CAPTAIN�SLETTER
As we approach the endof 2013, I have a fewreflections worth sharingwith you. Firstly it is nice toreport that at long last wehave had a greatsummer with both coursesp r e s e n t e d i n amagnificent condition byRobert and his team. Itwas wonderful to play onhard and fast fairwayswith superb greens� truelinks golf! Secondly, neverb e f o r e h a s R o y a lAberdeen received so
much recognition and interest from the golfing world.The success of the British Seniors, the Walker Cup andthe Seniors Open Amateur, together with the �Trumpeffect� and next year the hosting of Aberdeen AssetManagement Scottish Open, has put us even morefirmly on the golfing map. This has great benefits for us,but also brings many challenges. Thirdly, with the Clubcontinuing to be in a sound financial position, and largecash surpluses being generated by the growth in visitorincome, this means we have the opportunity to createa Forward Plan containing improvements to the Courseand Clubhouse.
The demand for visitors to play Royal Aberdeen is, aftermany years of trying, now growing and we anticipatethat this will continue for a few years yet. This incomestream provides financial stability and the means toimprove our assets. However the challenge will be tominimise the disruption to members whilst meeting ourfinancial plans, and measures will be introduced overtime to improve this balance.
On the Course we shall continue to focus on the greens,which suffer from root rot, namely 2,3,4 and 6 plusremodeling holes 12 and 13. The remodeling work carriedout by Robert and his team, on the 15th and 18th holesgives us confidence to progress with these other courseimprovements. The fairway watering system will alsoneed some attention and hopefully some progress onthe on-course toilet will be reported. The target is toshare the Plan with members in February 2014.
As ever we have had a busy season with interclubmatches played against ALGC, Deeside, Panmure, NewClub St Andrews, Royal Troon and the R&A, with eachmatch played in great spirit and thoroughly enjoyed byall. I would encourage everyone to try and participate
Royal Aberdeen NewsDecember 2013 Issue No. 51 Sponsored by The Marcliffe Hotel
Jon Christiansen, Captain
DAN FRASER, PAST CAPTAIN,REPORTS ON ��.
The 2013 Francis Ouimet Centenary Celebration at the
U.S. Amateur.
At The Country Club, Brookline, Boston. In September
1913, Francis Ouimet, then a seventeen-year-old
amateur who lived across the road and had served as
a caddy at the club, won the US Open at the Country
Club. This was against all odds, as the field included
the best professionals from both sides of the Atlantic,
the favourites being the great English stars of the day,
Harry Vardon and Ted Ray. The victory was the event
that took the fledgling sport of golf in the USA on to the
front pages of the national press and is credited with
the birth of the professional game in that country.
Ouimet went on to win the US Amateur in 1914 and in
1931, to play on eight occasions in the Walker Cup and
to Captain the US team on four. In 1951 he became
the first American to be elected Captain of the R&A.
His legacy continues in the Ouimet Scholarship Fund
supporting young golfers.
The 2013 US Amateur was awarded to TCC and marks
the centenary of Ouimet�s victory. They decided to
bring together representatives of clubs associated with
the TCC from both sides of the Atlantic. The criteria,
loosely, was clubs that had hosted the Walker Cup, the
Curtis Cup, US and British Amateur since 1892 or had a
connection with TCC. The over riding criteria was a love
of the game of golf. The list of clubs attending reads
like golfing poetry and included: Royal Liverpool,
Interlacken, Formby, Kittansett, Merion, Myopia Hunt,
Royal St Georges, Peachtree, Royal Aberdeen,
Ekwanok, Carnoustie, PineValley, Quaker Ridge and
as special guests the Moles Golfing Society, a historic
golfing society with links to Ouimet. The representatives
of RAGC were Peter Burnet, Roy Haites, John Mackenzie
and the writer.
In the course of five days we played golf at some of
the best courses in the Boston area, and watched, the
final of the US Amateur, won, playing awesome golf,
by Matthew Fitzpatrick who was the first Englishman to
win the title for over a hundred years. We found it
necessary to remind the USGA officials that he was not
the first Brit to succeed! On the Monday following the
final we played the championship course, reduced
from its full length of 7300 yards to� 7135 yards. A par
five of 625 yards is not within range! I am afraid the
writer struggled, but thankfully the format was stableford.
A Match was played, Walker Cup style US clubs versus
GB, for the Centenary Cup, the US, on this occasion
prevailed.
Whilst the golf was outstanding the great joy of the
Francis Ouimet was the celebration of the Game of
Golf. 100 representatives of more than 30 clubs from
both sides of the Atlantic were not there for the quality
of their golf, though we had past US Amateur
Champions and Walker Cup Captains in the company,
but rather a commitment to their love of the game.
We left Brookline after golf on Monday, realising that
the problems of golf at club level, architecture and
course renovation, pace of play, equipment and the
aspirations of members, are challenges faced at every
club.
We also left with friendships made and renewed,
invitations given and offered, and the consensus that
we were all privileged to play this great game.
in inter club matches, you won�t be disappointed!
