From Back Left: Nigel Bradburn (Marketing Convenor), John Sutherland (Men's Captain), Fraser Dunlop (Director of Golf), Justin Grant (President), Keith Gardiner (Senior Gents Captain), Scott Mackie (Junior Convenor), Brian Kinkead (Finance Convenor)
Sadie Parkinson (Finance & Admin Assistant), Carmeen Eakin (Council Member), Liz Taylor (Ladies Captain) and Janice Innes (Ladies Vice Captain).
Press Release 20th March 2018
Management Appointments at Aboyne Golf Club
The new golf season is fast approaching, andsignificant changes have occurred in the management team at Aboyne Golf Club.
Having successfully guided the Club through its recent AGM, President Scott Mackie stands down with Justin Grant taking over and Nigel Bradburn moving up to be Vice President. Justin paid tribute "2017 was a year of significant restructuring as we repositioned Aboyne Golf Club to operate in a challenging new era. Scott has done a great job guiding the Club through some very tough decisions and necessary changes to ensure we are in good shape to take the club forward”.
Justin went on "Having grown up in Aboyne and joined the club as a junior, it is indeed a great honour to now be elected as President. We, together with numerous other golf and sports clubs, have enormous challenges in today's economic climate dictating we must be prudent, whilst also ensuring the club’s growing reputation and national standing are maintained and pushed forward."
Justin elaborated “Key to this vision was the appointment of Fraser Dunlop as our new Director of Golf in December having moved from his role as PGA National Academy Manager at Gleneagles. Already Fraser is making a significant impact on our Club as we endeavour to attract more young people and novice adults to our sport. We have an exceptionally busy and exciting season lined up with fun competitions and events to attract all ages and abilities to the club as well as hosting flagship tournaments on behalf of Scottish Golf and the R&A.”
In further changes, John Sutherland takes on the Club Captaincy with newly appointed Finance Convenor Brian Kinkead as his Vice. John said “I am thoroughly looking forward to the season ahead, and outgoing Captain Dan Broadhead has done a great job securing the prestigious Scottish Golf North-East District Gent’s Open to be held at Aboyne this year. It will be fantastic to see the leading amateurs play our course.”
The ladies section too sees Liz Taylor assume Club Captaincy from Sandra Findlay with Janice Innes appointed Vice Captain. Liz said "It is a great privilege to be elected Ladies Captain of such a long-standing club that Aboyne is with all its history and community spirit. I want to thank Sandra for all her hard work over the past two years attracting major ladies’ competitions to the club. We are delighted to have been chosen by the R&A to host the coveted LGU Coronation Foursomes Regional Finals which will bring top lady golfers from across Scotland to play our course”.
Keith Gardiner continues in his second term as Gents Seniors Captain whist Scott Mackie continues in the role of Junior Convenor as well as becoming the House Convenor. Scott will be overseeing the recently appointed club caterer Colin Redman whose company ‘Cecil & Mearns’ were awarded the Bar & Catering franchise. Scott said, “Colin and his team are already building up a great reputation for their food and we are keen to attract more local social members to the club to use our wonderful panoramic facilities”.
Meanwhile out on the course, Greens Convenor David Munro said "Despite the challenging weather our Head Greenkeeper Colin Forbes and his team have done a great job undertaking an extensive tree management programme over the winter months. With such a high-profile season ahead of us it is good to see the course recovering and looking in great condition."
Justin concluded, "As with all major restructuring programmes there are necessary personnel changes and we thank outgoing Managing Secretary Allan Taylor and PGA Professional Steven Moir for their service to the Club. I would also like to recognise the significant contribution made by Finance Convenor Ian Anderson who has guided the club so studiously though this period of change. We want to continue to attract a wider and more diverse audience – younger generations, families, women and those that see our golf club not purely as a venue to play golf but also as a key social hub for the community and we extend an invitation to everyone to come and view our facilities.The 2018 season is shaping up to be a particularly busy one both on and off the course!”
Nigel Bradburn
Marketing Convenor
Aboyne Golf Club, Formaston Park, Aboyne
Aberdeenshire, AB34 5HP
Aboyne Golf Club
The oldest club on Royal Deeside, Aboyne is an immaculately maintained, challenging golf course with spectacular views of the surrounding hills & countryside.6000 yards of impeccable fairways and faultless greens - a golfer's haven. Aboyne embraces every golfer, from beginner to Scottish International.
Our welcoming, family friendly clubhouse allows you to soothe away your cares on our sunny balconies, where you may catch a glimpse of ospreys, otters or the swans on the Loch. Aboyne is the understated jewel in Aberdeenshire's golfing crown.
Our long-established course has won many plaudits as one of the most memorable tests of inland golf in Scotland. Designed by Archie Simpson and updated by renowned architect Martin Hawtree, such is Aboyne’s unique terrain and growing reputation it has been selected in recent years by our governing body to host the Scottish Golf Women’s County Finals and the Men’s NE Open – the flagship event in the North East District calendar and a world amateur ranking event. We have also been honoured to chosen by The R&A to host the LGU Coronation Foursomes Regional Finals in 2018.
Come and play our unique topography and enjoy one of the most varied and respected courses in ‘The Home of Golf’.
Visitors are delighted with the contrast found between the front and back nine. The course presents a rich variety of memorable holes making the most of the natural variations in the terrain, which is a mix of rolling parkland with inviting fairways and elevated links-like heathland with tighter targets. Mature trees and water also come in to play on many holes.
Aboyne Loch is a notable feature lending character and scenic beauty to the course, as well as providing a hazard to be avoided on the last hole of the relatively flat parkland front nine. Thereafter, the course changes character to rugged heathland and climbs gently, providing magnificent panoramic views over the Aberdeenshire countryside.
Golfers are tested by one of the course's distinctive feature, which sees a few holes with undulating fairways formed around the historic geography of medieval farming. This adds a unique terrain challenge requiring more brains than brawn to play. Lying on free-draining soil, the course enjoys a surprisingly dry micro-climate.
Visitors, society outings and new members are most welcome with favourable rates and tee times to meet all golfing budgets.
Mens White Tees: 6,003 yards. Par 68. SS 69
Ladies Red Tees: 5,362 yards. Par 72. SS 72
