots golf and encouraging teenage talent with an eye on the professional game.

“Barrie was a father figure to so many youngsters,” George commented, “my dad was good friends with his father Jimmy and I must have been 10 or so when our paths first crossed.

“He became a firm friend and we played often through our county connections and the Perth Academy FPS.

“The Craigie Hill event will be great fun and I’m sure we will be sharing memories of a wonderful character who enriched all our lives.”

Barrie’s widow Tish was extremely pleased with the success of the inaugural Scottish Junior Masters in her late husband’s memory, and has been delighted with the remarkable response to a fun golf day, which will include laser clays, and will become a regular feature on the local calendar.

“Barrie always enjoyed these days,” she said, “playing with friends and swapping tales. While the Scottish Junior Masters was an Order of Merit counting event for Scotland’s most promising young golfers, this is strictly for fun.

“It’s great to have support from GS Group and so many other local businesses. And all the money raised will help the Foundation progress its aims in years to come.”

The charity golf day is just one week after the upcoming Chris Millar Testimonial Golf Day at Auchterarder Golf Club, making it a busy week in the local golfing calendar.

And both those events come after the Bill McLaren Foundation annual golf day, which was sponsored by local business Carbon Financial and was held at Blairgowrie Golf Club in this past week.

Big names took to the challenge of the Rosemount championship course, including former Scotland and British and Irish Lions captain Gavin Hastings, who himself is a two handicapper.

Carbon Financial managing director, Gordon Wilson, witnessed a string of other legends as well as Hastings take part in an event that supports a foundation focused on rugby but which also helps a variety of other sports.

“We were delighted to sponsor the Foundation golf day,” Gordon said, “and it was great to see former Scotland stars like Gavin turning out for an annual event held in memory of legendary commentator Bill McLaren.

“The Foundation does fantastic work nurturing rugby and other grassroots sport and fostering values close to Bill’s heart.”