The highlight of 2013 for myself, was my trip to the Walker
Cup at the National Links of America on Long Island,
USA and the centennial celebrations of Royal Colwood
GC on Vancouver Island, Canada, where our party for
each consisted of four members and partners. At the
Walker Cup, we stayed with members of Shinnecock
Hills who provided us with truly wonderful and memorable
hospitality, and the opportunity to play Shinnecock Hills.
Although the Walker Cup result was disappointing, it has
to be said that the best team won and to be part of
the Walker Cup family was very special. I was also
privileged to meet and chat with President George W.
Bush and Michael Bloomberg , Mayor of New York City.
Six days after the end of the Walker Cup, we were at
Royal Colwood on Vancouver Island. This was also a
wonderful experience, with superb hospitality provided,
and the course was a joy to play. 45 Royal clubs
attended the celebration with many friendships
strengthened and new ones formed.
There was one common thread which strongly came
across at both events, namely the high respect which
RAGC and its members hold globally. Something that
all members and staff should be very proud of !
Getting ever closer is the Aberdeen Asset Management
Scottish Open, which is probably the biggest ever
sporting event to be held in Aberdeen. It promises to
be a spectacular event with players such as Phil
Michelson, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, and many other
top golfers in the world potentially set to grace our links.
More information on the tournament will be provided
via separate newsletters and our website. I�m sure that
for this one off experience, the resulting inconvenience
will be worth it and I look forward to your support in
making this a very successful event.
The service we continue to have in the Pro Shop and in
the Clubhouse is outstanding. We are very lucky to have
such high quality teams, led by David, Elaine and John
and my warm thanks goes out to them. Please continue
to support them.
My thanks also goes out to Members of Council, Ronnie,
Sandra and Shona for giving me advice, assistance,
support and allowing me to thoroughly enjoy my
experience as Captain.
Finally I would like to wish you and your families a Merry
Xmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.
Jon Christiansen, Captain
1780
Date for your DiaryA course forward planning evening will beheld at the Marcliffe Hotel on Wednesday12th February 2014 at 7.30 p.m. when theClub's course architect Dr. Martin Hawtreewill be in attendance. All members arecordially invited to attend.
From the Archivist�sAttic
by Jim Christie
In Praise of Past Masters���.
lest we forget
The newly adorned walls of the Members� Room and
Golfers� Corridor provide an interesting montage of
events and personalities past and present and stimulate
a curiosity for some further research.
Messrs Mearns & Annand
The photograph of Robbie Mearns has hung in the
corridor with some prominence for many years, but do
we know much about him as we hurry past to and fro,
beyond recalling that he was one of the early Club
Professionals � wasn�t he? Yes he was, though not quite,
and yet much more.
Mr. Mearns was one of the early Aberdeen professionals
who began his association with the Club as a caddie
and then as a self-taught caddie-coach and
professional. His tenure spanned the years before and
after the migration from The Queens Links to Balgownie
in 1888, through a career path trodden by others, and
notably also in the late 19th century at The Aberdeen
Club by Andrew Annand, who by all accounts was a
more stylish swinger than Mearns. Both achieved notable
successes and were worthy participants in the many
challenge matches which regularly took place with the
top Scottish professionals of the day.
Between 1873 and 1876 the course extended to 15
holes over which Annand went round in 65 in October
of 1875 � only one stroke more than the 64 of young
Tom Morris in 1873. It was commented at the time that
Annand was �easily the best and prettiest player on
the Aberdeen Links at this time and it is surprising that
such a fine style as he had could have been developed
in spite of the few opportunities he enjoyed of seeing
the best players. All the more credit to himself for the
beautiful, easy, graceful swing he acquired�.
Though Mearns had not the easy graceful style of
Annand, he excelled on occasions, �driving a long ball
and getting in some marvellous short game work�. It
was Annand who set the first record with an 81 for the
18 hole course in 1876, but in due course that honour
ultimately remained with Mearns, whose 72 in 1885 was
never equalled. Of particular note was his score of 31
for the nine holes from the 7th to the 15th; this on the
classical course where not one of the many visiting
Open Champions came close to Mearns� record score.
The recorded low scoring of so many players,
professional and amateur in the years leading up to
the eventual upping of sticks on the Links was mightily
impressive, when we consider the relatively
undeveloped standards of clubs, balls and ground
conditions then prevailing.
The game was played with skill by far and away the
paramount factor. Clubs weren�t part of some tungsten-
injected frequency matched progressive set featuring
a muscle-backed sweetspot; each one was as
idiosyncratic as its owner. Balls didn�t possess the latent
explosive potential of nitroglycerine � rather the ungainly
aerodynamically challenged specimen handcrafted
from the hardened sap of an Indonesian palaquium
tree. And a stimp reading was as far from the
imagination of the 19th century golfer as a verti-cutting
machine.
Ludovic G. Sandison
The next time you are stopped in traffic near the junction
of Princes Street and King Street you allow yourself time
to go back some 140 years or so. On display in the shop
window there will appear an apparition of several
hickories standing neatly together, perhaps alongside
an equally neat display of fishing rods. Here was the
local club-maker Ludovic Sandison. He had little
practical knowledge of golf however and his clubs left
a bit to be desired in the matter of balance and
suppleness of shaft, many players preferring to get their
clubs from the experts further south such as Forgan and
Tom Morris.
