Crow Wood look to fly high at Haggs Castle

Crow Wood Golf Club captain Hugh O’Donnell admits the SkyCaddie PGA Pro-Captain Challenge has been kind to Crow Wood Golf Club in recent years.

Two years ago, Ian Graham reached the final with the then captain Alexander Paton and came fourth.

But O’Donnell says the achievement of getting to the showpiece event raised the club’s profile enormously.

Now Graham will be aiming to reach another final when he plays in the Scottish qualifying event being staged at Haggs Castle Golf Club on August 11.

O’Donnell, a 61-year-old company director who plays off a handicap of 13, will be making his second attempt to qualify after being captain at the Glasgow-based club for two years running.

“When Ian got to the final in 2015 it was very good for the club and raised our profile, we put it out on social media and it was good for Ian too as he does a lot of coaching with juniors as well as playing,” said O’Donnell.

“Anything we can do to get our name mentioned can only help at a time all clubs want to attract members.

“We have a wide catchment area and we’ve been out leafleting a new housing development nearby and trying to get them to come along to the club and try it for a couple of months.”

The pair will be hoping to reach the £22,000 Morocco final which will be held between November 21-22 at Mazagan Beach Resort, Casablanca.

O’Donnell says Graham has done a lot for Crow Wood over the years as he was a member before becoming an Assistant and then a PGA professional.

“Ian’s one of the younger PGA professionals around and he’s a great ambassador for the club and the game of golf,” he said.

“His brother Alistair works on the green staff so there’s a real family connection.

“I’m very much looking forward to playing at Haggs Castle again, but it won’t take too much to improve on last year.”

Other teams from Scotland taking part at Haggs Castle include the host pairing of Campbell Elliott and Tom Craig; Neil Colquhoun and Jane MacDonald (Merchants of Edinburgh Golf Club); Kenny Monaghan and James MacFayden (Linlithgow Golf Club); Chris Kelly and Campbell Leggatt (Stirling Golf Club); David Gemmell and Sheila Stuart (Turnhouse Golf Club); Kieron Stevenson and Alasdair Cameron (Royal Troon Golf Club); and Simon McLean and Brian Jamieson (Airdrie Golf Club). 

View the full list of entries and event information for the regional qualifier at Haggs Castle.