However he was an important figure for 30 or 40 years
as custodian and caretaker of members� clubs and
would assemble iron-headed clubs with the heads of
the cleek, niblicks etc. imported from Fifeshire. The golf
balls � all gutties and hand-hammered, all came from
the south; Thornton, Morris, Patrick, Anderson, Forgan
being the favourite makers and their balls could be
purchased at Playfair�s or Garden�s Gun and Tackle
Shops in Union Street. Robbie Mearns was the principal
maker of re-makes, though they were known to lose
their shape in a short time.
Sandison�s clubs too were prone to snapping at the
slightest provocation and when they were returned to
the shop by the aggrieved purchaser, his invariable
excuse was that it must have been due to some very
�hhard hhitting�.
And as you snap out of your traffic-jam reverie 140 years
later, you might recognize the same car in front of you!
Safe driving ������������.
COLIN SHAW, MATCH & HANDICAPCONVENER REPORTS ��
With our course finally looking like the Links that it is,
after several years of wet weather and lush, thick
rough, and the Scottish Open just around the corner,
the golfers of Royal Aberdeen embarked on the season
with much enthusiasm.
The 2013 Club Championship Final was contested by
Steve Buchan, who had captured the Adam Cup on
two previous occasions, and Mike Wilson, who was
seeking his first. The match produced some magnificent
golf, was played to the highest standard of
sportsmanship, and produced a worthy champion in
Steve Buchan. The Davidson of Balnagask Champion
for 2013 is Alasdair McKenzie, who defeated Bob
Jeffrey in a close final.
Two of our 2013 �majors� � The Bicentenary Strokeplay
and Autumn Meeting - were won by Mark Halliday,
while Don MacAndrew triumphed in the Spring
Meeting.
Our teams represented the club admirably in the
Aberdeen Pennant League, Northern Counties Cup,
Dalswinton Trophy and Journal Cup to name a few.
The highlight was the Maitland Shield team narrowly
missing out on reaching the final and the chance to
compete for this prestigious trophy.
Next year the extra monthly Wednesday and Sunday
medals will be played as stablefords.
ALAN JOSSJUNIOR CONVENER REPORT
This year has been very successful for the Junior
section, with membership healthy and the
standard of golf played, has been very high. One
highlight was when the Juniors qualified to play
in the Scottish Regional Finals of the Junior Home
Nations Championship, due to wining the
Aberdeen & District Pennant League for the first
time since 2000.
In the regional finals, 23 teams competed at 3
different venues, with the winner from each venue
qualifying for the semi finals along with the team
with the next lowest total. Our team played at
Scotscraig, and finished 3rd behind Musselburgh
the winners, and Turnhouse in 2nd place, who
just pipped us for the last semi final spot, so we
were very close to qualifying for the semi finals.
The team consisted of Grant Joss, Elliot Moore,
Daniel Sim, Fintan McKenna, Finlay McPherson
and Patrick McKenna.
GRAHAM THOMSON,SENIOR CONVENER REPORTS����.
I am happy to report that the senior section enjoyed
another successful season. 54 members participated
in 23 inter club matches, various club competitions
and several open events. For the record we recorded
11 wins � a better ratio than last year! Our inaugural
match with the Juniors proved very successful and
will now be an annual fixture. On the social front we
enjoyed good fellowship at both our formal dinner in
March and our lunch in October.
On the competitive side we narrowly lost to Nairn
Dunbar, the host club, in the senior Northern Counties
Cup. Our Senior Open, won by Gordon Slater of
Deeside, attracted a maximum entry with competitors
drawn from more than 40 clubs. The invitational Team
Stableford competition was won by Panmure after a
countback involving Blairgowrie and ourselves.
Congratulations to Dan Fraser on winning the David
Macmillan Cup, Rich Garrett the Ronnie Mackinnon
Tantalus. and John Davies, Sandy Macdonald and
Howard Young for winning the popular Texas Scramble
competition. Finally remember we welcome members
aged 55 and over � you will not regret joining the
group!
IMPORTANT NOTIFICATIONS
SLOW PLAYMembers are reminded that it is your individualresponsibility to maintain the correct pace ofplay and not hold others up. Pace of Playcards are available in the Pro Shop and thereis information at the 11th Tee to give some ideaof your progress to that point.
2014 FIXURE LISTThe 2014 fixture list is now available on thewebsite and the traditional hard copy formathas been re-introduced.
COURSE INFORMATION EVENINGThe course information evening held on 6thNovember was a great success. Ronnie andRobert gave a very informative insight on thecourse management, the complexities, thegreat innovative advances made, and the costeffectiveness of the operation. The presentationwas well received by the members who alsoexpressed great appreciation and support forthe work of Robert and his team.
SPECIAL NOTEPlease note that a defibrillator has beenpurchased by the Club and will be located inthe Clubhouse.